The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: The Primary Phase (Dramatized)

By: Douglas Adams

Narrated by: Peter Jones, Simon Jones, Geoffrey McGivern, Mark Wing-Davey, Susan Sheridan, Stephen Moore, full cast

Length: 3 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

A dynamic remastering of the original BBC Radio 4 full-cast serial - Fit the First to Fit the Sixth - which spawned a phenomenal hitchhiking legend.

The original series of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, remastered by Dirk Maggs (director of the Tertiary, Quandary and Quintessential Phases) to give a full, vibrant sound, now with Philip Pope’s version of the familiar theme tune and specially re-recorded announcements by John Marsh.

Join Arthur Dent, Ford Prefect, Trillian, Zaphod Beeblebrox and Marvin the Paranoid Android in their first series of adventures as they witness the destruction of Earth to make way for a hyperspace bypass, stumble upon the ancient planet of Magrathea, dine at the Restaurant at the End of the Universe and seek an answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe and everything.

Peter Jones, Simon Jones, Geoffrey McGivern, Mark Wing-Davey, Susan Sheridan, Stephen Moore and a full supporting cast star in these BBC Radio 4 episodes.

A special 55-minute bonus programme, Douglas Adams's Guide to the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, explores the genesis of the radio series and its incredible success, with contributions from the original cast and production team.

Audio files were replaced in April 2021.

©2008 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2008 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The best of what is to come.

The beginning of one of the best sifi stories ever told. A must read \listen if you would ever consider your self a nerd and want to alienate one's self from conversation with other mammals. The jokes are amazing and I wish Mr. Adams was alive today.

a radio classic

Douglas Adams is a master of the comedic sci-fi, the voice acting and sound desgin is spot on. one of the great radio classics i have a deep love of radio shows and am constatly on the hunt for another master piece and i am proud to add it to my colection.

A fun version of a favorite story

I've read the novel of Hitchhiker's Guide several times, and listened to its audiobook once. When I found out that the original radio dramas were available on Audible, I jumped at the chance, because I'd always been curious about those.

The story is great fun as always, the actors are great, and the mini-documentary after the episodes is a nice bonus. Unfortunately, the sound reproduction of the drama is kind of murky and made it hard for me to understand a few of the lines, especially ones where the performers' voices were heavily modulated. That's the main reason it gets four stars overall.

Unbeatable Classic

It's been ages since I last listened to the radio show for Hitchhikers. Like many people, I have fond memories of listening to it on cassette tape, recorded from an original copy and shared friend to friend, family to family. I don't know who got her into it, but it was my mom who first shared those tapes with me, when I was aged only in the single digits. I've remained a die-hard fan ever since.

The show was just as hilarious as I remembered. The jokes still fly today, even when I've already heard them a thousand times. The acting and sound effects come together wonderfully to make you feel like you're right there with the characters. I really loved the extra documentary episode at the end, too. Not only was it interesting learning about what went into the creation of the show, learning that Douglas Adams struggled with procrastination and perfectionism makes me feel less worried about my own creative efforts!

Better than the books

This is the original BBC radio show that introduced the Hitchhiker's GTTG to the world. It works better as half hour episodes than as a complete book. There is essentially no ongoing plot, just a series of set pieces to showcase Adams' unique sense of humor. It worked best for me when centered on Arthur and Ford, so the early episodes.

Brilliant

Always preferred the radio series. Superb. Takes me right back !! What great memories. What a great production. If your a hitchhiker fan and dont have the radio series, buy them - you wont be disappointed.

HIliarious!

What did you love best about The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy?

Humor, witty-ness, well dramatised, Good story, moves right along. Imaginative. Very upbeat, great pace, read clearly.

What other book might you compare The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy to and why?

not sure

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

terrific!!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

hilarious and witty

Any additional comments?

I want more of this!

So many confused reviews.

Some history for folks considering buying this remastered version of the original radio series:

1. The first radio series came BEFORE the novels. This is not a dramatization. They're very different in certain ways.

2. Adam's did radio, print, tv, and film versions (though he was dead by the time the film was released), and they are very different creatures. You may not like one version or another. He fit the series to the medium and sometimes it lost something in the translation.

3. There's a reason effects sound like they're from the 70s. The remastering was done in 2008. That doesn't change the fact that the original (being remastered here) was done in the 70s.

Having said all that, I agree with some of the more knowledgeable reviews that the original (not remastered) was better. This version reminds of me Big Finish audio plays, and they can be a bit loud, weirdly mixed, and overwhelming.

Audio issues

The sound effects often drown out the words making it harder to follow the plot

One version of one time that thing happened.

The end is the best, once you find it, but it won't make much difference to you by then, Enjoy!