• 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 (54,235 ratings)

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The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy  By  cover art

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

By: Douglas Adams
Narrated by: Stephen Fry
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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 Audible Essentials Top 100


The spirited (but friendly) debate over these titles could have gone on indefinitely. With years of listening, countless customer reviews, and a catalog of seemingly infinite great listens, 100 suddenly felt like a very small number. What we know for sure—each title that made it to this collection is elevated and made special in some way by audio, whether by a layered performance from a single narrator, a brilliantly cohesive full cast, original music, or immersive sound effects. Discover an audio experience for the ages.

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

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    40,162
  • 4 Stars
    9,448
  • 3 Stars
    3,171
  • 2 Stars
    913
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Performance
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    1,120
  • 2 Stars
    231
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Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    34,022
  • 4 Stars
    7,901
  • 3 Stars
    3,058
  • 2 Stars
    976
  • 1 Stars
    580

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

Fun and uncanny

This is a fun book to listen if you want to waste some time. Not informative but still intriguing and captivating at times. There are chapters that are hard to follow and a bit annoying but it’s a nonfiction book so a fun book overall

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Great story

Love the story, however I’m not a HUGE fan of Fry’s narration. Nothing against the guy, it’s just I prefer American accent (not a native English speaker myself) so it’s easier for me. If you’re a Brit you must love it! Although I did finish the book and liked it a lot.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Fun ride

Will be reading again. Lovely adventure with lots to take in. Obust characters. Highly recommended.

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

First book that made me literally laugh out loud

Douglas Adams was so whitty and poignent in his story telling. The story was engaging, the writing hilarious, and the performance of Stephen Fry can't be understated. I only wish Stephen Fry was the narrator for the other books in the series.

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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

Movie was better

I like movie better but story and narrative is still good. Worth giving it a listen.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Must Listen

I absolutely love this book in general but this audio version is exceptional. I'd listen to anything Stephen Fry recited so I might be a bit biased but I would recommend this to everyone :)

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Everyone needs to read this!

I avoided this book for many years thinking it was just a silly story. Upon a recommendation I read it and quickly learned that we should not assume anything.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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hilarious

Fry's performance of this brilliantly funny text is equal to the task and even more.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Oh no! Not again!

A bowl of petunias and Stephen Fry bring an exceptional performance to a hilarious book.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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my favorite book

I've ready this a few times it's my favorite
book. I'm finally about to read the second

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