The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
“Isn’t it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies living at the bottom of it too?”
Ford Prefect – alien, travel writer, expert researcher for the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
Welcome back to the Book of the Month blog series by David Christopher Johnston.
April’s Book of the Month is a sci-fi comedy classic: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. If you want to read a book that is short, clever, fun and downright silly then this is the book you have been waiting for.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy tells the story of the last surviving man, Arthur Dent, who escapes Planet Earth shortly before it is destroyed to make way for a hyperspace bypass. With the help of his alien travel guide, Ford Prefect, Arthur stows aboard an alien spaceship and explores the galaxy.
On their journey they meet the narcissistic two-headed President of the Galaxy, Zahphod Beeblebrox. The depressed robot, Marvin. And the last surviving female human, Trillian. Together, they embark upon a journey to find the answer to the “Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything”. It is laugh out loud humour (Millennial translation: LOL) on every page.
This book is satirical humour at its best. Marvin the pissed off and perpetually depressed robot is perhaps one of the most tragically funny characters in all of fiction. And it paints an intelligent but ultimately embarrassing picture of humankind. But be warned, the answer to the “Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything” may not be what you were expecting.
Don’t Panic! It’s the Book of the Month
If you like reading, humour, satire, or science fiction then you must read this book. In fact, read it anyway. The Hitchhiker’s Guide is the first in a trilogy of five books (yes, you read that correctly). So there’s plenty more of Arthur Dent to keep you occupied.
You can buy The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy in paperback or digital download from a variety of independent bookstores by clicking this link (CLICK HERE).
And if you liked this article then check out the rest of my Book of the Month blog series. This free, informal book club introduces a variety of fiction authors and genres to keep you entertained. You can access the series on my website (CLICK HERE).
Happy reading!
Dave
