Today Caramel is talking to Sprinkles about The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, the 1979 book by Douglas Adams that originated from a 1978 radio show and then went on to evolve into a whole “comedy science fiction franchise”, according to Wikipedia.
Sprinkles: So we are talking about The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy today. I am excited! I had really enjoyed reading this book myself.
Caramel: Yup, this book was surely a really good read. I had a lot of fun reading it.
S: Yay! So maybe we can start with a brief introduction to the story for anyone reading our blog who might not know about it.
C: Sure. It is a scifi book that is infused with a lot of comedy.
S: It is funny, I agree. Tell us more.
C: This book tells the story of a guy named Arthur Dent and another one named Ford Perfect.
S: It is actually Prefect, as in Ford Prefect, the car.
C: Yes, I knew that but somehow forgot. Yes, he is actually named that because he came to Earth fifteen years before the start of this story, maybe around when the car came out, you see Ford Prefect is an alien from Betelgeuse Seven.
S: Yes, apparently the author at some point said that Ford “had simply mistaken the dominant life form on Earth” (again according to Wikipedia).
C: Yes, when you look at it from outer space, apparently, humans don’t look like the dominant species on Earth. So Ford Prefect thought he should blend in and gave himself the name of a common car. But actually humans are really not the dominant species on Earth, according to The Hitchhiker’s Guide. It is the mice who are the smartest species on our planet.
S: That is funny! I mean, we have read many books about clever mice, remember Poppy and Ragweed?
C: Yes, then there is Ralph and Babymouse. So to me it sounds reasonable!
S: But this book is not really about mice, is it?
C: No, it is about the adventures of Arthur and Ford. So Ford comes to Earth to work on a guide book, and then is stuck. At the time when the book starts, Ford knows that the planet is going to be destroyed soon and wants to save Arthur and he tries to teach him about life in the universe. He tells him about this amazing guide book, The Hitchhiker’s Guide, that anyone who is going out traveling in space should have.
S: So the book The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is about a book called The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy?
C: Kind of, but it is more about Ford and Arthur.
S: So what happens? Do they leave the Earth together? And why on earth is the Earth going to be destroyed?
C: Because the planet is in the way of an intergalactic highway that some people want to build.
S: Ouch! That’s rough! Okay, so Earth cannot appeal and they have to leave, right? What do they do? Does the Earth really get destroyed in the book?
C: Yes, the entire planet is destroyed and turned to ash.
S: You said this was a funny book. That sounds pretty terrible.
C: Yes, but you know it is fiction when you are reading it. And the book is funny! Really funny. And they do not go into the details of the destruction at all really; that is almost an excuse to get Ford and Arthur traveling together.
S: And also telling us that our planet is one of many and maybe we should not be so full of ourselves if they can just demolish it to make a highway, like we do not really matter in the grand scheme of things.
C: When you say it like that, it maybe does not sound so funny, but it is really funny Sprinkles.
S: I know Caramel, and actually I like being reminded that we should not be too full of ourselves. Our lives matter, what we do matters, but we are not at the center of the universe. It is a small world after all but it is inside a very big universe.
S: Anyways back to the book. So what happens in the end? You know there are many more books in the series?
C: They get picked up on accident by an alien ship, and are then thrown out of the ship, and then are picked up by another ship. Apparently Arthur is the only human remaining from Earth, and it is kind of funny because he is just a normal guy. Anyways, along the way a lot of hilarious things happen and we learn from Ford about the Guide and all sorts of weird facts from it.
S: Oooh, you like facts! But of course these are probably fictional facts, right? Can you tell me a couple?
C: Yep, they are fictional but also really fun. One is about the Babel fish which feeds off of brain waves and can translate any language.
S: Ooh, cool, like the universal translator in Star Trek or in Doctor Who, but it is a fish! Awesome! One more?
C: There is a thing called the Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster, which is a cocktail that contains Ol’ Janx Spirit, a particularly vicious alcoholic drink, and is so strong that you will need to recuperate in a hospital.
S: That sounds bad. Okay, so maybe it is time to wrap up this review. Overall it seems like this book kept you entertained, right? Do you want to read the next book in the series? It is called The Restaurant at the End of the Universe. I think there are five more books in total.
C: Sure, why not?
S: Alright, we will see if we can get you a copy. Okay, Caramel, what would you like to tell our readers as we wrap up this review?
C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!
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