This is one of the few boks I've had stolen from me. I didn't lend it out (would you lend it?), I didn't leave it anywhere - it was stolen. Its the only version of Young Zaphod Beeblebrox Plays It Safe I've ever seen. I first read it when I was ten and have read it yearly ever since. Fabulous book! ( )

The Epitome of Awesomeness. All four of the original Hitchhiker's guide novels in one easy to carry volume, plus an additional short story that brings up a little extra background. If you've seen the movie…well, you need to read the books anyway, there was so much different between the stories as written, and as they were presented on screen. Hell, there were differences from the books to the radio scripts…all of this is more-or-less explained by Douglas in his introduction, which also contains detailed instructions on how to leave the earth if you are thus inclined. And who amongst us hasn't been at one time or another.

Fans of Pythonesque humor will rejoice though "serious" sci-fi fans may or may not "get it"; your mileage may vary. But there's a reason why millions have fallen in love with this story of interstellar travel on the cheap, and how to deal with your planet's sudden destruction in favor of a galactic freeway. Brew a cup of proper English tea, sit back and enjoy the ride.

My highest recommendation. ( )

I'm a hitchhikers junkie--after awhile Douglas Adams does become a little repetetive; however, while not quite "Literature for the Ages" Hitchhikers is definitely an icon of the 1980-90s--I must read if you don't now what the answer to life the universe and everything is. Quite read quite humorous and far too lifelike-- in a recent article I read on AI (artificial intelligence) it was proposed that a true test of robotics gaining consciousness would be if they could become depressed.
This hardcover contains all the Hitchhikers Series, but you'll still need to read the "Radio Transcripts" from the original radio show--far better than the movie, which I don't recommend. ( )

A re-read. Obviously.

Read the entire thing aloud to Jefferson as bedtime story night after night. It took ages.

In recognition of both my father reading the first book to me as a bedtime story when I was a wee lass, and Andrew's many, many readings of this book in grad school. Bedtime story often became a whole family affair.

Thoughts on reading it all again: The first book and the fourth book are definitely my favorites. The second and third I could largely do without, except you'd miss the whole "Arthur learns to fly" bit. Otherwise the middle two seem so muddly and meandering. I got very impatient with them. My sister recently wrote of C.S. Lewis's Narnia series representing mastery: "There are no wobbly to-and-fro plotlines" in that saga. The Hitchhiker's Guide is pretty much the opposite of that.

That said, I love the mice, and the dolphins, and the Rain God, and Arthur. And, of course, most of the bits from the Guide. I love Trillian and Fenchurch, both. I love all the bits about the fjords.

To make completely modern, all you would have to do is replace every instance of "digital watches" with "smart phones." ( )

It's been about 15 years since I last read this series, and while you may remember many of the jokes, it is still a great set of books. It should be required reading. Now to re-read the equally great Dirk Gently series. ( )