isabellarobinson7's review against another edition
4.0
Rating: 4 stars
Wow, ok, So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish was way up there with The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Just saying that feels crazy: book four out doing book one (although, The Battle of the Labyrinth and The House of Hades are both my favourite in each of their respective series, so I guess it isn't that rare). That biscuit story Arthur tells is absolutely priceless (of which I have recorded below). Ford's little interludes were hilarious. As always, Arthur was his normal oblivious self. The times the book broke the fourth wall really added to the humor of the entire book. You have to read it to understand the true comedic genius that is Douglas Adams.
Also, the foreword of So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish is literally by Neil Gaiman! Like, the Neil Gaiman.
Arthur's biscuit story runs as follows:
Wow, ok, So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish was way up there with The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Just saying that feels crazy: book four out doing book one (although, The Battle of the Labyrinth and The House of Hades are both my favourite in each of their respective series, so I guess it isn't that rare). That biscuit story Arthur tells is absolutely priceless (of which I have recorded below). Ford's little interludes were hilarious. As always, Arthur was his normal oblivious self. The times the book broke the fourth wall really added to the humor of the entire book. You have to read it to understand the true comedic genius that is Douglas Adams.
Also, the foreword of So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish is literally by Neil Gaiman! Like, the Neil Gaiman.
Arthur's biscuit story runs as follows:
"So let me give you the layout. Me sitting at the table, on my left, the newspaper, on my right, the cup of coffee, in the middle of the table, the packet of biscuits."
"I see it perfectly."
"What you don't see," said Arthur, "because I haven't mentioned him yet, is the guy sitting at the table already. He is sitting there opposite me."
"What's he like?"
"Perfectly ordinary. Briefcase. Business suit. He didn't look," said Arthur, "as if he was about to do anything weird."
"Ah. I know the type. What did he do?"
"He did this. He leaned across the table, picked up the packet of biscuits, tore it open, took one out, and . . ."
"What?"
"Ate it."
"What?"
"He ate it."
Fenchurch looked at him in astonishment. "What on earth did you do?"
"Well, in the circumstances I did what any red-blooded Englishman would do. I was compelled," said Arthur, "to ignore it."
"What? Why?"
"Well, it's not the sort of thing you're trained for, is it? I searched my soul, and discovered that there was nothing anywhere in my upbringing, experience, or even primal instincts to tell me how to react to someone who has quite simply, calmly, sitting right there in front of me, stolen one of my biscuits."
"Well, you could . . ." Fenchurch thought about it.
"I must say I'm not sure what I would have done either. So what happened?"
"I stared furiously at the crossword," said Arthur, "couldn't do a single clue, took a sip of coffee, it was too hot to drink, so there was nothing for it. I braced myself. I took a biscuit, trying very hard not to notice,"
he added, "that the packet was already mysteriously open. . . ."
"But you're fighting back, taking a tough line."
"After my fashion, yes. I ate the biscuit. I ate it very deliberately and visibly, so that he would have no doubt as to what it was I was doing. When I eat a biscuit," said Arthur, "it stays eaten."
"So what did he do?"
"Took another one. Honestly," insisted Arthur, "this is exactly what happened. He took another biscuit, he ate it. Clear as daylight. Certain as we are sitting on the ground."
Fenchurch stirred uncomfortably.
"And the problem was," said Arthur, "that having not said anything the first time, it was somehow even more difficult to broach the subject the second time around. What do you say? 'Excuse me ...I couldn't help noticing, er...' Doesn't work. No, I ignored it with, if anything, even more vigor than previously."
"My man..."
"Stared at the crossword again, still couldn't budge a bit of it, so showing some of the spirit that Henry V did on St. Crispin's Day . ."
"What?"
"I went into the breach again. I took," said Arthur, "an-other biscuit. And for an instant our eyes met."
"Like this?"
"Yes, well, no, not quite like that. But they met. Just for an instant. And we both looked away. But I am here to tell you," said Arthur, "that there was a little electricity in the air. There was a little tension building up over the table. At about this time."
"I can imagine."”
"We went through the whole packet like this. Him, me, him, me..."
"The whole packet?"
"Well, it was only eight biscuits, but it seemed like a lifetime of biscuits we were getting through at this point. Gladiators could hardly have had a tougher time."
"Gladiators," said Fenchurch, "would have had to do it in the sun. More physically gruelling."
"There is that. So. When the empty packet was lying dead between us the man at last got up, having done his worst, and left. I heaved a sigh of relief, of course.
"As it happened, my train was announced a moment or two later, so I finished my coffee, stood up, picked up the newspaper, and underneath the newspaper ..."
"Yes?"
"Were my biscuits."
tbarracuda's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
c_arthur's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
cheyenneisreading's review
5.0
This one was so good! Arthur got himself a girlfriend and they went flying together and had sex in the clouds, too cute. We find out god's final message! We apologise for the inconvenience, which seems fitting, and worse of all Marvin, who suffered so much, died. At least his last words were some what peaceful in comparison to his usual state of mind.
ceils's review against another edition
dark
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
davehershey's review against another edition
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
First time through this series in over twenty years. This is probably my second favorite in the series, after the first book (obviously!). Having a focus on Arthur, with Zaphod absent, is a huge plus here.
Martin Freeman again does a fabulous job reading the audiobook.
Martin Freeman again does a fabulous job reading the audiobook.
jelenandbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0