I thought it would be funnier., 15 Sep 2008
I hate to say it but I didn't enjoy the book that much, it was alright and funny in parts but it just wasn't enough. I prefere Terry Pratchet books. I'm disappointed that I didn't love the book, but I don't know if I'm disappointed at me, the book or both. It just wasn't funny enough.

Forty Two Reasons to Buy., 30 Jul 2008
And then, one Thursday, nearly two thousand years after one man had been nailed to a tree for saying how great it would be to be nice to people for a change, I borrowed Hitch Hikers from the library and changed my outlook on reading forever. At school they told us what and when to read and as a consequence I'd never read anything except for `Winnie-the-Pooh' and `The House at Pooh Corner', then they sent us home to revise for our `O' levels and I needed a silent occupation to keep me entertained whilst my Mother thought I was revising. Early on I was caught with my walkman on, I hadn't heard my mum coming up the steps, and so reading seemed like the ideal solution.

I'd enjoyed the TV series of Hitch Hikers and so got this from the library and changed overnight from a non-reader to a prolific reader. I didn't so much read as consume this and the remainder of the then four Hitch Hikers books over the next couple of days. Douglas Adams prose was so entertaining that it not only made him instantly my favourite but also introduced me to reading for pleasure. Before my revision leave was over I'd not only read the four part Hitch Hikers trilogy three times but I had also read the entire output of Tom Sharpe as well as all the James Bond and Phillip Marlowe books.

Twenty five years later Adams is still my favourite author and I can't help but think if I'd not discovered these books then I would never have read and would have missed out on all the hundreds of great books I've read since. Mind you I might have done better in my `O' levels, I could have been a contender....


Very clever "...the Best Bang since the Big One...", 21 Feb 2008
I'm not really a science fiction fan, which might go some way to explain why I only read this for the first time at the age of 28!

Born in the year of it's release, I remember being vaguely aware of the TV series, but had never watched it. This is a book that everyone has heard of. Even if you've never read it, it's one that's in your consciousness. I remember seeing the book in the library as a kid but passing it over as I thought it was "a boys book". (This was a girl who wanted to read Anne of Green Gables and Little Women).

I wish I had read this as a pre-teen. Although some of the humour and observations made in the book would be appreciated by adults, on a different level, it is written in a pre-teen style.

Hitchhiker's is a lot of fun. It's silly, comical and satirical. It also makes some fascinating and pertinent observations on politics, beauracracy, philosophy and human nature in general. Douglas Adams was clearly a hugely intelligent, perceptive man and a great conceptual thinker. Obviously, written in 1979, some of his references are a little outdated - such as the digital watches; and of course the Guide itself exsists today, in the guise of an on-line encyclopaedia such as Wikipedia! However, despite this, many of the ideas in the book have stood the test of time.

I would definitely recommend this book, even if you're not a sci-fi fan. As sci-fi goes, it's more Red Dwarf than John Wyndham. Adams is a cracking comedy writer and some of the lines in the book are hilarious. I now look forward to reading The Restaurant at the End of the Universe".

Dont panic just buy read and enjoy, 19 Sep 2007
I read these books ( please get all of them ) every year and they never fail to make me smile or enrich my life. So many wonderful ways to approach the mysterys of the universe and make it fun. It should be in every school and part of every teenagers life. Mr Adams , thank you , wherever you are. This ranks with Spike Milligans war memoise, the Pythons and The Simpsons.

Revisiting a classic, 04 Aug 2007
I re-read the Hitchiker's Guide over the summer while on holiday and had an interesting reaction. I first read it in my teens and thought it was a masterpiece, side-splittingly funny. It became the originator of a host of catchphrases among my circle of friends and we circulated dog-eared copies around our school until everyone seemed to be a fan. Revisiting it, I found it slightly annoying and repetitive, somehow. Maybe I've become an old bore. The repeated, completely random interruption of fate became the very opposite of itself - slightly predictable. There are still some wonderful moments and the dialogue bears up well, but on the whole, it felt like something best left in my early teens. One interesting thought - the Guide itself is a massive computerised reference book, updatable by users. Surely it's the precursor of Wikipedia and all things Wiki-related?

I thought it would be funnier., 15 Sep 2008
I hate to say it but I didn't enjoy the book that much, it was alright and funny in parts but it just wasn't enough. I prefere Terry Pratchet books. I'm disappointed that I didn't love the book, but I don't know if I'm disappointed at me, the book or both. It just wasn't funny enough.

Forty Two Reasons to Buy., 30 Jul 2008
And then, one Thursday, nearly two thousand years after one man had been nailed to a tree for saying how great it would be to be nice to people for a change, I borrowed Hitch Hikers from the library and changed my outlook on reading forever. At school they told us what and when to read and as a consequence I'd never read anything except for `Winnie-the-Pooh' and `The House at Pooh Corner', then they sent us home to revise for our `O' levels and I needed a silent occupation to keep me entertained whilst my Mother thought I was revising. Early on I was caught with my walkman on, I hadn't heard my mum coming up the steps, and so reading seemed like the ideal solution.

I'd enjoyed the TV series of Hitch Hikers and so got this from the library and changed overnight from a non-reader to a prolific reader. I didn't so much read as consume this and the remainder of the then four Hitch Hikers books over the next couple of days. Douglas Adams prose was so entertaining that it not only made him instantly my favourite but also introduced me to reading for pleasure. Before my revision leave was over I'd not only read the four part Hitch Hikers trilogy three times but I had also read the entire output of Tom Sharpe as well as all the James Bond and Phillip Marlowe books.

Twenty five years later Adams is still my favourite author and I can't help but think if I'd not discovered these books then I would never have read and would have missed out on all the hundreds of great books I've read since. Mind you I might have done better in my `O' levels, I could have been a contender....


Very clever "...the Best Bang since the Big One...", 21 Feb 2008
I'm not really a science fiction fan, which might go some way to explain why I only read this for the first time at the age of 28!

Born in the year of it's release, I remember being vaguely aware of the TV series, but had never watched it. This is a book that everyone has heard of. Even if you've never read it, it's one that's in your consciousness. I remember seeing the book in the library as a kid but passing it over as I thought it was "a boys book". (This was a girl who wanted to read Anne of Green Gables and Little Women).

I wish I had read this as a pre-teen. Although some of the humour and observations made in the book would be appreciated by adults, on a different level, it is written in a pre-teen style.

Hitchhiker's is a lot of fun. It's silly, comical and satirical. It also makes some fascinating and pertinent observations on politics, beauracracy, philosophy and human nature in general. Douglas Adams was clearly a hugely intelligent, perceptive man and a great conceptual thinker. Obviously, written in 1979, some of his references are a little outdated - such as the digital watches; and of course the Guide itself exsists today, in the guise of an on-line encyclopaedia such as Wikipedia! However, despite this, many of the ideas in the book have stood the test of time.

I would definitely recommend this book, even if you're not a sci-fi fan. As sci-fi goes, it's more Red Dwarf than John Wyndham. Adams is a cracking comedy writer and some of the lines in the book are hilarious. I now look forward to reading The Restaurant at the End of the Universe".

Dont panic just buy read and enjoy, 19 Sep 2007
I read these books ( please get all of them ) every year and they never fail to make me smile or enrich my life. So many wonderful ways to approach the mysterys of the universe and make it fun. It should be in every school and part of every teenagers life. Mr Adams , thank you , wherever you are. This ranks with Spike Milligans war memoise, the Pythons and The Simpsons.

Revisiting a classic, 04 Aug 2007
I re-read the Hitchiker's Guide over the summer while on holiday and had an interesting reaction. I first read it in my teens and thought it was a masterpiece, side-splittingly funny. It became the originator of a host of catchphrases among my circle of friends and we circulated dog-eared copies around our school until everyone seemed to be a fan. Revisiting it, I found it slightly annoying and repetitive, somehow. Maybe I've become an old bore. The repeated, completely random interruption of fate became the very opposite of itself - slightly predictable. There are still some wonderful moments and the dialogue bears up well, but on the whole, it felt like something best left in my early teens. One interesting thought - the Guide itself is a massive computerised reference book, updatable by users. Surely it's the precursor of Wikipedia and all things Wiki-related?

Almost, but not quite, the original version, 29 May 2007
As with previous releases on vinyl etc, this is NOT the original radio show. Episodes 1-4 sound like they have been re-recorded, from the voices and the technical sound I'm guessing this was done at the time of the third series. The script, the sound effects and music all contain differences - I've compared it to my original (very old) cassette recordings off the radio and the CD version is definitely different - cleaner maybe but somehow rather "flat".

Maybe the BBC lost the original recordings as they did with so many other radio and TV shows? Maybe the quality was thought to not be good enough? Maybe they thought they could improve the original sound effects with newer technology? Whatever the reason, claiming this as the original is not quite true. BBC, if you have the originals you should include them as an "extra", or release them seperately.

