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  • Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

  • By: Douglas Adams
  • Narrated by: Stephen Fry
  • Length: 5 hrs and 51 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (1,196 ratings)

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Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

By: Douglas Adams
Narrated by: Stephen Fry
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Editorial reviews

Master of comedy Stephen Fry delivers a brilliant audiobook narration of the best-selling novel The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, written by Douglas Adams. Arthur Dent is a very British man having a very bad day. He discovers his friend is an alien and he’s taken off earth just as it’s destroyed to make way for a galaxy highway. To make matters worse, he hasn’t even had his morning cup of tea yet. This ingeniously constructed story takes a humorous look at how something as precious as Earth isn’t always appreciated until it’s gone. A lighthearted and enjoyable listen. Available now from Audible.

Publisher's summary

A much loved science-fiction classic, this entertaining intergalactic adventure has a lot going for it - including narration by British comedian Stephen Fry. Adams displays his talents for a creating a whole new world in this first of five audiobooks in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series. Packed with brilliant humour, extraordinary characters and a highly original storyline, it's no wonder that this novel is a favourite of so many.

One Thursday lunchtime the Earth gets unexpectedly demolished to make way for a new hyperspace bypass. For Arthur Dent, who has only just had his house demolished that morning, this seems already to be more than he can cope with. Sadly, however, the weekend has only just begun, and the Galaxy is a very strange and startling place.

©1979 Serious Productions Ltd (P)2005 Macmillan Publishers International Limited

Critic reviews

'One of the greatest achievements in comedy. A work of staggering genius' - David Walliams

'By turns authoritative as the narrator, bemused as Arthur Dent, deadpan as Ford Prefect and manic as Zaphod Beeblebrox, he [Stephen Fry] makes an altogether appropriate reader' - The Times

'Master of comedy Stephen Fry delivers a brilliant audiobook narration' - Editor Review

'He had almost a Wodehousian style and some of his phrases and jokes entered our language. He changed the way people spoke' - Stephen Fry

What listeners say about Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

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

Steven Fry nails it

Hitchhikers was always a bit uneven for me ... but never too uneven to not be a fan.

Steven Fry does an excellent job ironing out that unevenness. He has a good range of voices and I found myself not hearing his own voice through everything, which, given his TV exposure is quite a feat. Now and then I thought his choices reflected the original radio broadcast and TV series and I liked that.

I recommend the Guide ...

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

Amazing simply amazing

This is the fundation for evey sci-fi satire that came afterwards. Just Listen to it.

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

Fry makes everything better

I have always wanted to read this book but haven't been able to get through it, I always end up falling asleep, buuuut Stephen Fry has changed that. His voice was made to read this book!

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

Funny and entertaining

This story is hilarious love the narration my favourite character is Marvin the depressed robot.

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

Hitchhiker never fails to entertain

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

I'm not the sort of person who recommends things to my friends - they're just so finicky. However, should I find out that a friend is a Hitchhiker's fan AND a Stephen Fry fan AND they ask me if it was any good I'd tell them, "Yes, yes and yes!"

The performance of this story that I know so well brought me new laughs and enjoyment.

What a shame the story reminded me of how old I am by reminding me of how old it is.

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4 people found this helpful

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

Always a winner

I read this book when I was 20. Over a decade later, I thought it was about time to re-read it. So, with a puzzle in front of me, I began listening to this funny story once again. I just did it to feel good, to laugh, and to reminisce.

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1 person found this helpful

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

I've never actually laughed at book before...

The comedy genre was always awkward for me, so I didn't know what to expect when I started this book.
It was hilarious, I laughed out loud multiple times, sometimes even going back just rehear it, definitely a great performance by Stephen Fry, although I'm not sure why, but I tend to tune out more when I listen to his recordings, might just be me.
Everyone should read this, I haven't encountered such creativity in a book in a while, if ever.

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

I can’t believe I waited so long to tackle this one!

The story meanders and some of the names are outlandish (but, of course!), yet the wit in both the dialogue and narration make this book a real gem. I’m not a science fiction aficionado but I loved this one and would highly recommend it. The humor is dripping from every page.

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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

a must read if you're into scifi and humour

Stephen's performance is stellar. The book has lots of fun moments, some of which have made it into pop culture. Didn't give it a straight 5 because it's so far out I had to be in the right mindset to listen to it, in short time spans.

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

Revisiting an old friend and bravo Stephen Fry!

So many great lines in this book.
Completely silly and completely perfect. Have read this many times, but just finished audio book version read by Stephen Fry, which is a lot like having a bowl of the the best ice cream in the world and adding lots of yummy freckles and chic chips!

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