Summary
Douglas Adams' seminal science fiction comedy novel The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy was first published in 1979, quickly becoming a cultural phenomenon. The book, which originated as a BBC radio series, follows the misadventures of Arthur Dent, an ordinary Englishman thrust into an extraordinary journey across the cosmos after Earth's destruction.
Known for its irreverent humor and satirical take on life, the universe, and everything, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy introduced iconic elements like the babel fish, the importance of towels for interstellar travelers, and the cryptic answer to life's greatest question: 42. The novel's popularity spawned a franchise including five sequels, stage shows, comic books, and a text-based computer game.
Perhaps the most famous adaptation is the 2005 feature film starring Martin Freeman as Arthur Dent. While it received mixed reviews, the movie introduced Adams' unique brand of British humor to a new generation of fans. Today, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy remains a beloved classic, celebrated annually on May 25th, known as Towel Day, by devoted readers around the world.
Plot
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy begins with Arthur Dent's house being demolished to make way for a bypass. Just as Earth is about to be destroyed for a similar reason, Arthur's friend Ford Prefect, secretly an alien researcher, rescues him by hitching a ride on a Vogon spaceship. The Vogons, bureaucratic aliens responsible for Earth's destruction, discover the pair and eject them into space after subjecting them to poetry.
Arthur and Ford are improbably rescued by the Heart of Gold, a ship stolen by the two-headed, three-armed President of the Galaxy, Zaphod Beeblebrox. Also aboard are Trillian, a woman Arthur once met at a party, and Marvin, a depressed robot. The group travels to the legendary planet Magrathea, where they narrowly avoid destruction by missiles and land on the surface.
On Magrathea, Arthur learns from a native named Slartibartfast that Earth was actually a supercomputer designed to calculate the Ultimate Question to Life, the Universe, and Everything. The answer, 42, had been determined by another computer called Deep Thought, but without knowing the question, the answer was meaningless. Earth was destroyed just before completing its calculations.
The group reunites at a feast hosted by mice, who are revealed to be hyper intelligent pan-dimensional beings who commissioned Earth's construction. When the mice attempt to extract the Ultimate Question from Arthur's brain, a fight ensues. The protagonists escape, evading the police with unexpected help from Marvin, and decide to visit the Restaurant at the End of the Universe.