From episode 5 on this sounds like it is the original in every respect.


Essential Douglas Adams Stuff!, 22 Apr 2007
First off, as anyone could say, miles better than the film! Secondly, how is it to the book? Tough call, while I love the Radio series, I do find the book amazing to read, quite honestly it depends on your mood. If you know you can plough your way through the book (worth it, but time consuming) then go for that, and get the radio series a bit later. On the whole, I think I must enjoy the Radio Series more anyway, but the book is very well written!

Although it wasn't easy to get the hang of distinguishing between Ford, Arthur & Zaphod for at least the first half of Primary. It was great fun. The guide, not as great, everything else, much better! There were sometimes when it was clinging to a part of the book, but as a consequence made it sound a bit rubbish. Although the only real change from the book is the fact that Hotblacks ship is replaced by some war-raging generals and that the Quintessential Phase, only spends half of its time on the bit which was Mostly Harmless in the book. However, some of the changes in the storyline were better, and felt a lot more real! On the whole, fantastically amazingly brilliantical! Well worth getting.

*This* is the version you want to buy, 21 Mar 2007
This CD box set contains all the radio episodes (the older ones plus the more recently produced episodes), as well as some bonus materials.

I was in heaven for many hours during a long car trip!

This is great, 08 Feb 2007
The Title of this review says it all realy.
As some before me have said.
Don't see the film.
Don't read the book.
If you want to appreciate the genius of Douglas Adams listen to the radio series, the pearl of BBC radio.
My "Life The Universe And Everything" is The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy.


The definitive ýGuide!, 01 Sep 2005
Forget the awful film, forget the book - **this** is the original and definitive HHGttG

I thought it would be funnier., 15 Sep 2008
I hate to say it but I didn't enjoy the book that much, it was alright and funny in parts but it just wasn't enough. I prefere Terry Pratchet books. I'm disappointed that I didn't love the book, but I don't know if I'm disappointed at me, the book or both. It just wasn't funny enough.

Forty Two Reasons to Buy., 30 Jul 2008
And then, one Thursday, nearly two thousand years after one man had been nailed to a tree for saying how great it would be to be nice to people for a change, I borrowed Hitch Hikers from the library and changed my outlook on reading forever. At school they told us what and when to read and as a consequence I'd never read anything except for `Winnie-the-Pooh' and `The House at Pooh Corner', then they sent us home to revise for our `O' levels and I needed a silent occupation to keep me entertained whilst my Mother thought I was revising. Early on I was caught with my walkman on, I hadn't heard my mum coming up the steps, and so reading seemed like the ideal solution.

I'd enjoyed the TV series of Hitch Hikers and so got this from the library and changed overnight from a non-reader to a prolific reader. I didn't so much read as consume this and the remainder of the then four Hitch Hikers books over the next couple of days. Douglas Adams prose was so entertaining that it not only made him instantly my favourite but also introduced me to reading for pleasure. Before my revision leave was over I'd not only read the four part Hitch Hikers trilogy three times but I had also read the entire output of Tom Sharpe as well as all the James Bond and Phillip Marlowe books.

Twenty five years later Adams is still my favourite author and I can't help but think if I'd not discovered these books then I would never have read and would have missed out on all the hundreds of great books I've read since. Mind you I might have done better in my `O' levels, I could have been a contender....


Very clever "...the Best Bang since the Big One...", 21 Feb 2008
I'm not really a science fiction fan, which might go some way to explain why I only read this for the first time at the age of 28!

Born in the year of it's release, I remember being vaguely aware of the TV series, but had never watched it. This is a book that everyone has heard of. Even if you've never read it, it's one that's in your consciousness. I remember seeing the book in the library as a kid but passing it over as I thought it was "a boys book". (This was a girl who wanted to read Anne of Green Gables and Little Women).

I wish I had read this as a pre-teen. Although some of the humour and observations made in the book would be appreciated by adults, on a different level, it is written in a pre-teen style.

Hitchhiker's is a lot of fun. It's silly, comical and satirical. It also makes some fascinating and pertinent observations on politics, beauracracy, philosophy and human nature in general. Douglas Adams was clearly a hugely intelligent, perceptive man and a great conceptual thinker. Obviously, written in 1979, some of his references are a little outdated - such as the digital watches; and of course the Guide itself exsists today, in the guise of an on-line encyclopaedia such as Wikipedia! However, despite this, many of the ideas in the book have stood the test of time.

I would definitely recommend this book, even if you're not a sci-fi fan. As sci-fi goes, it's more Red Dwarf than John Wyndham. Adams is a cracking comedy writer and some of the lines in the book are hilarious. I now look forward to reading The Restaurant at the End of the Universe".

Dont panic just buy read and enjoy, 19 Sep 2007
I read these books ( please get all of them ) every year and they never fail to make me smile or enrich my life. So many wonderful ways to approach the mysterys of the universe and make it fun. It should be in every school and part of every teenagers life. Mr Adams , thank you , wherever you are. This ranks with Spike Milligans war memoise, the Pythons and The Simpsons.

Revisiting a classic, 04 Aug 2007
I re-read the Hitchiker's Guide over the summer while on holiday and had an interesting reaction. I first read it in my teens and thought it was a masterpiece, side-splittingly funny. It became the originator of a host of catchphrases among my circle of friends and we circulated dog-eared copies around our school until everyone seemed to be a fan. Revisiting it, I found it slightly annoying and repetitive, somehow. Maybe I've become an old bore. The repeated, completely random interruption of fate became the very opposite of itself - slightly predictable. There are still some wonderful moments and the dialogue bears up well, but on the whole, it felt like something best left in my early teens. One interesting thought - the Guide itself is a massive computerised reference book, updatable by users. Surely it's the precursor of Wikipedia and all things Wiki-related?

Almost, but not quite, the original version, 29 May 2007
As with previous releases on vinyl etc, this is NOT the original radio show. Episodes 1-4 sound like they have been re-recorded, from the voices and the technical sound I'm guessing this was done at the time of the third series. The script, the sound effects and music all contain differences - I've compared it to my original (very old) cassette recordings off the radio and the CD version is definitely different - cleaner maybe but somehow rather "flat".

Maybe the BBC lost the original recordings as they did with so many other radio and TV shows? Maybe the quality was thought to not be good enough? Maybe they thought they could improve the original sound effects with newer technology? Whatever the reason, claiming this as the original is not quite true. BBC, if you have the originals you should include them as an "extra", or release them seperately.

From episode 5 on this sounds like it is the original in every respect.


Essential Douglas Adams Stuff!, 22 Apr 2007
First off, as anyone could say, miles better than the film! Secondly, how is it to the book? Tough call, while I love the Radio series, I do find the book amazing to read, quite honestly it depends on your mood. If you know you can plough your way through the book (worth it, but time consuming) then go for that, and get the radio series a bit later. On the whole, I think I must enjoy the Radio Series more anyway, but the book is very well written!

Although it wasn't easy to get the hang of distinguishing between Ford, Arthur & Zaphod for at least the first half of Primary. It was great fun. The guide, not as great, everything else, much better! There were sometimes when it was clinging to a part of the book, but as a consequence made it sound a bit rubbish. Although the only real change from the book is the fact that Hotblacks ship is replaced by some war-raging generals and that the Quintessential Phase, only spends half of its time on the bit which was Mostly Harmless in the book. However, some of the changes in the storyline were better, and felt a lot more real! On the whole, fantastically amazingly brilliantical! Well worth getting.

*This* is the version you want to buy, 21 Mar 2007
This CD box set contains all the radio episodes (the older ones plus the more recently produced episodes), as well as some bonus materials.

I was in heaven for many hours during a long car trip!

This is great, 08 Feb 2007
The Title of this review says it all realy.
As some before me have said.
Don't see the film.
Don't read the book.
If you want to appreciate the genius of Douglas Adams listen to the radio series, the pearl of BBC radio.
My "Life The Universe And Everything" is The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy.


The definitive ýGuide!, 01 Sep 2005
Forget the awful film, forget the book - **this** is the original and definitive HHGttG

The Meaningless of Liff., 30 Jul 2008
In `The Meaning of Liff' Douglas Adams and John Lloyd have expanded the English language by noting down the meaningless names that lie underused on signpost and attribute new purpose to them covering the common experiences we have yet to assign a word to.

Depford(n).
The Disappointment one feels when our favourite author puts out a book not worthy of their name.

Twinning(n).
The nagging sensation the reader feels that he has been swindled out of five pounds that would have been better served giving to a barmaid in return for a couple of pints of beer or indeed burning.

Lepton(n).
The disconcerting feeling that some people will love the said book and Leap-Upon any critic daring to say it's rubbish.


Pure joy, 18 Mar 2008
If you love words and curious sounding place names, and the funny little foibles of existence, if you love silliness, then you must read this book!

