Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

[Kommodus]

After viewing the Harry Potter thread, I have a literary question of my own... has anyone read the "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" books? If so, what did you think?

I just finished them myself and have mixed feelings. There were many passages I found completely hilarious, but after a while the complete randomness of many events became disorienting and tiresome. The sheer irrationality of it all was a bit much to cope with.

I also found there to be strong philosophical undertones throughout the entire series, but especially in the last book. It's as if the writer's own experiences as a wanderer in a diverse and confusing world that doesn't make sense to him find their expression in the universal human cry for somewhere to belong, to call home. Themes of disconnectedness, alienation, existentialism, purposelessness, and despair pervade the entire series - which may be a bit surprising considering the light-hearted tone of it all. It's not quite what I expected when I bought it.

Anyone else have any thoughts?

[Geoffrey S]

For a while, it's great; best read in short bursts to keep it as entertaining as possible.

[Kommodus]

For a while, it's great; best read in short bursts to keep it as entertaining as possible.

Ah, so you're saying I shouldn't have read it diligently day after day, for sometimes upwards of an hour each sitting? That may explain why I always found it funny when I first sat down to read, then increasingly bizarre and random as time wore on.

[Geoffrey S]

Perhaps; I know that longer periods of reading were less funny to me, and that in general I picked it up and read it for some 15 minutes at a time between other books, so I guess the humour stayed fresh.

[Reverend Joe]

They were really funny. In my opinion, they were a much better, if far more psychedelic, version of the 2001 series.

Too bad the movie was unwatchable.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Couldn't stand them, more of a Terry Pratchett fan.

[Lazul]

I loved all of it... sure some parts werent very funny, but I really loved all the references to the actuall "Guide"

[Beirut]

The weren't just great books - they were astounding books. The humour, the incredible depth of Adams's imagination and wit, the scope of the books, the insights, they are classics.

The Hitchhiker books are amongst the best I've ever read. The BBC radio series and TV series were both great as well. The recent movie sucked completely.

[Brutus]

Loved them. Some bits are absolutely hilarious, but if you continue reading them later bits may seem a bit 'dragged out', I found. After, recently re-reading them (also in a more relaxed atmosphere), I actually found them better and clearer than before. I really like his style of writing, as it all has a sort of wry sarcasm about it. Also, however chaotic, there seems to be a lot more continuity and logic to the stories then their origin (radio/tv/book) seems to suggest. But I guess you have to like Adams' work (or not). I found the movie quite amusing as well, by the way.

[Marcellus]

The books are very good indeed, but I have to say that I prefer the original radio series.

[Gregoshi]

I also found there to be strong philosophical undertones throughout the entire series, but especially in the last book.

To me, the last book was different as well. I completely enjoyed the first four. Then I made the mistake of reading a biography on Douglas Adams before the fifth book of the trilogy came out. Writing the books, the radio play, the TV series, the computer game, attempts at getting a movie made (and a stage show??) seemed to be complete torture to Mr. Adams. As I recall he was almost always missing his deadlines because the writing was the last thing on Earth he wanted to do. Maybe Mostly Harmless was just a plain, old bad book compared to the others, but when I did finally get to read it, I didn't see the humour in it - only the aggony I imagined behind the words. It seemed forced upon Mr. Adams (by the publisher or himself?) and he was just going through the motions. That last book was rather a sad read for me and I didn't enjoy it at all. Maybe someday I'll give it another try. It is a shame that these books that brought so much laughter to the world were so painful for the creator.

But, yeah, Hitchhikers is about the funniest thing I've ever read. It is rare for me to literally laugh out loud reading a book, but I was doing it constantly through all but the last book.

[Franconicus]

They are great, no, more than that. You have to read them to understand life, universe and all the rest.

O.k., not all volumes are equal, but in total they are great.

[Fragony]

I kind of liked the movie really, more so then the old series. Never read the books, my brother insists I do but the pile of unread books is high enough as it is for now.

[BDC]

Couldn't stand them, more of a Terry Pratchett fan.

I've always found the two authors to be very similar in style. Completely mad, with vague real-life underpinnings.

[doc_bean]

The first 3 books are great, the last two aren't. Not even worth reading imho.

Couldn't stand them, more of a Terry Pratchett fan.

Early Pratchett is pure adams rip off, he has however developed his own style over the years and has written some truly excellent books. His best work is better than Adams imo.

[Geoffrey S]

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is brilliant, no doubt. But for the best effect I think it does need to be read in short sections.