This book has been mentioned to me countless times
throughout The History of Me that I finally had to buy it. It was actually my
boss who really turned me onto it, and through his incessant recommendation, I
finally picked it up.
I am so, so, so glad I did.
Hilarity abounds in this relatively short novel. The story
follows Arthur Dent and his good friend, Ford Prefect, as Earth is destroyed by
the Vogons (an alien race that writes horrid poetry). Together they hitchhike
their way onto various space ships in the galaxy (aided with a fantastically
useful book called The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy). They find themselves
shoved into space after being captured aboard a Vogon spacecraft and are picked
up by a stolen spaceship that is manned by a comical crew. Zaphod Beeblebrox
(which, by the way, is probably the coolest name in the entire world, in my
opinion), a two headed, three armed ex-hippie who just so happens to be the
President of the Galaxy, and not to mention completely wacky, Trillian (once
Tricia McMillan of Earth) who is Zaphod’s girlfriend, and Marvin, the
absolutely brilliant but exceedingly depressed robot, are all aboard The Heart
of Gold (which has a computer that is pleased as punch to help his pals and
doorways that sigh with happiness as you walk through them).
Basically, if you can handle the absurdity that flourishes
within this novel, then you will love it. If you can understand that mice are
more important than we ever knew, that towels can get you out of pretty much
any bind, that the Earth is Mostly Harmless, and that dolphins tried to warn us
of our planet’s demise by doing back flips, then you will appreciate Adams’ humor.
I tried to watch the film versions of the book – a British
TV show and then the movie that has
Zooey Deschanel in it – and they were good… but not my favorite (as it always
seems to be for book to movie conversions). I am still confused as to why they
cast Mos Def as Ford Prefect… but I guess I can try to get over that. Sam
Rockwell played Zaphod magnificently. Zooey was pretty good. I enjoyed the
Marvin in the TV series more than the updated movie version, but that’s maybe
just me.
Anyway, read the book. You’ll like it more than the film
versions.
If you don't get the above picture (which, kudos to the guy that got this tattooed on him) - then you obviously haven't read the book, and it's a shame. This is probably the best part in the ENTIRE novel.
So long, and thanks for all the fish!
On to reading!