Some people have described it as wordplay, but it's not wordplay in the sense of puns. It's playing with words in the sense of having fun with the silly, illogical images that the words somehow evoke, and it is the capturing of little things that you never think about but which could definitely use a name of their own.

I've only read this version, but apparently the following book was an extended and updated version.


The original, ground-breaking pocket editon of LIFF, 05 Jul 2005
Quite simply one of the very cleverest books. Have you ever read a dictionary? Did you remember much? No?
Well, this effect extends to TMOL (The Meaning Of Liff), because it is a 'dictionary' like no other.
All those needed but un-named words that describe everyday situations (standing in the kitchen, wondering why you are there = "Woking") have been listed and described without coining a single word.
By re-using place names no new words have been created, only new meanings. Humorous meanings, mostly, although some are plain waspish! The authors take their revenge on people and places that have (presumably) given offence.
And the advantage of the dictionary format is that all this wisdom and humour can be read and re-read almost indefinitely, since it is (after all) so hard to remember things when you read a dictionary. This small book will pass time for ages, and every loo should have one. Also suitable for cars, boats, and (especially) light aircraft with luggage limits.

First draft to The Deeper Meaning of Liff, save your pennies, 01 Sep 2004
I am deeply disappointed that both books are still in circulation. The Deeper Meaning of Liff (TDMOF) is an updated edition of The Meaning of Liff (TMOF), it contains all the definitions found in TMOF and a significant number more. So why oh why is TMOF still being sold???? Don't make the same mistake I did, I bought both together.

Essential reading., 02 Nov 2003
First read the original version on the York to London train in April 1984, and by Stevenage was reading it aloud to my half of the carriage. My four children have been brought up on scullets, duddos, aboynes, goosnarge, kent expressions and, of course, clixbys. I have frequently been threatened with matricide for being exessively spreakly, but have never been accused of a ditherington. My husband has a fondness for my budbys, and has had consirable experience of poonas. I've had plenty of episodes of silesia, been occasionally duntish after being extremely solent, endured many a hoylake, committed the occasional hidcote bartram and have often been observed kelling. I'm also very adept at losing things in fiunaries. Anyone who understands some - or most of this - is at least as sad as I am, but probably, also like me, has more fun in life than many people.. Now have a copy of the Deeper Meaning, but haven't learned as many new words now my family have grown & flown. I still think a runcorn could be an athletes affliction, slimbridge a dieter's scales, and saundersfoot the irritating tapping made someone who is enjoying the sort of music you can't stand! Maybe they'll be an Even Deeper Meaning of Liff?

I thought it would be funnier., 15 Sep 2008
I hate to say it but I didn't enjoy the book that much, it was alright and funny in parts but it just wasn't enough. I prefere Terry Pratchet books. I'm disappointed that I didn't love the book, but I don't know if I'm disappointed at me, the book or both. It just wasn't funny enough.

Forty Two Reasons to Buy., 30 Jul 2008
And then, one Thursday, nearly two thousand years after one man had been nailed to a tree for saying how great it would be to be nice to people for a change, I borrowed Hitch Hikers from the library and changed my outlook on reading forever. At school they told us what and when to read and as a consequence I'd never read anything except for `Winnie-the-Pooh' and `The House at Pooh Corner', then they sent us home to revise for our `O' levels and I needed a silent occupation to keep me entertained whilst my Mother thought I was revising. Early on I was caught with my walkman on, I hadn't heard my mum coming up the steps, and so reading seemed like the ideal solution.

I'd enjoyed the TV series of Hitch Hikers and so got this from the library and changed overnight from a non-reader to a prolific reader. I didn't so much read as consume this and the remainder of the then four Hitch Hikers books over the next couple of days. Douglas Adams prose was so entertaining that it not only made him instantly my favourite but also introduced me to reading for pleasure. Before my revision leave was over I'd not only read the four part Hitch Hikers trilogy three times but I had also read the entire output of Tom Sharpe as well as all the James Bond and Phillip Marlowe books.

Twenty five years later Adams is still my favourite author and I can't help but think if I'd not discovered these books then I would never have read and would have missed out on all the hundreds of great books I've read since. Mind you I might have done better in my `O' levels, I could have been a contender....


Very clever "...the Best Bang since the Big One...", 21 Feb 2008
I'm not really a science fiction fan, which might go some way to explain why I only read this for the first time at the age of 28!

Born in the year of it's release, I remember being vaguely aware of the TV series, but had never watched it. This is a book that everyone has heard of. Even if you've never read it, it's one that's in your consciousness. I remember seeing the book in the library as a kid but passing it over as I thought it was "a boys book". (This was a girl who wanted to read Anne of Green Gables and Little Women).

I wish I had read this as a pre-teen. Although some of the humour and observations made in the book would be appreciated by adults, on a different level, it is written in a pre-teen style.

Hitchhiker's is a lot of fun. It's silly, comical and satirical. It also makes some fascinating and pertinent observations on politics, beauracracy, philosophy and human nature in general. Douglas Adams was clearly a hugely intelligent, perceptive man and a great conceptual thinker. Obviously, written in 1979, some of his references are a little outdated - such as the digital watches; and of course the Guide itself exsists today, in the guise of an on-line encyclopaedia such as Wikipedia! However, despite this, many of the ideas in the book have stood the test of time.

I would definitely recommend this book, even if you're not a sci-fi fan. As sci-fi goes, it's more Red Dwarf than John Wyndham. Adams is a cracking comedy writer and some of the lines in the book are hilarious. I now look forward to reading The Restaurant at the End of the Universe".

Dont panic just buy read and enjoy, 19 Sep 2007
I read these books ( please get all of them ) every year and they never fail to make me smile or enrich my life. So many wonderful ways to approach the mysterys of the universe and make it fun. It should be in every school and part of every teenagers life. Mr Adams , thank you , wherever you are. This ranks with Spike Milligans war memoise, the Pythons and The Simpsons.

Revisiting a classic, 04 Aug 2007
I re-read the Hitchiker's Guide over the summer while on holiday and had an interesting reaction. I first read it in my teens and thought it was a masterpiece, side-splittingly funny. It became the originator of a host of catchphrases among my circle of friends and we circulated dog-eared copies around our school until everyone seemed to be a fan. Revisiting it, I found it slightly annoying and repetitive, somehow. Maybe I've become an old bore. The repeated, completely random interruption of fate became the very opposite of itself - slightly predictable. There are still some wonderful moments and the dialogue bears up well, but on the whole, it felt like something best left in my early teens. One interesting thought - the Guide itself is a massive computerised reference book, updatable by users. Surely it's the precursor of Wikipedia and all things Wiki-related?

Almost, but not quite, the original version, 29 May 2007
As with previous releases on vinyl etc, this is NOT the original radio show. Episodes 1-4 sound like they have been re-recorded, from the voices and the technical sound I'm guessing this was done at the time of the third series. The script, the sound effects and music all contain differences - I've compared it to my original (very old) cassette recordings off the radio and the CD version is definitely different - cleaner maybe but somehow rather "flat".

Maybe the BBC lost the original recordings as they did with so many other radio and TV shows? Maybe the quality was thought to not be good enough? Maybe they thought they could improve the original sound effects with newer technology? Whatever the reason, claiming this as the original is not quite true. BBC, if you have the originals you should include them as an "extra", or release them seperately.

From episode 5 on this sounds like it is the original in every respect.


Essential Douglas Adams Stuff!, 22 Apr 2007
First off, as anyone could say, miles better than the film! Secondly, how is it to the book? Tough call, while I love the Radio series, I do find the book amazing to read, quite honestly it depends on your mood. If you know you can plough your way through the book (worth it, but time consuming) then go for that, and get the radio series a bit later. On the whole, I think I must enjoy the Radio Series more anyway, but the book is very well written!

Although it wasn't easy to get the hang of distinguishing between Ford, Arthur & Zaphod for at least the first half of Primary. It was great fun. The guide, not as great, everything else, much better! There were sometimes when it was clinging to a part of the book, but as a consequence made it sound a bit rubbish. Although the only real change from the book is the fact that Hotblacks ship is replaced by some war-raging generals and that the Quintessential Phase, only spends half of its time on the bit which was Mostly Harmless in the book. However, some of the changes in the storyline were better, and felt a lot more real! On the whole, fantastically amazingly brilliantical! Well worth getting.

*This* is the version you want to buy, 21 Mar 2007
This CD box set contains all the radio episodes (the older ones plus the more recently produced episodes), as well as some bonus materials.

I was in heaven for many hours during a long car trip!

This is great, 08 Feb 2007
The Title of this review says it all realy.
As some before me have said.
Don't see the film.
Don't read the book.
If you want to appreciate the genius of Douglas Adams listen to the radio series, the pearl of BBC radio.
My "Life The Universe And Everything" is The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy.


