• Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

  • By: Douglas Adams
  • Narrated by: Stephen Fry
  • Length: 5 hrs and 51 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (1,181 ratings)

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Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy  By  cover art

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

By: Douglas Adams
Narrated by: Stephen Fry
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Editorial reviews

Master of comedy Stephen Fry delivers a brilliant audiobook narration of the best-selling novel The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, written by Douglas Adams. Arthur Dent is a very British man having a very bad day. He discovers his friend is an alien and he’s taken off earth just as it’s destroyed to make way for a galaxy highway. To make matters worse, he hasn’t even had his morning cup of tea yet. This ingeniously constructed story takes a humorous look at how something as precious as Earth isn’t always appreciated until it’s gone. A lighthearted and enjoyable listen. Available now from Audible.

Publisher's summary

One Thursday lunchtime the Earth gets unexpectedly demolished to make way for a new hyperspace bypass. For Arthur Dent, who has only just had his house demolished that morning, this seems already to be more than he can cope with. Sadly, however, the weekend has only just begun, and the Galaxy is a very strange and startling place.

©1979 Serious Productions Ltd (P)2005 Random House US

Critic reviews

"By turns authoritative as the narrator, bemused as Arthur Dent, deadpan as Ford Prefect and manic as Zaphod Beeblebrox, he [Stephen Fry] makes an altogether appropriate reader . . . The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy" ( The Times)

What listeners say about Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Stephen Fry is so, so good

This is just so damn British. I’m afraid my enjoyment for this book was enhanced a little too much by nostalgic memories of offbeat britcoms like Blackadder and (especially) Red Dwarf.

Speaking of influences I can’t help but wonder if—the very American—Futurama was partly inspired by Hitchhikers? Did anyone else notice the striking resemblance between Zapp Brannigan and Zaphod Beeblebrox? I had an image of Zapp in my mind every time Zaphod appeared on the page.

But back to Britain… when I learned the critical component of the Infinite Improbability Drive was a cup of hot tea… let’s just say it warmed my heart and provoked a spontaneous, gentle smile.

Apart from being terribly British, it’s also dreadfully amusing and easy-to-read. I loved it.

As for Stephen Fry’s narration of this audio-version --- *sigh* --- the man is a genius and has remained consistently on my list of “Fantasy Dinner Party Invitees” for the last 15 years so—obviously I would like to hack into the Audible website and somehow assign a sixth star in the category of “performance”.

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Hitchhiker never fails to entertain

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I'm not the sort of person who recommends things to my friends - they're just so finicky. However, should I find out that a friend is a Hitchhiker's fan AND a Stephen Fry fan AND they ask me if it was any good I'd tell them, "Yes, yes and yes!"

The performance of this story that I know so well brought me new laughs and enjoyment.

What a shame the story reminded me of how old I am by reminding me of how old it is.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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Weird not wise

So don’t get the hype surrounding this book. Sure it is a zany romp, but I use those adjectives pejoratively - I mean how many adults are really into zany romps. I’m thinking of throwing in caper somewhere in this review. For me it was infantile, bizarre and nonsensical - no real plot, tension, suspense, character arc, and certainly no profound wisdom. There are flashes of brilliance, I must admit, and I did enjoy some of the droll humour of the ordinary juxtaposed with the bizarre, but overall pretty vacuous. Brilliantly brilliantly narrated by Stephen Fry however.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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I have lived the story

The Voice of Stephen Fry suites this story perfectly! It lel me fall to a story and feel as I where there, near Arthur and Ford.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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Very Funny Reading

Stephen Fry is a master story teller. kep me entertained throughout the book.

The writer did a very good job. Will now read the sequel.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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"Mice, they paid for earth." Mind Blowing.

Love to Love it, Stephen Fry made it better, as a matter of fact, he is undoubtedly the best at these sort of entertainment.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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Just ok

Stephen fry is fantastic as always. However as a newcomer to the series I wasn't a huge fan. Mainly because I didn't particularly like the humour.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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My Memories have been Fry'ed...

always loved Douglas Adams as a young Adult and was meaning to re read the trilogy (in four parts of course) in any case.

this was well worth the buy as Stephen Fry really does an outstanding performance, just bringing the book to life. This must be the best version of this work in my opinion, much netter than reading the book myself or watching the movie.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

As always a great story, highly amusing but...

Stephen Fry has managed to disappoint again with a rather stolid reading of a very funny and great book. So sad.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Always a winner

I read this book when I was 20. Over a decade later, I thought it was about time to re-read it. So, with a puzzle in front of me, I began listening to this funny story once again. I just did it to feel good, to laugh, and to reminisce.

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