The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

If I had to define this book in a few words, I would say it is an authentic madness. A mix of science fiction and comedy that is out of the ordinary.

It all begins with Arthur Dent, an ordinary man who will have a complicated morning. First, his house is going to be demolished, and then he must quickly leave planet Earth. With the help of his friend Ford (who, luckily for Arthur, is an alien) and "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" (a sort of digital encyclopedia for space travelers), he will embark on an interstellar journey that is surprising and dangerous, leading him to discover the mysteries of the universe.

As a lover of science fiction, I have to admit that the author's proposal raised doubts for me. But I was surprised. ? From the beginning, I liked what I was reading. Douglas Adams breaks the known molds of the genre with an original story that is totally unpredictable and with a very pleasant touch of British humor. I acknowledge that it doesn't kill you with laughter, but it does achieve absurd dialogues and moments that are quite funny. In that sense, the author mocks many things about our society, such as its bureaucracy. But he also talks about deeper issues, like the advances in science or the meaning of life (though always in his particular style ?). The characters are few but very charismatic. Each one contributes their part to this unusual universe. My favorite: Marvin, the manically depressed Martian. He is brilliant. All of them, along with the setting and the technology, are unique in their class.

Now, I am aware that it is a strange book and may not appeal to everyone. There are nonsensical moments, and the ending is abrupt. But this time I want to highlight how different it is. While reading it, I abandoned all logical thought, let myself be carried away by the adventure, and despite all the extravagance, I enjoyed it. ?

P.S. This book is the first in a series that I hope to continue... The journey is just beginning...

P.S.2 Thanks for the recommendation, Marenpergamino. You were right. It’s totally my style ??? (Translated from Spanish)

Let it be said that I enjoy science fiction, but this is not the kind that excites me. Certainly, I don't enjoy when someone tries to pull my leg, and that's the feeling I had while reading this "science fiction classic."

Making up words and spending half the book explaining them, honestly, doesn't work for me. I did like the story of Ford and Arthur, but the chapters dedicated to the darn "guide" repeatedly pulled me out of the plot.

I expected to laugh out loud, and the most I managed was to raise my eyebrows in such a way that they almost got caught in the ceiling fan. I admit there are ships and beings living in other galaxies, but the dialogues seemed so illogical that they could be happening in the corner bar of my house at that hour of the morning, as long as, in addition to the talking cigarette machines, the doors were talking too. I was surprised that when it was written, in 1983, there were nothing less than... e-books! This made me investigate and discover that they have existed since 1971, that's before I was born; it's incredible how far ordinary people are from cutting-edge technology.

I'm going to give it a low rating for several reasons: it didn't hook me, it's too absurd, but above all, for making me wish to read it for so many years only to not meet the expectations. I do not recommend it, and I will not continue with the saga. (Translated from Spanish)

It was entertaining enough, although it lacks a bit of boldness. I will continue with "the restaurant at the end of the world" and see if it gets better. (Translated from Spanish)

What was I doing that I hadn't read "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" yet? This was a necessary book in my life.

Douglas Adams' novel is a highly regarded reference in the "sci-fi" world and it was a reading I had been eager to dive into. This book tells the story of how a British man named Arthur Dent finds out one morning that they are going to demolish Earth to build an interstellar highway and the adventures he experiences after learning about this event.

Adams mixes limitless science fiction with touches of comedy and even his more metaphysical commentary to create a novel that is as entertaining as it is captivating, especially due to the vast universe that the author is able to create. The multiple galactic "gadgets," alien species, interstellar stories, and the very story of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy serve as a perfect complement to our protagonist's tale.

In short, I can't wait to dive into its second part. Adams has managed to enchant me with his love for science fiction, the irreverence and absurdity of his narrative (but in the same way, incredibly funny) and the feeling of witnessing a living universe with many stories worth exploring. Let's celebrate it! (Translated from Spanish)

I simply didn't like it.
I found it extremely boring.
With the synopsis it has, where it goes to destroy the earth to create a galactic hitchhiker, I thought I would love the book, but I was disappointed. I couldn't connect with any character, the plot was nonsensical, and the book left me with nothing. The adventure they go through bored me a lot, and then they paused the story to tell anecdotes and tales that could have been included as the events unfolded; I didn't understand why they paused the story to dedicate an entire chapter to explain something that was obvious in the story and with the characters. The narrative stresses me out, and then the criticisms of society and the search for the meaning of existence—basically a cliché that really irritates me—the book is simply not for me. (Translated from Spanish)

I found this book by chance, having a hunch just by reading the title, and it has not disappointed me at all, a sum of my interests in space.

An unprecedented story, the end of the earth, civilizations, and irrelevant things that give that special touch to this book. Adams certainly knew how to delight his readers even in the 70s and up to the present. On to reading the second book of this wonderful saga. (Translated from Spanish)

Science fiction in its pure splendor (Translated from Spanish)

The last part of this saga is perhaps the most different from all the previous installments. A slower style, with longer chapters than usual in the earlier books, perhaps a result of the passage of time and the personal maturation of the author (this part was published 8 years after the previous installment).