The definitive ýGuide!, 01 Sep 2005
Forget the awful film, forget the book - **this** is the original and definitive HHGttG

The Meaningless of Liff., 30 Jul 2008
In `The Meaning of Liff' Douglas Adams and John Lloyd have expanded the English language by noting down the meaningless names that lie underused on signpost and attribute new purpose to them covering the common experiences we have yet to assign a word to.

Depford(n).
The Disappointment one feels when our favourite author puts out a book not worthy of their name.

Twinning(n).
The nagging sensation the reader feels that he has been swindled out of five pounds that would have been better served giving to a barmaid in return for a couple of pints of beer or indeed burning.

Lepton(n).
The disconcerting feeling that some people will love the said book and Leap-Upon any critic daring to say it's rubbish.


Pure joy, 18 Mar 2008
If you love words and curious sounding place names, and the funny little foibles of existence, if you love silliness, then you must read this book!

Some people have described it as wordplay, but it's not wordplay in the sense of puns. It's playing with words in the sense of having fun with the silly, illogical images that the words somehow evoke, and it is the capturing of little things that you never think about but which could definitely use a name of their own.

I've only read this version, but apparently the following book was an extended and updated version.


The original, ground-breaking pocket editon of LIFF, 05 Jul 2005
Quite simply one of the very cleverest books. Have you ever read a dictionary? Did you remember much? No?
Well, this effect extends to TMOL (The Meaning Of Liff), because it is a 'dictionary' like no other.
All those needed but un-named words that describe everyday situations (standing in the kitchen, wondering why you are there = "Woking") have been listed and described without coining a single word.
By re-using place names no new words have been created, only new meanings. Humorous meanings, mostly, although some are plain waspish! The authors take their revenge on people and places that have (presumably) given offence.
And the advantage of the dictionary format is that all this wisdom and humour can be read and re-read almost indefinitely, since it is (after all) so hard to remember things when you read a dictionary. This small book will pass time for ages, and every loo should have one. Also suitable for cars, boats, and (especially) light aircraft with luggage limits.

First draft to The Deeper Meaning of Liff, save your pennies, 01 Sep 2004
I am deeply disappointed that both books are still in circulation. The Deeper Meaning of Liff (TDMOF) is an updated edition of The Meaning of Liff (TMOF), it contains all the definitions found in TMOF and a significant number more. So why oh why is TMOF still being sold???? Don't make the same mistake I did, I bought both together.

Essential reading., 02 Nov 2003
First read the original version on the York to London train in April 1984, and by Stevenage was reading it aloud to my half of the carriage. My four children have been brought up on scullets, duddos, aboynes, goosnarge, kent expressions and, of course, clixbys. I have frequently been threatened with matricide for being exessively spreakly, but have never been accused of a ditherington. My husband has a fondness for my budbys, and has had consirable experience of poonas. I've had plenty of episodes of silesia, been occasionally duntish after being extremely solent, endured many a hoylake, committed the occasional hidcote bartram and have often been observed kelling. I'm also very adept at losing things in fiunaries. Anyone who understands some - or most of this - is at least as sad as I am, but probably, also like me, has more fun in life than many people.. Now have a copy of the Deeper Meaning, but haven't learned as many new words now my family have grown & flown. I still think a runcorn could be an athletes affliction, slimbridge a dieter's scales, and saundersfoot the irritating tapping made someone who is enjoying the sort of music you can't stand! Maybe they'll be an Even Deeper Meaning of Liff?

All you wanted to know about the Hitchhikers Guide but were forced to find out for yourself, 20 Oct 2008
Where to start.

I have been a big fan of The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy since first listening to the radio series in 1985 (ish) courtesy of a cassette tape of a recording of the original two radio series (Fit The First to Twelth) my friends older brother had given him and he subsequently lent me. Over time I would come to own, lose, and forget where I put, various copies of books in the HHGTTG series (including those original tapes which were returned slightly dustier than when first lent 5 years later).

So to the book. Due to the continued popularity of Douglas Adams, and THHGTTG there have been many versions of the five novels published over the years, along with a few compilation sets of the first four books.

The Ultimate Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy however does attempt in Adams own words "To set the record straight, or at least, firmly crooked." and may differ slightly from the many incarnations of the Guide although reading this you will more than likely think of it as a more wholly definitive if not sometimes contradictory version of the series.

This edition has the look and feel of one of a old style book, with a nice thick black hard cover, and guilt edged paper which is thin enough to fit the whole five novels in quite compactly. THHGTTG has over the years not only become a classic as a series and also in it's indifidual parts, but also has seemingly never lost it's popularity, and this definitive edition will naturally satisfy fans of both Douglas Adams, THGTTG and sci-fi/comedy fans.


One or two reviewers have mentioned being able to see the text through the page, but it isn't really as bad as it sounds and is not a problem in the least, and does not affect the ability to clearly read what is on the page.

In addition to the five novels is quite a rarity I feel (although other reviewers may need to correct me on this), "Young Zaphod Plays It Safe" a all short story about Beeblebrox's youth.


Best version of Hitchhikers possible, 12 Sep 2008
When this book arrived I was shocked at its size and weight.
This reminds me of a heavy built Bible.
What I mean is, the quality is fantastic, excellent medium sized print, very sturdy bindings and the gold guilt paper makes it feel like a tome.

I have never read anything from this series or similar and after reading The Dark Tower I thought this would be a lighter comical read.
Adams' ability to entrance you in well thought out conversations and settings is astounding.

Fantastic read and amazing quality book.

AWESOME, 31 Dec 2007
Seriously, never has british humor ever gone to such heights as this. The storyline is incredibly intriguing, with all sorts of dry humor, stupidly funny overtones, and a serious underlying message, though I've yet to see anyone (myself included) figure out what that message is. If you like british humor, buy it. If not, buy it. If you want a fancy looking book to put on the mantle, buy it. All in all, this book must be purchased by everyone, and even the illiterate should be graced by the story contained within. Buy the book, or Vogons will kill you with bad Poetry!!! I'd also recommend reading Tino Georgiou's bestselling novel--The Fates--if you missed it

'Is that a BIBLE you're reading?' , 27 Aug 2007
Content alone renders even five stars somehow unworthy, but leather and gilt?? Surely somebody has been maxing out their Improbability Drive.

Or am I missing the point- is there in fact a niche market for light reading printed in spritual classic format? If so my only dilemma would be which section of the bookcase to put it- next to a mother-of-pearl inlaid Stephen King or perhaps a shagreen bound Bridget Jones?



You can't be a Douglas-fan without having read this one!, 12 May 2007
Having read this "trilogy" three times over, I can safely say it's totally worth it. The sheer bizarreness and randomness of it is amazing, and just the sort of thing to expect from this genious. It gives a detailed description of the oddities that not only exist in his made up world, but also down here on Earth. I mean, we all know the Earth-version of the Vogons. Or that someone who you think is always after you when in fact it's just a series of coincidences.

So if you've read some of Douglas' other books, or perhaps seen the movie or heard the radio series, this is a worthy read. if you haven't, it's about time you begin!

I thought it would be funnier., 15 Sep 2008
I hate to say it but I didn't enjoy the book that much, it was alright and funny in parts but it just wasn't enough. I prefere Terry Pratchet books. I'm disappointed that I didn't love the book, but I don't know if I'm disappointed at me, the book or both. It just wasn't funny enough.

Forty Two Reasons to Buy., 30 Jul 2008
And then, one Thursday, nearly two thousand years after one man had been nailed to a tree for saying how great it would be to be nice to people for a change, I borrowed Hitch Hikers from the library and changed my outlook on reading forever. At school they told us what and when to read and as a consequence I'd never read anything except for `Winnie-the-Pooh' and `The House at Pooh Corner', then they sent us home to revise for our `O' levels and I needed a silent occupation to keep me entertained whilst my Mother thought I was revising. Early on I was caught with my walkman on, I hadn't heard my mum coming up the steps, and so reading seemed like the ideal solution.

I'd enjoyed the TV series of Hitch Hikers and so got this from the library and changed overnight from a non-reader to a prolific reader. I didn't so much read as consume this and the remainder of the then four Hitch Hikers books over the next couple of days. Douglas Adams prose was so entertaining that it not only made him instantly my favourite but also introduced me to reading for pleasure. Before my revision leave was over I'd not only read the four part Hitch Hikers trilogy three times but I had also read the entire output of Tom Sharpe as well as all the James Bond and Phillip Marlowe books.

Twenty five years later Adams is still my favourite author and I can't help but think if I'd not discovered these books then I would never have read and would have missed out on all the hundreds of great books I've read since. Mind you I might have done better in my `O' levels, I could have been a contender....


Very clever "...the Best Bang since the Big One...", 21 Feb 2008
I'm not really a science fiction fan, which might go some way to explain why I only read this for the first time at the age of 28!

