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A review by jm_brister
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
adventurous
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Overview
Okay, I will have to say that this review is going to be A LOT biased because I really, really love Douglas Adams. This was the book that really launched that love. I mean, this book has everything that a Sci-Fi lover would want, plus it's written with the awesome humor that is Douglas Adams.
The story follows a man named Arthur Dent and what happens on a morning where everything goes wrong. You see, his house is about to be demolished to make room for a bypass. But things get even worse for Arthur when he meets up with an old friend, Ford Prefect, and learns that the Earth is going to be demolished as well. Of course, Ford is not really a human either. He's a writer for an encyclopedia called The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and he's been stranded on for years. Throughout the book, Arthur learns the essentials of hitchhiking the galaxy and how to manage the craziness that is the universe. And the reader is delighted with Adams' quirky writing and sometimes odd plot (okay, well I was delighted...).
The series is full of interesting and sometimes quite odd characters. Arthur, Ford, Zaphod, and Trillian are unique and fun characters. Arthur is kind of pathetic in a lovable way. Ford seems like one of the more reasonable characters, but he still has his own quirks. Zaphod is crazy and self-centered, but that somehow makes him more lovable. Trillian is that person that you want to be. I mean, who wouldn't want to get whisked away to outer space and go on an adventure? Okay, well maybe I would want that...
This book may be fun and quirky, but it actually has a lot going on with it. Besides being a strong satirical novel, this book actually broke ground with humor and Science Fiction (I don't know if we would have had shows like Red Dwarf without this book). A lot of this book may seem "silly" on first glance, but it really highlights the absurdity of life. And the writing style is amazing. It is short and succinct when needed for a punchy delivery but complex in content.
Yay! This is a great book. HOWEVER, it is not my favorite Hitchhiker's book. Oh, no. As much as I like The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe is my favorite of the series (and one of my favorite books of all time). But you'll have to wait for my review on that one. My verdict for this book? Five stars.
Okay, I will have to say that this review is going to be A LOT biased because I really, really love Douglas Adams. This was the book that really launched that love. I mean, this book has everything that a Sci-Fi lover would want, plus it's written with the awesome humor that is Douglas Adams.
The story follows a man named Arthur Dent and what happens on a morning where everything goes wrong. You see, his house is about to be demolished to make room for a bypass. But things get even worse for Arthur when he meets up with an old friend, Ford Prefect, and learns that the Earth is going to be demolished as well. Of course, Ford is not really a human either. He's a writer for an encyclopedia called The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and he's been stranded on for years. Throughout the book, Arthur learns the essentials of hitchhiking the galaxy and how to manage the craziness that is the universe. And the reader is delighted with Adams' quirky writing and sometimes odd plot (okay, well I was delighted...).
The series is full of interesting and sometimes quite odd characters. Arthur, Ford, Zaphod, and Trillian are unique and fun characters. Arthur is kind of pathetic in a lovable way. Ford seems like one of the more reasonable characters, but he still has his own quirks. Zaphod is crazy and self-centered, but that somehow makes him more lovable. Trillian is that person that you want to be. I mean, who wouldn't want to get whisked away to outer space and go on an adventure? Okay, well maybe I would want that...
This book may be fun and quirky, but it actually has a lot going on with it. Besides being a strong satirical novel, this book actually broke ground with humor and Science Fiction (I don't know if we would have had shows like Red Dwarf without this book). A lot of this book may seem "silly" on first glance, but it really highlights the absurdity of life. And the writing style is amazing. It is short and succinct when needed for a punchy delivery but complex in content.
Yay! This is a great book. HOWEVER, it is not my favorite Hitchhiker's book. Oh, no. As much as I like The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe is my favorite of the series (and one of my favorite books of all time). But you'll have to wait for my review on that one. My verdict for this book? Five stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Violence, and Murder