The same madness as always (especially centered around the character of Ford Prefect) is present in the book, albeit on a smaller scale, which gives the work a slightly more serious touch.

A special mention to the introduction of the Sandwich Maker, showcasing a range that I had not yet seen from the author in his previous works. (Translated from Spanish)

A classic that I had on my to-read list, and honestly, I enjoyed it a lot. A mix of science fiction, humor, and irony that can be enjoyed from the very first page.

Moreover, it reads very quickly, is very entertaining, and offers some very interesting reflections from a humorous perspective.

A must-read for genre lovers, it's the Canterville Ghost of science fiction. (Translated from Spanish)

Fast and easy to read. Entertaining at times, but it didn't fully convince me. (Translated from Spanish)

How I laughed with this story, how much I enjoyed it, each funny, awkward, or tangled moment keeps the reading engaging at every turn. Let's go for the second part! (Translated from Spanish)

With just the first few pages and starting to get to know Arthur Dent, this story wins your heart. At times hilarious, at times very scientific, at times adventurous, and at times absurd. I love the whole saga, and this is my favorite for being the starting point. All the characters and their relationships are fantastic. (Translated from Spanish)

The closest thing to Terry Pratchett in science fiction. A book that feels short but fortunately has several continuations. This book has achieved something incredible: creating a meme through one of its jokes, which has lasted since the year it was published in '79 up to today. (Translated from Spanish)

I'm not exactly sure what to think.
It's a short book and quick to read, with some moments that make you laugh, but it hasn't pleased me as much as I expected, given its reputation as a classic and recognized sci-fi comedy.
I think the author does a great job of creating the whole world, but in the end, the story feels a bit meh. (Translated from Spanish)

One day I ran into a friend. Upon seeing me, he came running towards me, gave me a hug, and thanked me. Months earlier, I had recommended this book to him.

End of the review. (Translated from Spanish)

"I would much rather be happy than be right."
The human being is insignificant and absurd; it seeks answers without questions and walks in the obvious.
It is a plausible work for how hilarious and ironic it is; I plan to continue the saga to reconnect with extraordinary characters. (Translated from Spanish)

I'm not going to contribute anything to this genius work. Fun, original, easy to read, and a must-read. (Translated from Spanish)

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy... a timeless classic. While reading physicists from the 21st century, I realized that half of them mention this book, and after seeing it pass by so often online, I finally decided to buy it; my curiosity got the better of me.
Let’s see… if you consider yourself a geek of comics and Alien movies, I must tell you that you shouldn't overlook this book. I won't reveal the plot as I recommend it to everyone, from children to the elderly. That said, I must admit I was expecting a different ending, although I was unaware of the sequel, which I now have at hand: “The Restaurant at the End of the Universe.” Time to read, as they say! (Translated from Spanish)

The story itself is very surreal, but I expected that. The book is good; we realize that we are not the center of the universe, although at some point it became a bit tedious for me, but it is readable. I guess I've gotten used to Scalzi's weird space stories and this one didn't resonate with me. (Translated from Spanish)

If there is a word to describe this novel, it is absurd, and I think we are underselling it. Arthur Dent is having a bad day: his house is about to be demolished, he discovers that his best friend is an alien, and as if that weren't enough, the Earth is about to be annihilated to build a space highway. To survive the catastrophe, Arthur's only way out is to board some spaceship. The great adventure begins precisely on the day the world ends. Arthur eventually discovers the meaning of life and finds out that everything he needs to know is in a book: the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

And so begins a cult novel in the world of science fiction, so much so that there is a day called Towel Day (based on the advice of never going on an interstellar trip without your towel), so much so that it is one of the must-read books recommended by Elon Musk. With this and many more things, we can only pay attention to the book, and now, after reading it, did the hype survive?

For me, the answer is an absolute yes, but be warned, for me, this book is certainly not for everyone; it is a nonsensical book, elegantly ridiculous, with situations as silly as mice ruling the Earth by order; dolphins tried to warn us of the imminent destruction of the world but we mistook their wisdom for jumps and tricks, and that the answer to all the fundamental questions in the universe (Who are we?, Why do we exist?, etc.) is 42. And still, in all that jumble of ideas and nonsense, there exists a purpose and a story that hooks you; all you have to do is go along with it. Sometimes, it is good to pick up a book just to have fun and laugh for a while.

