The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

By: Douglas Adams

Narrated by: Stephen Fry

Length: 5 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

Seconds before the Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is plucked off the planet by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised edition of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy who, for the last 15 years, has been posing as an out-of-work actor.

Together this dynamic pair begin a journey through space aided by quotes from The Hitchhiker's Guide ("A towel is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have.") and a galaxy full of fellow travelers: Zaphod Beeblebrox, the two-headed, three-armed ex-hippie and totally out-to-lunch president of the galaxy; Trillian, Zaphod's girlfriend (formally Tricia McMillan), whom Arthur tried to pick up at a cocktail party once upon a time zone; Marvin, a paranoid, brilliant, and chronically depressed robot; and Veet Voojagig, a former graduate student who is obsessed with the disappearance of all the ballpoint pens he bought over the years.

Where are these pens? Why are we born? Why do we die? Why do we spend so much time in between wearing digital watches? For all the answers stick your thumb to the stars. And don't forget to bring a towel!

Listen to the rest of Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy "trilogy."

Want to learn more about the new Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy movie? Listen to this interview with Robbie Stamp, close friend of Douglas Adams and executive producer of the film.

©1980 Serious Productions Ltd (P)2005 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

HHTGH - Lightly Fried

I have Douglas's narration of the Book which is a joy - and Now I Have Stephen Fry's which polishes the Diamond.

First - Rest assured this is a just a reissue of the original - Not a book of the Film. The Film was Ok but not nearly true enough to its sources (Radio Play, Book, TV series - in that order) - This book brings the voice of Fry - who is an excellent narrator (and a close friend of DNA's) into the mix. He brings more life to the book than Douglas did (Douglas was a great speaker - but when it comes to narrating entire books his performance has high and lows) and I recommend this to all. If you havn't heard the story before - First buy the radio series then go back to the books. Buy Fry's narration then go to Douglas' - you will get the best experience that way.

Outstanding but....

This book has been the best modern British humor on the market for a quarter of a century and continues to be a measuring stick for many comedy writers.
The only disappointment is that the audiobook was re-released at the time of the movie premiere with Stephen Fry taking the place of the late author, who happened to be his dear friend.
Although I think Mr. Fry does an admirable job, the sound of Douglas Adams reading his own unique story in his unique manner is irreplacable.
On just one more note, this book is very clever and pretty chaotic. It's best to bring your brain along with you on this journey.....something the 2 reviewers above obviously didn't do.

Mr. Bean.....Are you kidding me?

great new version

I liked it alot
i had another version on audio tape from the 90's or so
I liked this verion

If you are already a fan

If you are already a fan... Or even if you aren't. This book is for you.
Fry brings the writing to life

Almost entirelly unlike tea

Douglas is one of the very, very, very few people to have not one, but, many original ideas.
His jokes are for the brain what chocolate is for the mouth.
He is just amazing.
God bless him.

BAD NARRATOR!

WHY would someone commit the crime of re-recording douglas adam's brilliant performance of this book with a new and NOT AS FUNNY narrator. This book is peculiar in that like a peice of music, it requires the best performer to bring out its comic qualities. the best reader ever of these books was the late Douglas Adams himself. A POX upon anyone who would shame themselves and Adams by re-recording the book to fit with a movie narrator's voice. This just goes to show that people will do ANYTHING upon ANYTHING for money, and we the unwitting public will likely swallow such horrible garbage as this imposter of a performance. I puke with rage at this affront to Adams, and I hope you do too.

I'm getting better at Thursdays

So good I. already listened two times through. The nation is top notch and the book is just as enjoyable in the digital experience as it is in the analog.

laughed more than I ever have reading a book

Was delightfully insane. my favourite character would have to be Zaphod and his beautiful presentation skills.. Would read again.

Why have I never listed to this before? Excellent!

An absolutely charming book, twisted little plot, crazy use of over-the-top adverbs, stellar narration, awesome turns of phrases and likable characters.

I honestly don't know why I have never picked this up before. It's a gem!

Good, narrator was a bit boring though

Honestly the only issue I had was that the narrator ruined a lot of the gags with the way he read them. Genius books overall.