Born in the year of it's release, I remember being vaguely aware of the TV series, but had never watched it. This is a book that everyone has heard of. Even if you've never read it, it's one that's in your consciousness. I remember seeing the book in the library as a kid but passing it over as I thought it was "a boys book". (This was a girl who wanted to read Anne of Green Gables and Little Women).

I wish I had read this as a pre-teen. Although some of the humour and observations made in the book would be appreciated by adults, on a different level, it is written in a pre-teen style.

Hitchhiker's is a lot of fun. It's silly, comical and satirical. It also makes some fascinating and pertinent observations on politics, beauracracy, philosophy and human nature in general. Douglas Adams was clearly a hugely intelligent, perceptive man and a great conceptual thinker. Obviously, written in 1979, some of his references are a little outdated - such as the digital watches; and of course the Guide itself exsists today, in the guise of an on-line encyclopaedia such as Wikipedia! However, despite this, many of the ideas in the book have stood the test of time.

I would definitely recommend this book, even if you're not a sci-fi fan. As sci-fi goes, it's more Red Dwarf than John Wyndham. Adams is a cracking comedy writer and some of the lines in the book are hilarious. I now look forward to reading The Restaurant at the End of the Universe".

Dont panic just buy read and enjoy, 19 Sep 2007
I read these books ( please get all of them ) every year and they never fail to make me smile or enrich my life. So many wonderful ways to approach the mysterys of the universe and make it fun. It should be in every school and part of every teenagers life. Mr Adams , thank you , wherever you are. This ranks with Spike Milligans war memoise, the Pythons and The Simpsons.

Revisiting a classic, 04 Aug 2007
I re-read the Hitchiker's Guide over the summer while on holiday and had an interesting reaction. I first read it in my teens and thought it was a masterpiece, side-splittingly funny. It became the originator of a host of catchphrases among my circle of friends and we circulated dog-eared copies around our school until everyone seemed to be a fan. Revisiting it, I found it slightly annoying and repetitive, somehow. Maybe I've become an old bore. The repeated, completely random interruption of fate became the very opposite of itself - slightly predictable. There are still some wonderful moments and the dialogue bears up well, but on the whole, it felt like something best left in my early teens. One interesting thought - the Guide itself is a massive computerised reference book, updatable by users. Surely it's the precursor of Wikipedia and all things Wiki-related?

Almost, but not quite, the original version, 29 May 2007
As with previous releases on vinyl etc, this is NOT the original radio show. Episodes 1-4 sound like they have been re-recorded, from the voices and the technical sound I'm guessing this was done at the time of the third series. The script, the sound effects and music all contain differences - I've compared it to my original (very old) cassette recordings off the radio and the CD version is definitely different - cleaner maybe but somehow rather "flat".

Maybe the BBC lost the original recordings as they did with so many other radio and TV shows? Maybe the quality was thought to not be good enough? Maybe they thought they could improve the original sound effects with newer technology? Whatever the reason, claiming this as the original is not quite true. BBC, if you have the originals you should include them as an "extra", or release them seperately.

From episode 5 on this sounds like it is the original in every respect.


Essential Douglas Adams Stuff!, 22 Apr 2007
First off, as anyone could say, miles better than the film! Secondly, how is it to the book? Tough call, while I love the Radio series, I do find the book amazing to read, quite honestly it depends on your mood. If you know you can plough your way through the book (worth it, but time consuming) then go for that, and get the radio series a bit later. On the whole, I think I must enjoy the Radio Series more anyway, but the book is very well written!

Although it wasn't easy to get the hang of distinguishing between Ford, Arthur & Zaphod for at least the first half of Primary. It was great fun. The guide, not as great, everything else, much better! There were sometimes when it was clinging to a part of the book, but as a consequence made it sound a bit rubbish. Although the only real change from the book is the fact that Hotblacks ship is replaced by some war-raging generals and that the Quintessential Phase, only spends half of its time on the bit which was Mostly Harmless in the book. However, some of the changes in the storyline were better, and felt a lot more real! On the whole, fantastically amazingly brilliantical! Well worth getting.

*This* is the version you want to buy, 21 Mar 2007
This CD box set contains all the radio episodes (the older ones plus the more recently produced episodes), as well as some bonus materials.

I was in heaven for many hours during a long car trip!

This is great, 08 Feb 2007
The Title of this review says it all realy.
As some before me have said.
Don't see the film.
Don't read the book.
If you want to appreciate the genius of Douglas Adams listen to the radio series, the pearl of BBC radio.
My "Life The Universe And Everything" is The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy.


The definitive ýGuide!, 01 Sep 2005
Forget the awful film, forget the book - **this** is the original and definitive HHGttG

The Meaningless of Liff., 30 Jul 2008
In `The Meaning of Liff' Douglas Adams and John Lloyd have expanded the English language by noting down the meaningless names that lie underused on signpost and attribute new purpose to them covering the common experiences we have yet to assign a word to.

Depford(n).
The Disappointment one feels when our favourite author puts out a book not worthy of their name.

Twinning(n).
The nagging sensation the reader feels that he has been swindled out of five pounds that would have been better served giving to a barmaid in return for a couple of pints of beer or indeed burning.

Lepton(n).
The disconcerting feeling that some people will love the said book and Leap-Upon any critic daring to say it's rubbish.


Pure joy, 18 Mar 2008
If you love words and curious sounding place names, and the funny little foibles of existence, if you love silliness, then you must read this book!

Some people have described it as wordplay, but it's not wordplay in the sense of puns. It's playing with words in the sense of having fun with the silly, illogical images that the words somehow evoke, and it is the capturing of little things that you never think about but which could definitely use a name of their own.

I've only read this version, but apparently the following book was an extended and updated version.


The original, ground-breaking pocket editon of LIFF, 05 Jul 2005
Quite simply one of the very cleverest books. Have you ever read a dictionary? Did you remember much? No?
Well, this effect extends to TMOL (The Meaning Of Liff), because it is a 'dictionary' like no other.
All those needed but un-named words that describe everyday situations (standing in the kitchen, wondering why you are there = "Woking") have been listed and described without coining a single word.
By re-using place names no new words have been created, only new meanings. Humorous meanings, mostly, although some are plain waspish! The authors take their revenge on people and places that have (presumably) given offence.
And the advantage of the dictionary format is that all this wisdom and humour can be read and re-read almost indefinitely, since it is (after all) so hard to remember things when you read a dictionary. This small book will pass time for ages, and every loo should have one. Also suitable for cars, boats, and (especially) light aircraft with luggage limits.

First draft to The Deeper Meaning of Liff, save your pennies, 01 Sep 2004
I am deeply disappointed that both books are still in circulation. The Deeper Meaning of Liff (TDMOF) is an updated edition of The Meaning of Liff (TMOF), it contains all the definitions found in TMOF and a significant number more. So why oh why is TMOF still being sold???? Don't make the same mistake I did, I bought both together.

Essential reading., 02 Nov 2003
First read the original version on the York to London train in April 1984, and by Stevenage was reading it aloud to my half of the carriage. My four children have been brought up on scullets, duddos, aboynes, goosnarge, kent expressions and, of course, clixbys. I have frequently been threatened with matricide for being exessively spreakly, but have never been accused of a ditherington. My husband has a fondness for my budbys, and has had consirable experience of poonas. I've had plenty of episodes of silesia, been occasionally duntish after being extremely solent, endured many a hoylake, committed the occasional hidcote bartram and have often been observed kelling. I'm also very adept at losing things in fiunaries. Anyone who understands some - or most of this - is at least as sad as I am, but probably, also like me, has more fun in life than many people.. Now have a copy of the Deeper Meaning, but haven't learned as many new words now my family have grown & flown. I still think a runcorn could be an athletes affliction, slimbridge a dieter's scales, and saundersfoot the irritating tapping made someone who is enjoying the sort of music you can't stand! Maybe they'll be an Even Deeper Meaning of Liff?

All you wanted to know about the Hitchhikers Guide but were forced to find out for yourself, 20 Oct 2008
Where to start.

I have been a big fan of The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy since first listening to the radio series in 1985 (ish) courtesy of a cassette tape of a recording of the original two radio series (Fit The First to Twelth) my friends older brother had given him and he subsequently lent me. Over time I would come to own, lose, and forget where I put, various copies of books in the HHGTTG series (including those original tapes which were returned slightly dustier than when first lent 5 years later).

So to the book. Due to the continued popularity of Douglas Adams, and THHGTTG there have been many versions of the five novels published over the years, along with a few compilation sets of the first four books.

The Ultimate Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy however does attempt in Adams own words "To set the record straight, or at least, firmly crooked." and may differ slightly from the many incarnations of the Guide although reading this you will more than likely think of it as a more wholly definitive if not sometimes contradictory version of the series.