That being said, I must say, this book is not for everyone; read it if you trust the enthusiastic word of Elon Musk, who is an obsessive fan of the saga, read it if you are drawn to stories like those of Rick and Morty and Futurama, which, while satirical and at times bordering on the ridiculous, have a profound background that fascinates and makes you laugh and think. And after all, who can be sure that mice don’t rule us? Or that, indeed, the answer to everything is 42? (Translated from Spanish)

It's the most remarkable book ever published by the Little Bear publishing companies. Much better than the Galactic Encyclopedia. (Translated from Spanish)

A classic of science fiction, English humor, and absurd situations. It's a book that needs to be read at some point (along with the others in the series). It features a star-studded cast where all the characters are interesting: Arthur Dent, our protagonist who faces a tough day but takes it with philosophy as long as he has tea, Ford Prefect (yes, Prefect; you’ve probably spent the entire book reading Perfect) the infiltrated alien seeking information to complete The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Zaphod, a kind of alien rock superstar, Marvin, the depressed robot... all of them caught up in a crazy journey full of absurd situations and very English humor; however, after so much humor, we arrive at a depressing revelation about humanity and its role in the universe. Next stop: The restaurant at the end of the universe, and don’t forget to bring a towel! (Translated from Spanish)

Cult book!!! There is little science fiction here, because it is a satirical comedy. Well-crafted, sarcastic, and carefree. If you are going to embark on the galactic journey with these eccentric characters, don't forget to bring your towel and above all: Don't Panic.......(or let panic set in). (Translated from Spanish)

Science fiction, doubly fictionalized, or minimally scientific, Douglas Adams takes us across the entire universe, neither known nor invented, purely imagined, in an absolutely improbable way, making this journey an improbability, highly casual.
I don't think it's ridiculing; in some way, I found the lack of seriousness with which he treats the topic refreshing. That said, it's filled with references.
He invents his own schemes, his own theories, turns upside down the paradigms of his time and many others.
He kept me smiling, captivated, and at times with a genuine laugh; some passages are highly remarkable.
The necessary destruction to create a highway from Arthur's house, the destruction of Earth to create a galactic highway, the least suitable two-headed president, the depressed robot with a contagious depression, the happy doors, salvation by a probable improbability, the planet that creates planets to the customer's liking, the fundamental question and answer,
The dolphins that warn.
In short, all of them, if one wants to think, associated with the rapid loss of humanity, as well as their circumstances in the current time, or any time, Ford, (likely taken from “Brave New World” as a reference) and his Kindle encyclopedia.
Finally, like all heroes saved by a highly improbable probability,
I have known worlds that do not exist, will not exist, did not exist, or at least their probability is very low, traveled at speeds that drive one to madness, etc.
I have met the worst poets in the Universe, (after me, of course) the Vogons.
And all for... Forty-Two.
And now, what is the question?
By the way... happy towel day,
And the movie, neither much nor little, I expected more from it. (Translated from Spanish)

No, no, and no. There's something in this type of narrative that bothers me, and I can't quite identify what it is. I felt the same way when I read Good Omens by Neil Gaiman. Maybe it's the lack of seriousness with which the author describes the universe and existence itself, the irony that goes from simple to absurd, the difficulty I have in reconstructing the described scenarios in my mind, or the feeling that I'm reading the script for a Cartoon Network animation. The text is full of phrases worthy of a pseudo-twitstar, and worst of all, it often made me burst out laughing. It annoys me! (Translated from Spanish)

What a great story. Science fiction and comedy at the same time, a great combination. One of the best I've read of this kind. (Translated from Spanish)

Funny and deep through blows of satire and absurdity. (Translated from Spanish)

Excellent edition of the Trilogy of five books by Douglas Adams. In my view, it contains three classics of universal literature, not just of science fiction. (Translated from Spanish)

A work of science fiction, filled with science fiction. Aliens of all kinds, spaceships, and language strictly taken from ultra-exterior space, converge in a story where the tragedy of the destruction of our planet, from which only two beings survive, is compensated with a new, improved creation.
Wait, there are actually four survivors. Two of them are the ones who commissioned the creation of the planet as we know it now.
The question is, if it's the original version, or if it is already a new one, only the planet creators know that. (Translated from Spanish)

At the beginning of the story, Arthur Dent finds that his planet, and everything he ever knew, loved, and hated, has disappeared. Helpless in a giant Universe to the point of delirium, this man has a lot to worry about, but in reality, he doesn’t, because he is not alone. He is accompanied by his friend Ford, who turns out to be an alien hitchhiker who had been living undercover on Earth for some years prior, and who also happens to be one of the writers of the most important book in the Universe: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, a work so extraordinary that it boasts of having already replaced, among some civilizations, the Galactic Encyclopedia as the repository of all knowledge and wisdom. A remarkable book because, besides being cheap, its cover has the words “DON'T PANIC” printed on it, and that, as Arthur soon realizes, is the most useful advice one can give to someone hitchhiking across the galaxy.

During their adventures, Arthur and Ford meet all kinds of beings, ranging from the despicable to the sublime, and due to one of those prodigious coincidences that fill the book - but also life itself - Arthur encounters the only surviving human. However, the most beloved character in the novel is not a human nor an alien, but Marvin, a depressed and brilliant robot, the original and authentic paranoid android!

The novel stands out for its ironic and brilliant sense of humor, which is evident from the very first sentence, thus beginning the extraordinary journey of a human who has nothing but his pajamas and a towel, come on, it could be you, me, or anyone. (Translated from Spanish)