The Restaurant at the End of the Universe

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Book 2

By: Douglas Adams

Narrated by: Martin Freeman

Length: 5 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

Now celebrating the 42nd anniversary of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, soon to be a Hulu original series!

“Douglas Adams is a terrific satirist.”—The Washington Post Book World

Facing annihilation at the hands of the warlike Vogons? Time for a cup of tea! Join the cosmically displaced Arthur Dent and his uncommon comrades in arms in their desperate search for a place to eat, as they hurtle across space powered by pure improbability.

Among Arthur’s motley shipmates are Ford Prefect, a longtime friend and expert contributor to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy; Zaphod Beeblebrox, the three-armed, two-headed ex-president of the galaxy; Tricia McMillan, a fellow Earth refugee who’s gone native (her name is Trillian now); and Marvin, the moody android. Their destination? The ultimate hot spot for an evening of apocalyptic entertainment and fine dining, where the food speaks for itself (literally).

Will they make it? The answer: hard to say. But bear in mind that The Hitchhiker’s Guide deleted the term “Future Perfect” from its pages, since it was discovered not to be!

“What’s such fun is how amusing the galaxy looks through Adams’s sardonically silly eyes.”—Detroit Free Press

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)2006 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

Love it!!

Very imaginative story that is humorous and confusing. Great read or listen! I love how it all ties together like a puzzle!

british comedy...and sci-fi...properly funny

The second installment in Adams story of Authur Dent makes for a great time. Not too long and the twists are fun even for someone who has read the series many times before. Only Adams in traditional English style can make a joke out of verb tenses in the context of time travel. The story he tells is solid enough that fantastic special effects would not be needed for a visual presentaion.

Don't Panic

Would you consider the audio edition of The Restaurant at the End of the Universe to be better than the print version?

Yes.

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

I love Freeman's wide variety of voices. They are recognizable instantly and as to those who were taken aback by the voice chosen for Zaphod Beeblebrox... This was true to the way he was written. The cadence of his speech is suited to the accent used in this audio. I will not compare Martin Freeman to Stephen Fry. They are each wonderful in their own right but, for my taste, I prefer Freeman. I enjoyed them both, but Freeman is my choice. I understand that others may prefer Fry but that doesn't make Freeman's version bad, nor vice versa.

Any additional comments?

I really enjoyed reading this book but I loved this audio.

biased but I love this series

and Martin Freeman reading is just perfect. he nails each character and is still the perfect Arthur Dent

would have got 5 stars but....

if the last 2 minutes playing correctly. everything else was great like all the others.p

More Genius from Adams, Freeman Shines

If you could sum up The Restaurant at the End of the Universe in three words, what would they be?

Wonderful comedic universe.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Restaurant at the End of the Universe?

The entire concept of the restaurant is beautifully realized by Adams.

Have you listened to any of Martin Freeman’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is the first narration I've listened to by Martin Freeman, though I am very familiar with his work on screen. Some have complained about his rendition of Zaphod, but it is not a bad performance. Freeman's portrayal of Zaphod fits well with the way he is described in the books, and once I got used to his voice I didn't mind at all.

Stephen Fry's guide narrations from the first audiobook are unmatched, but Freeman excels at creating unique voices for each of the characters (he manages a surprising range of voices) and drawing you into the action. I can't wait to listen to more.

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

Lost in space-time

Any additional comments?

Wonderful installment in a classic series. You will love it.

Wonderful, can't wait to read the next one!

Great story, great humor and amazing actor!
It was a very good book to improve my English.

42 Stars... for the Story

Where does The Restaurant at the End of the Universe rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Great story but the voice effects were obnoxious. They add some extra echoes and baritones to some non-human characters which makes them difficult to understand.

Magnificently pointless, as is everything.

Yes, the narration was different than the first book, but he was still fabulous and engaging! I can't wait to listen to the next!

As good the hundredth time.

Always a fan of Adam's acerbic wit. Freeman is a great and versatile vocal talent.