This edition has the look and feel of one of a old style book, with a nice thick black hard cover, and guilt edged paper which is thin enough to fit the whole five novels in quite compactly. THHGTTG has over the years not only become a classic as a series and also in it's indifidual parts, but also has seemingly never lost it's popularity, and this definitive edition will naturally satisfy fans of both Douglas Adams, THGTTG and sci-fi/comedy fans.


One or two reviewers have mentioned being able to see the text through the page, but it isn't really as bad as it sounds and is not a problem in the least, and does not affect the ability to clearly read what is on the page.

In addition to the five novels is quite a rarity I feel (although other reviewers may need to correct me on this), "Young Zaphod Plays It Safe" a all short story about Beeblebrox's youth.


Best version of Hitchhikers possible, 12 Sep 2008
When this book arrived I was shocked at its size and weight.
This reminds me of a heavy built Bible.
What I mean is, the quality is fantastic, excellent medium sized print, very sturdy bindings and the gold guilt paper makes it feel like a tome.

I have never read anything from this series or similar and after reading The Dark Tower I thought this would be a lighter comical read.
Adams' ability to entrance you in well thought out conversations and settings is astounding.

Fantastic read and amazing quality book.

AWESOME, 31 Dec 2007
Seriously, never has british humor ever gone to such heights as this. The storyline is incredibly intriguing, with all sorts of dry humor, stupidly funny overtones, and a serious underlying message, though I've yet to see anyone (myself included) figure out what that message is. If you like british humor, buy it. If not, buy it. If you want a fancy looking book to put on the mantle, buy it. All in all, this book must be purchased by everyone, and even the illiterate should be graced by the story contained within. Buy the book, or Vogons will kill you with bad Poetry!!! I'd also recommend reading Tino Georgiou's bestselling novel--The Fates--if you missed it

'Is that a BIBLE you're reading?' , 27 Aug 2007
Content alone renders even five stars somehow unworthy, but leather and gilt?? Surely somebody has been maxing out their Improbability Drive.

Or am I missing the point- is there in fact a niche market for light reading printed in spritual classic format? If so my only dilemma would be which section of the bookcase to put it- next to a mother-of-pearl inlaid Stephen King or perhaps a shagreen bound Bridget Jones?



You can't be a Douglas-fan without having read this one!, 12 May 2007
Having read this "trilogy" three times over, I can safely say it's totally worth it. The sheer bizarreness and randomness of it is amazing, and just the sort of thing to expect from this genious. It gives a detailed description of the oddities that not only exist in his made up world, but also down here on Earth. I mean, we all know the Earth-version of the Vogons. Or that someone who you think is always after you when in fact it's just a series of coincidences.

So if you've read some of Douglas' other books, or perhaps seen the movie or heard the radio series, this is a worthy read. if you haven't, it's about time you begin!

Do not go Gently into that good night..., 10 Mar 2008
I have to admit to being a little disappointed by this long-awaited audio version of Adams' peerless (unless you count the sequel 'The Long Dark Tea Time of the Soul') late 80s sci-fi/fantasy/drama/comedy novel. I have to be honest and say that Harry Enfield was miscast in the title role - his smug tones are not at all how I envisaged the underhand but essentially likeable Dirk - I also found the constant contemporary references that the audio version has added to the original novel ('Asbo'), rather annoying - in the same way that the current incarnation of Doctor Who's Timelord insists on littering his talk with references to 'Teletubbies', 'Eastenders' etc.
These grumbles aside I found the rest of the cast to be perfectly...well, cast - Billy Boyd in particular captures hapless computer programmer 'Richard' precisely as he is whirled along by events far beyond his comprehension. I'm not sure why Dirk's receptionist, Janet, needed to have her (extremely minor) role in the novel fleshed out, as she adds little to the story but this is not a major concern as she can be ignored.
Overall, the package is very impressive; I guess it's never going to be how you imagine it, especially after twenty years or so. Hopefully they'll serialise 'Teatime' - with some minor improvements it could be awesome.

Loved it, 09 Nov 2007
Like many others I was less than convinced about the casting of Harry Enfield, but with persistence I grew to love him. I liked Dirk Gently as a character because, like Ford Prefect, he had an infuriating habit of appearing to know everything without ever having gone through a learning process - despite knowing that Dirk went to Cambridge too my mind seemed to brush it aside almost as a formality!

Something about the way Harry Enfield delivered complex lines in an almost simplistic way reinforced the idea that, like Ford, he was several steps ahead of everyone, one felt guilty needing to hear them again and it was clear that Dirk Gently had a very sharp mind indeed.

I loved the odd homage to Douglas Adam's magnum opus, for example, the sound of the lift opening in the last episode, which was taken from the Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I only wish Adams had lived to hear it. He would have adored it. I did.

This was always going to be difficult ..., 09 Nov 2007
While H2G2 III-V had it's key characters and central cast for continuity, Dirk (both of them) had to work from the ground up for this outing. And they do. To be honest, I wouldn't have had Harry Enfield (wonderful though he is) at the top of my list, but as it turns out, he does a rather splendid job. And yes, there are a few touches missing - the odd line I was listening out for - but I'm more than happy to be happy with this, and embrace it as part of Adams' Radio 4 canon. Billy Boyd, Andrew Sachs, Olivia Colman and Felicity Montagu are all superb (do bears...), and play against many of the hugely talented and versatile voice actors from the recent Hitchhikers series. Oh, and Jim Carter is perfect as Gilks. I look forward to the next series.

"Shada" does the better job, 07 Nov 2007
It's fairly common knowledge that some parts of the storyline and some characters were first used by Adams for his Doctor Who script of "Shada", which is available both from the BBC online as a webcast and from BigFinish on CD. Comparing those two productions where possible and taking into account the impact of the humor of certain dialogues I must say, that the BigFinish/Doctor Who incarnation beats Dirk Maggs/Gently by far. Dirk Gently by itself is a wonderful book. There are parts of the radio play that live up to the book. But on the whole it failed to go that last extra mile for me. But I can't wait until my copy arrives to see if there is again some extra material on CD that didn't make it in the broadcast version. For the moment, after the concluding episode on the air tonight, 3 stars.

The sleevenotes say it all, 04 Oct 2007
"A thumping good detective-ghost-horror-whodunnit-time-travel-romantic-musical-comedy-epic".

This just about does it justice becasue, possibly even more than anything else that DNA wrote, this defied any kind of meaningful categorisation.

For those aware of DNA's time at Doctor Who, there are two obvious ideas which are blended together to form the ocre of the story, but further than that the non-linear and sometimes confusing narrative create sometihng altogether new. The inital focus of this novel is Richard Macduff, a software developer and alumnus of St Cedd's College Cambridge who is summoned back to his alma mater by Professor Urban Chronotis. In this process he becomes caught up in the investigation of his friend and employer Gordon Way's death. Help comes in the guise of old college friend Dirk Gently (formerly Svlad Cjelli and a man with a very murky past), who now works as a very unusual detective indeed.

What is amazing about this book is the sheer volume of ideas and wonders bursting out of each page. The prose has more than tone of PG Wodehouse, a particular favourite of DNA's and the quality of the scientific think ing and explanation of esoteric phenomena is quite beauifully perspicuous.

And of course, it's funny. Not in the same way as HHGTTG, but at times laugh out loud, uproarious. Mostly though it is full of wry, droll observations about the rareified atmosphere of Cambridge colleges, the vicissitudes of corporatism and the various aburdities of modern life. It also manages to cram in Coleridge, Bach and the fundamental interconnectedness of all things. A potent mix.

I thought it would be funnier., 15 Sep 2008
I hate to say it but I didn't enjoy the book that much, it was alright and funny in parts but it just wasn't enough. I prefere Terry Pratchet books. I'm disappointed that I didn't love the book, but I don't know if I'm disappointed at me, the book or both. It just wasn't funny enough.

Forty Two Reasons to Buy., 30 Jul 2008
And then, one Thursday, nearly two thousand years after one man had been nailed to a tree for saying how great it would be to be nice to people for a change, I borrowed Hitch Hikers from the library and changed my outlook on reading forever. At school they told us what and when to read and as a consequence I'd never read anything except for `Winnie-the-Pooh' and `The House at Pooh Corner', then they sent us home to revise for our `O' levels and I needed a silent occupation to keep me entertained whilst my Mother thought I was revising. Early on I was caught with my walkman on, I hadn't heard my mum coming up the steps, and so reading seemed like the ideal solution.

I'd enjoyed the TV series of Hitch Hikers and so got this from the library and changed overnight from a non-reader to a prolific reader. I didn't so much read as consume this and the remainder of the then four Hitch Hikers books over the next couple of days. Douglas Adams prose was so entertaining that it not only made him instantly my favourite but also introduced me to reading for pleasure. Before my revision leave was over I'd not only read the four part Hitch Hikers trilogy three times but I had also read the entire output of Tom Sharpe as well as all the James Bond and Phillip Marlowe books.

