The weirdest book ever!
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I have never read any of Douglas Adams books before; I found this book strange and a bit unusual. But I still enjoyed the story based on an Earthling called Arthur Dent, who wakes up one morning to find the council preparing to demolish his home. This is also the day when the alien Vogons demolish the planet Earth to make way for a hyperspace express bypass.
I decided to watch the film which I thought was good, but the book is in much more detail than the film. So I would recommend you read the book before you watch the film.
If you are somebody that enjoys funny and unusual things then this is the book for you. I think this book would mainly be aimed towards young teenagers and older as it has some things in it, which might be a bit hard for a child to understand. When I read and watched the Hitch-Hikers Guide to the Galaxy I felt like I was there, watching the Earth being demolished by the alien Vogons.
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Best Books that I Have Ever Read
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These are, without a doubt, the best books that I have ever read. Not because of the story , but because of the storytelling.
Douglas Adams has the uncanny ability to take any subject and make it tense, funny, or anything else that you happen to mention.
For example, he takes a perfectly ordinary metting between two people at a train station, and makes into a tense situation that has you on the edge of your seat.
Now, onto the story. The basic premise is that there is a single person, and a lot of very extraordinary things happen to him. In some books, similar things happen, and you start thinking about how improbable it is, and the chances that any of the things would actually happen. That is not the case in these stories for the plain and simple reason that it rapidly becomes apparent that Arthur Dent really is God's plaything (despite the fact that God no longer exists), and that, to quote the book "when [he] is least expecting it, the Universe will suddenly leap out from behind a corner and yell BOO at [him]".
There is one other thing that bears mentioning before I let you get on with ordering the book, and that is Mr. Adams' tendancy to shoot off on real tangents (i.e. a small leap at first but quickly become uttery unconnected). These are, in my opinion, the best parts of the book, but you will have to read it yourself and decide.
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Fantastic Book
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After I saw the film, I got the book, and found it much more enjoyable, and I now find the film quite dull compared with the book. Be warned, there is no sanity whatsoever in the book, just a lot of funny stuff!
Reading it again and again I still find it to be most enjoyable, a wonderful work of fiction, thoroughly recommended
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Amazingly Brilliant....
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I thoroughly enjoyed these books. It had always been something that had "been there" throughout life and I ahd always thought about reading them, but frankly, couldnt be bothered (much like LotR, which I also read for the same reasons) but once the film's release was announced, I decided to read at least the first book before seeing it. That way, Id get the "right" (although, the Radio and TV series' were different in parts to the books anyway...) story.
I love how they are written and all the little bits that are just thrown in at not-so-random places (they have some relevance). I think its because that is how I tend to talk. I say something, then have to explain something else so you know what the first thing was, then I go back again. Adams does that in these books, so it was very easy for me to come to grips with.
I reccommend these to anyone who enjoys random, but well thought out silliness. They'll make you laugh and can be read over and over again.
And who knows, you might even understand more about Life, the Universe and Everything *shifts eyes and hides at the end of book 5*
Enjoy!!
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Avoid Number 4
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The fact that I tore through all five books would suggest it was a good read. I would definitely recommend the orginal trilogy. I first read all five books when I was a young teenager (at least 10 years ago), and have fond, but hazy memories of them. After seeing the film, I decided to reread them. Although I still loved retreading the journey of Arthur, Ford Prefect, Marvin, Trillian and Zaphod, I became annoyed with Adams' style. He flits about for no apparent reason, throwing up repetitive stories about alien civilisitations (usually based round a familiar Earth household object). He also leaves stories in the air, with no explanation. What happended to Arthur with that girl he met on ancient Earth? What was the whole point of 'So Long...Thanks for All the Fish'? And so many other points, that you are left feeling frustrated. Despite all this, Douglas Adams' ideas, and views of what the universe may be like, draws you in. The simple idea of the book itself has proved it has enormous mileage. True they could have been written a bit better, but I think most people forgive that. The first sequel (fourth) adds absolutely nothing to the story (rather like a Matrix sequel), but 'Most Harmless' is quite an entertaining diversion. You still come out a bit confused, but it's an ending, at least.
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