29 Sept 2014

Book Review: Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy


Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is the first book in a comedy science-fiction “trilogy”(that actually contains 5 books) written by Douglas Adams. If you haven’t read it already, I would highly recommend it. It starts off when Earth is about to be demolished by an alien race called Vogons but then Arthur Dent’s best friend Ford Prefect turns up and manages to hitch them a lift on the unwelcoming Vogon’s ship and the adventure begins.



At first I wasn’t so sure about reading it but I soon fell into the story and its characters. Some would describe it as “silly” but I wouldn’t see that as a critique. I could understand the many well-known references and phrases tossed around but if you can’t, “don’t panic”. I never lost interest in this book and kept reading as it captures your imagination and makes you smile. I could read it again and again.

The “Nation’s Best-Loved Book*” is full of hilarious mysteries and laughs and comedic use of the number 42. I think all ages would enjoy this book. It’s a classic comedy that has also been adapted into film, radio, four books, a TV Series, a computer game and three major stage productions. Along the way you’ll meet: Marvin, the robot with the brain the size of a planet and chronic depression, Zaphod-Beeblebrox, the president of the galaxy and his girlfriend whom Arthur met once at a cocktail party but failed to impress. As well as many other extraordinary Aliens, Robots and other life-forms. Generations have enjoyed this book from children to teens to the elderly and further generations will too.

By Pip, year 10

*According to The Telegraph