Twenty five years later Adams is still my favourite author and I can't help but think if I'd not discovered these books then I would never have read and would have missed out on all the hundreds of great books I've read since. Mind you I might have done better in my `O' levels, I could have been a contender....


Very clever "...the Best Bang since the Big One...", 21 Feb 2008
I'm not really a science fiction fan, which might go some way to explain why I only read this for the first time at the age of 28!

Born in the year of it's release, I remember being vaguely aware of the TV series, but had never watched it. This is a book that everyone has heard of. Even if you've never read it, it's one that's in your consciousness. I remember seeing the book in the library as a kid but passing it over as I thought it was "a boys book". (This was a girl who wanted to read Anne of Green Gables and Little Women).

I wish I had read this as a pre-teen. Although some of the humour and observations made in the book would be appreciated by adults, on a different level, it is written in a pre-teen style.

Hitchhiker's is a lot of fun. It's silly, comical and satirical. It also makes some fascinating and pertinent observations on politics, beauracracy, philosophy and human nature in general. Douglas Adams was clearly a hugely intelligent, perceptive man and a great conceptual thinker. Obviously, written in 1979, some of his references are a little outdated - such as the digital watches; and of course the Guide itself exsists today, in the guise of an on-line encyclopaedia such as Wikipedia! However, despite this, many of the ideas in the book have stood the test of time.

I would definitely recommend this book, even if you're not a sci-fi fan. As sci-fi goes, it's more Red Dwarf than John Wyndham. Adams is a cracking comedy writer and some of the lines in the book are hilarious. I now look forward to reading The Restaurant at the End of the Universe".

Dont panic just buy read and enjoy, 19 Sep 2007
I read these books ( please get all of them ) every year and they never fail to make me smile or enrich my life. So many wonderful ways to approach the mysterys of the universe and make it fun. It should be in every school and part of every teenagers life. Mr Adams , thank you , wherever you are. This ranks with Spike Milligans war memoise, the Pythons and The Simpsons.

Revisiting a classic, 04 Aug 2007
I re-read the Hitchiker's Guide over the summer while on holiday and had an interesting reaction. I first read it in my teens and thought it was a masterpiece, side-splittingly funny. It became the originator of a host of catchphrases among my circle of friends and we circulated dog-eared copies around our school until everyone seemed to be a fan. Revisiting it, I found it slightly annoying and repetitive, somehow. Maybe I've become an old bore. The repeated, completely random interruption of fate became the very opposite of itself - slightly predictable. There are still some wonderful moments and the dialogue bears up well, but on the whole, it felt like something best left in my early teens. One interesting thought - the Guide itself is a massive computerised reference book, updatable by users. Surely it's the precursor of Wikipedia and all things Wiki-related?

Almost, but not quite, the original version, 29 May 2007
As with previous releases on vinyl etc, this is NOT the original radio show. Episodes 1-4 sound like they have been re-recorded, from the voices and the technical sound I'm guessing this was done at the time of the third series. The script, the sound effects and music all contain differences - I've compared it to my original (very old) cassette recordings off the radio and the CD version is definitely different - cleaner maybe but somehow rather "flat".

Maybe the BBC lost the original recordings as they did with so many other radio and TV shows? Maybe the quality was thought to not be good enough? Maybe they thought they could improve the original sound effects with newer technology? Whatever the reason, claiming this as the original is not quite true. BBC, if you have the originals you should include them as an "extra", or release them seperately.

From episode 5 on this sounds like it is the original in every respect.


Essential Douglas Adams Stuff!, 22 Apr 2007
First off, as anyone could say, miles better than the film! Secondly, how is it to the book? Tough call, while I love the Radio series, I do find the book amazing to read, quite honestly it depends on your mood. If you know you can plough your way through the book (worth it, but time consuming) then go for that, and get the radio series a bit later. On the whole, I think I must enjoy the Radio Series more anyway, but the book is very well written!

Although it wasn't easy to get the hang of distinguishing between Ford, Arthur & Zaphod for at least the first half of Primary. It was great fun. The guide, not as great, everything else, much better! There were sometimes when it was clinging to a part of the book, but as a consequence made it sound a bit rubbish. Although the only real change from the book is the fact that Hotblacks ship is replaced by some war-raging generals and that the Quintessential Phase, only spends half of its time on the bit which was Mostly Harmless in the book. However, some of the changes in the storyline were better, and felt a lot more real! On the whole, fantastically amazingly brilliantical! Well worth getting.

*This* is the version you want to buy, 21 Mar 2007
This CD box set contains all the radio episodes (the older ones plus the more recently produced episodes), as well as some bonus materials.

I was in heaven for many hours during a long car trip!

This is great, 08 Feb 2007
The Title of this review says it all realy.
As some before me have said.
Don't see the film.
Don't read the book.
If you want to appreciate the genius of Douglas Adams listen to the radio series, the pearl of BBC radio.
My "Life The Universe And Everything" is The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy.


The definitive ýGuide!, 01 Sep 2005
Forget the awful film, forget the book - **this** is the original and definitive HHGttG

The Meaningless of Liff., 30 Jul 2008
In `The Meaning of Liff' Douglas Adams and John Lloyd have expanded the English language by noting down the meaningless names that lie underused on signpost and attribute new purpose to them covering the common experiences we have yet to assign a word to.

Depford(n).
The Disappointment one feels when our favourite author puts out a book not worthy of their name.

Twinning(n).
The nagging sensation the reader feels that he has been swindled out of five pounds that would have been better served giving to a barmaid in return for a couple of pints of beer or indeed burning.

Lepton(n).
The disconcerting feeling that some people will love the said book and Leap-Upon any critic daring to say it's rubbish.


Pure joy, 18 Mar 2008
If you love words and curious sounding place names, and the funny little foibles of existence, if you love silliness, then you must read this book!

Some people have described it as wordplay, but it's not wordplay in the sense of puns. It's playing with words in the sense of having fun with the silly, illogical images that the words somehow evoke, and it is the capturing of little things that you never think about but which could definitely use a name of their own.

I've only read this version, but apparently the following book was an extended and updated version.


The original, ground-breaking pocket editon of LIFF, 05 Jul 2005
Quite simply one of the very cleverest books. Have you ever read a dictionary? Did you remember much? No?
Well, this effect extends to TMOL (The Meaning Of Liff), because it is a 'dictionary' like no other.
All those needed but un-named words that describe everyday situations (standing in the kitchen, wondering why you are there = "Woking") have been listed and described without coining a single word.
By re-using place names no new words have been created, only new meanings. Humorous meanings, mostly, although some are plain waspish! The authors take their revenge on people and places that have (presumably) given offence.
And the advantage of the dictionary format is that all this wisdom and humour can be read and re-read almost indefinitely, since it is (after all) so hard to remember things when you read a dictionary. This small book will pass time for ages, and every loo should have one. Also suitable for cars, boats, and (especially) light aircraft with luggage limits.

First draft to The Deeper Meaning of Liff, save your pennies, 01 Sep 2004
I am deeply disappointed that both books are still in circulation. The Deeper Meaning of Liff (TDMOF) is an updated edition of The Meaning of Liff (TMOF), it contains all the definitions found in TMOF and a significant number more. So why oh why is TMOF still being sold???? Don't make the same mistake I did, I bought both together.

Essential reading., 02 Nov 2003
First read the original version on the York to London train in April 1984, and by Stevenage was reading it aloud to my half of the carriage. My four children have been brought up on scullets, duddos, aboynes, goosnarge, kent expressions and, of course, clixbys. I have frequently been threatened with matricide for being exessively spreakly, but have never been accused of a ditherington. My husband has a fondness for my budbys, and has had consirable experience of poonas. I've had plenty of episodes of silesia, been occasionally duntish after being extremely solent, endured many a hoylake, committed the occasional hidcote bartram and have often been observed kelling. I'm also very adept at losing things in fiunaries. Anyone who understands some - or most of this - is at least as sad as I am, but probably, also like me, has more fun in life than many people.. Now have a copy of the Deeper Meaning, but haven't learned as many new words now my family have grown & flown. I still think a runcorn could be an athletes affliction, slimbridge a dieter's scales, and saundersfoot the irritating tapping made someone who is enjoying the sort of music you can't stand! Maybe they'll be an Even Deeper Meaning of Liff?

All you wanted to know about the Hitchhikers Guide but were forced to find out for yourself, 20 Oct 2008
Where to start.

I have been a big fan of The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy since first listening to the radio series in 1985 (ish) courtesy of a cassette tape of a recording of the original two radio series (Fit The First to Twelth) my friends older brother had given him and he subsequently lent me. Over time I would come to own, lose, and forget where I put, various copies of books in the HHGTTG series (including those original tapes which were returned slightly dustier than when first lent 5 years later).

