• The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

  • By: Douglas Adams
  • Narrated by: Stephen Fry
  • Length: 5 hrs and 51 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (54,174 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy  By  cover art

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

By: Douglas Adams
Narrated by: Stephen Fry
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $12.86

Buy for $12.86

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Seconds before the Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is plucked off the planet by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised edition of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy who, for the last 15 years, has been posing as an out-of-work actor.

Together this dynamic pair begin a journey through space aided by quotes from The Hitchhiker's Guide ("A towel is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have.") and a galaxy full of fellow travelers: Zaphod Beeblebrox, the two-headed, three-armed ex-hippie and totally out-to-lunch president of the galaxy; Trillian, Zaphod's girlfriend (formally Tricia McMillan), whom Arthur tried to pick up at a cocktail party once upon a time zone; Marvin, a paranoid, brilliant, and chronically depressed robot; and Veet Voojagig, a former graduate student who is obsessed with the disappearance of all the ballpoint pens he bought over the years.

Where are these pens? Why are we born? Why do we die? Why do we spend so much time in between wearing digital watches? For all the answers stick your thumb to the stars. And don't forget to bring a towel!

Listen to the rest of Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy "trilogy."

Want to learn more about the new Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy movie? Listen to this interview with Robbie Stamp, close friend of Douglas Adams and executive producer of the film.

©1980 Serious Productions Ltd (P)2005 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

Featured Article: The Best Celebrity Narrated Audiobooks


It’s likely you have an actor who you can’t wait to see in a new movie or television series. Your favorite performer just might also be an acclaimed audiobook narrator. It’s always a delight to pick up a familiar story and find an unexpected famous friend in the narrator’s booth, especially when that celebrity has a spectacular talent for narration. Discover some of literature’s greatest stories brought to life by some of Hollywood’s greatest talents.

What listeners say about The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    40,113
  • 4 Stars
    9,441
  • 3 Stars
    3,167
  • 2 Stars
    912
  • 1 Stars
    541
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    40,016
  • 4 Stars
    5,005
  • 3 Stars
    1,119
  • 2 Stars
    231
  • 1 Stars
    187
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    33,981
  • 4 Stars
    7,898
  • 3 Stars
    3,055
  • 2 Stars
    974
  • 1 Stars
    580

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

amusing story

If you could sum up The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy in three words, what would they be?

thought provoking silliness

What did you like best about this story?

The ironic twists to the plot. The characters are mostly unbelievable, which makes it impossible to foresee how our hero Arthur will escape from his dilemmas.

What about Stephen Fry’s performance did you like?

The changes in his voice as he switches between the characters.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I had heard some of the amusing parts from friends who had read it in the past, so listening to it now had less impact. I did enjoy the solution = 42.

Any additional comments?

I don't think I will listen to the rest of the trilogy. Having heard Douglas Adams speak during some interviews, my expectations may have been to high. As I listened I could not help but ask if there was some deeper meaning to the story that I was missing.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

love it! a classic for everyone. so clever.

love it. a classic. Great narration from Mr fry too. a must for everyone. thanks!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

2nd Best Performance Ever

Ultra best goes to Douglas himself. Somewhere out in the western arm of an unfashionable spiral galaxy (known as a drawer in my living room) exists a cassette version of the original audiobook read by Mr. Adams. Please, get rights to that!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Only on Chapter 11 but cannot wait to say...

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

I AM LOVING IT! The quirkiness of the story is one of a kind.. I find myself laughing out loud a lot and I'm only barely halfway thru!

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy?

That I have not seen the movie before reading or listening to this book and I am so glad.

What about Stephen Fry’s performance did you like?

There is NO WAY I would have been able to read this for myself. There are so many silly words, names, and places that is complete gibberish! If I was trying to read it myself, I might not have gotten this far. Stephen Fry does an excellent job. He makes it fun to listen to.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A must!

Quirky British humor at its finest. Perfectly narrated! I laughed and replayed several sections over and over again.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Hilarious

Douglas Adams describes life with unpredictable satire. Stephen Fry narrates with fantastic clarity and character styles.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Pure Enjoyment!

I was a Douglas Adams fan & shared his genius with my children many years ago. Both the revisiting of the story & Steven Fry's narration are priceless! I will definitely purchase more!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

This book imprints on your soul.

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

I recently re-read this as a refresher and it was just as good now as it was 10 years ago. The quick wit, humor and perception of Douglas Adams transcends time and space. Just like many of his characters. So many little references in it that have turned out to be dead on.

What did you like best about this story?

The humor. It makes you laugh out loud.

What does Stephen Fry bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His distinctive voice hits all the lines as Douglas Adams intended; he did a wonderful job.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

timeless classic

always fun, even so many years after I read it first..
funny in a weird way, makes you think from time to time..

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

WOW

All you can say about Hitchhiker's books is WOW. plus it is a real thril to D. A read them him self. It is just the kind of thing he would love. Reading his books to you after he is dead. just great!!!!!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!