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I recently read The Hitchhikers Guide to The Galaxy, a book by the late Douglas Adams, and I would highly recommend it. It is a classic, interesting, funny, and relatable sci-fi story that everyone will be able to enjoy.  Unlike the movie version.

First of all, The Hitchhikers Guide to The Galaxy has a great plot. It follows the story of an Earthling called Arthur Dent, who has his house destroyed minutes before a species of aliens called Vogons destroy Earth. However, he is rescued by his friend, Ford Prefect, who was secretly an alien who became stranded on Earth. They meet Zaphod Beeblebrox, the ex-hippie President of the Galaxy, and his girlfriend, a former acquaintance of Arthur’s named Trillian, as well as a chronically depressed robot named Marvin. Together, they visit the ancient planet, Magrathea, in order to find the answer to “The Ultimate Question.” The book includes entries from a fictional book called “The Hitchhikers Guide to The Galaxy,” which explains the backstories of and how to deal with every situation in the galaxy and takes up several chapters of explanations, including a memorable chapter all about towels. It is an interesting story that will have you captivated until you reach the acknowledgments page and finish the story. 

The Hitchhikers Guide to The Galaxy is also one of the funniest books I have ever read. It features many ironic twists and iconic scenes, including a very memorable one about some nuclear missiles, a sperm whale, and a bowl of petunias. Another comical flashback describes when a species waited millions of years for a supercomputer to calculate the answer to the Ultimate Question, and it gives the answer of “42,” much to the disappointment of the people. The book also exaggerates things to the point where they are funny, like the time Arthur and Ford were being tortured by having really bad poetry read to them by creatures called Vogons.

Overall, The Hitchhikers Guide to The Galaxy is a really enjoyable book. It has an interesting story, fun characters, and is full of humorous gags. “The Guide” is definitely one of my favorite books of all time, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a funny, one-of-a-kind, sci-fi tale that will keep them reading until they hit the back cover.

Although the book was stellar, or should I say, interstellar, I would definitely not recommend the movie adaptation. Although it stuck to the plot of the story decently well, it didn’t really feature the same kind of quirky humor and rambling descriptions as The Hitchhikers Guide to The Galaxy in its original book form.

If you liked The Hitchhikers Guide to The Galaxy, it is actually the popular beginning of a less well-known series. There are six books in The Hitchhikers Guide to The Galaxy series, listed in order: The Hitchhikers Guide to The Galaxy, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, Life, the Universe and Everything, So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish, Mostly Harmless, and And Another Thing…. I have read some of the sequels, and although they are not as classic and captivating, they still manage to keep the same theme and spirit as the original. If you liked The Hitchhikers Guide to The Galaxy, I recommend you read the sequels afterward.

 Checkout The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy from the Newport Beach Public Library.