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056 Douglas Adams: Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

A comedic science fiction series about a hapless human and his alien friend as they travel through space.

Duration: 05 hours
51 minutes
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Douglas Adams: Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Summary

Arthur Dent, a somewhat average human, and Ford Prefect, an alien journalist, travel through space together, encountering various bizarre and comedic situations. Along the way, they meet a host of memorable characters, including the depressed robot Marvin, the two-headed Zaphod Beeblebrox, and the human love interest Trillian.

About

Title: Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Author: Douglas Adams

Publishing Year: 2005

Publisher: Pan Books

Length in Hours: 05 hours and 51 minutes

5 main ideas

  1. The universe is a strange and unpredictable place.
  2. Even the most mundane things can become hilarious in the right context.
  3. The importance of humor in dealing with the absurdities of life.
  4. The importance of friendship and trust.
  5. A reminder that life is meant to be enjoyed.
Douglas Adams: Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

5 funny quotes

  1. "The knack of flying is learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss."
  2. "In the beginning, the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move."
  3. "The ships hung in the sky in much the same way that bricks don't."
  4. "I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by."
  5. "The Encyclopedia Galactica defines a robot as a mechanical apparatus designed to do the work of a man. The marketing division of the Sirius Cybernetics Corporation defines a robot as "Your Plastic Pal Who's Fun to Be With." Don't forget to always consult the Encyclopedia Galactica for accurate explanations of things."

5 thought-provoking quotes​

  1. "The ships hung in the sky in much the same way that bricks don't."
  2. "The Answer to the Great Question... Of Life, the Universe and Everything... Is... Forty-two,' said Deep Thought, with infinite majesty and calm."
  3. "Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so."
  4. "The major problem -- one of the major problems, for there are several -- one of the many major problems with governing people is that of whom you get to do it; or rather of who manages to get people to let them do it to them."
  5. "The story so far: In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move."

5 dilemmas

  1. Should Arthur Dent, a human survivor of Earth's destruction, trust the alien Ford Prefect, who has been posing as an out-of-work actor for years?
  2. Should Zaphod Beeblebrox, the two-headed ex-president of the galaxy, attempt to steal the Heart of Gold spaceship to uncover the secrets of the universe?
  3. Is it ethical for the creators of the "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" to charge exorbitant prices for an electronic book that provides unreliable and often dangerous advice?
  4. Is it possible to maintain sanity and optimism in a world that seems constantly on the brink of destruction?
  5. When faced with the destruction of Earth to make way for a hyperspace bypass, is it better to fight against the powers that be or to embrace the inevitable and enjoy the ride?

5 examples

  1. Arthur Dent, a hapless human who narrowly escapes Earth's destruction and finds himself on a series of bizarre interstellar adventures.
  2. Ford Prefect, an alien researcher for the eponymous "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy."
  3. Zaphod Beeblebrox, two-headed ex-president of the galaxy who steals a spaceship called the Heart of Gold.
  4. Marvin, the depressed robot with a brain the size of a planet.
  5. Slartibartfast, the Magrathean planet designer responsible for creating Earth's fjords.

Referenced books

  1. "The Encyclopedia Galactica": A fictional reference work.
  2. "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: A Trilogy in Four Parts" by Douglas Adams: Referenced as a humorous contradiction.
  3. "The Big Book of Disaster": A book that covers various disasters and is highly sought after.
  4. "Where God Went Wrong", "Some More of God's Greatest Mistakes", and "Who is this God Person Anyway?": Fictional books mentioned humorously in the book.
  5. "The History of Every Major Galactic Civilization": A vast, multi-volume work that no one has ever managed to read in its entirety.

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"The Answer to the Great Question... Of Life, the Universe and Everything... Is... Forty-two."

Douglas Adams: Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

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