So to the book. Due to the continued popularity of Douglas Adams, and THHGTTG there have been many versions of the five novels published over the years, along with a few compilation sets of the first four books.

The Ultimate Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy however does attempt in Adams own words "To set the record straight, or at least, firmly crooked." and may differ slightly from the many incarnations of the Guide although reading this you will more than likely think of it as a more wholly definitive if not sometimes contradictory version of the series.

This edition has the look and feel of one of a old style book, with a nice thick black hard cover, and guilt edged paper which is thin enough to fit the whole five novels in quite compactly. THHGTTG has over the years not only become a classic as a series and also in it's indifidual parts, but also has seemingly never lost it's popularity, and this definitive edition will naturally satisfy fans of both Douglas Adams, THGTTG and sci-fi/comedy fans.


One or two reviewers have mentioned being able to see the text through the page, but it isn't really as bad as it sounds and is not a problem in the least, and does not affect the ability to clearly read what is on the page.

In addition to the five novels is quite a rarity I feel (although other reviewers may need to correct me on this), "Young Zaphod Plays It Safe" a all short story about Beeblebrox's youth.


Best version of Hitchhikers possible, 12 Sep 2008
When this book arrived I was shocked at its size and weight.
This reminds me of a heavy built Bible.
What I mean is, the quality is fantastic, excellent medium sized print, very sturdy bindings and the gold guilt paper makes it feel like a tome.

I have never read anything from this series or similar and after reading The Dark Tower I thought this would be a lighter comical read.
Adams' ability to entrance you in well thought out conversations and settings is astounding.

Fantastic read and amazing quality book.

AWESOME, 31 Dec 2007
Seriously, never has british humor ever gone to such heights as this. The storyline is incredibly intriguing, with all sorts of dry humor, stupidly funny overtones, and a serious underlying message, though I've yet to see anyone (myself included) figure out what that message is. If you like british humor, buy it. If not, buy it. If you want a fancy looking book to put on the mantle, buy it. All in all, this book must be purchased by everyone, and even the illiterate should be graced by the story contained within. Buy the book, or Vogons will kill you with bad Poetry!!! I'd also recommend reading Tino Georgiou's bestselling novel--The Fates--if you missed it

'Is that a BIBLE you're reading?' , 27 Aug 2007
Content alone renders even five stars somehow unworthy, but leather and gilt?? Surely somebody has been maxing out their Improbability Drive.

Or am I missing the point- is there in fact a niche market for light reading printed in spritual classic format? If so my only dilemma would be which section of the bookcase to put it- next to a mother-of-pearl inlaid Stephen King or perhaps a shagreen bound Bridget Jones?



You can't be a Douglas-fan without having read this one!, 12 May 2007
Having read this "trilogy" three times over, I can safely say it's totally worth it. The sheer bizarreness and randomness of it is amazing, and just the sort of thing to expect from this genious. It gives a detailed description of the oddities that not only exist in his made up world, but also down here on Earth. I mean, we all know the Earth-version of the Vogons. Or that someone who you think is always after you when in fact it's just a series of coincidences.

So if you've read some of Douglas' other books, or perhaps seen the movie or heard the radio series, this is a worthy read. if you haven't, it's about time you begin!

Do not go Gently into that good night..., 10 Mar 2008
I have to admit to being a little disappointed by this long-awaited audio version of Adams' peerless (unless you count the sequel 'The Long Dark Tea Time of the Soul') late 80s sci-fi/fantasy/drama/comedy novel. I have to be honest and say that Harry Enfield was miscast in the title role - his smug tones are not at all how I envisaged the underhand but essentially likeable Dirk - I also found the constant contemporary references that the audio version has added to the original novel ('Asbo'), rather annoying - in the same way that the current incarnation of Doctor Who's Timelord insists on littering his talk with references to 'Teletubbies', 'Eastenders' etc.
These grumbles aside I found the rest of the cast to be perfectly...well, cast - Billy Boyd in particular captures hapless computer programmer 'Richard' precisely as he is whirled along by events far beyond his comprehension. I'm not sure why Dirk's receptionist, Janet, needed to have her (extremely minor) role in the novel fleshed out, as she adds little to the story but this is not a major concern as she can be ignored.
Overall, the package is very impressive; I guess it's never going to be how you imagine it, especially after twenty years or so. Hopefully they'll serialise 'Teatime' - with some minor improvements it could be awesome.

Loved it, 09 Nov 2007
Like many others I was less than convinced about the casting of Harry Enfield, but with persistence I grew to love him. I liked Dirk Gently as a character because, like Ford Prefect, he had an infuriating habit of appearing to know everything without ever having gone through a learning process - despite knowing that Dirk went to Cambridge too my mind seemed to brush it aside almost as a formality!

Something about the way Harry Enfield delivered complex lines in an almost simplistic way reinforced the idea that, like Ford, he was several steps ahead of everyone, one felt guilty needing to hear them again and it was clear that Dirk Gently had a very sharp mind indeed.

I loved the odd homage to Douglas Adam's magnum opus, for example, the sound of the lift opening in the last episode, which was taken from the Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I only wish Adams had lived to hear it. He would have adored it. I did.

This was always going to be difficult ..., 09 Nov 2007
While H2G2 III-V had it's key characters and central cast for continuity, Dirk (both of them) had to work from the ground up for this outing. And they do. To be honest, I wouldn't have had Harry Enfield (wonderful though he is) at the top of my list, but as it turns out, he does a rather splendid job. And yes, there are a few touches missing - the odd line I was listening out for - but I'm more than happy to be happy with this, and embrace it as part of Adams' Radio 4 canon. Billy Boyd, Andrew Sachs, Olivia Colman and Felicity Montagu are all superb (do bears...), and play against many of the hugely talented and versatile voice actors from the recent Hitchhikers series. Oh, and Jim Carter is perfect as Gilks. I look forward to the next series.

"Shada" does the better job, 07 Nov 2007
It's fairly common knowledge that some parts of the storyline and some characters were first used by Adams for his Doctor Who script of "Shada", which is available both from the BBC online as a webcast and from BigFinish on CD. Comparing those two productions where possible and taking into account the impact of the humor of certain dialogues I must say, that the BigFinish/Doctor Who incarnation beats Dirk Maggs/Gently by far. Dirk Gently by itself is a wonderful book. There are parts of the radio play that live up to the book. But on the whole it failed to go that last extra mile for me. But I can't wait until my copy arrives to see if there is again some extra material on CD that didn't make it in the broadcast version. For the moment, after the concluding episode on the air tonight, 3 stars.

The sleevenotes say it all, 04 Oct 2007
"A thumping good detective-ghost-horror-whodunnit-time-travel-romantic-musical-comedy-epic".

This just about does it justice becasue, possibly even more than anything else that DNA wrote, this defied any kind of meaningful categorisation.

For those aware of DNA's time at Doctor Who, there are two obvious ideas which are blended together to form the ocre of the story, but further than that the non-linear and sometimes confusing narrative create sometihng altogether new. The inital focus of this novel is Richard Macduff, a software developer and alumnus of St Cedd's College Cambridge who is summoned back to his alma mater by Professor Urban Chronotis. In this process he becomes caught up in the investigation of his friend and employer Gordon Way's death. Help comes in the guise of old college friend Dirk Gently (formerly Svlad Cjelli and a man with a very murky past), who now works as a very unusual detective indeed.

What is amazing about this book is the sheer volume of ideas and wonders bursting out of each page. The prose has more than tone of PG Wodehouse, a particular favourite of DNA's and the quality of the scientific think ing and explanation of esoteric phenomena is quite beauifully perspicuous.

And of course, it's funny. Not in the same way as HHGTTG, but at times laugh out loud, uproarious. Mostly though it is full of wry, droll observations about the rareified atmosphere of Cambridge colleges, the vicissitudes of corporatism and the various aburdities of modern life. It also manages to cram in Coleridge, Bach and the fundamental interconnectedness of all things. A potent mix.

Near Flawless, 09 Jul 2008
Fantastic - a true muse of fire, crammed with so many ideas and such comedic brilliance that it is practically bursting at the seams.
All the others seem lame in comparison (which they aren't), like Charlie Chaplins WW1 films - an ariadne's thread for all his other ideas.

If you haven't listened to the Primary Phase, don't just watch the film or read the book - it is essential that you try it on CD, as it was ground breaking in its time, and still flawless in the present.

All in all, this is an essential audio book, which has had profound effects on popular culture and is a Bible for anyone seeking to make headway (while avoiding cliche) in sci-fi, comedy or any pop culture field. Listen and be enriched!

Almost, but not quite, the original version, 29 May 2007
As with previous releases on vinyl etc, this is NOT the original radio show. Episodes 1-4 sound like they have been re-recorded, from the voices and the technical sound I'm guessing this was done at the time of the third series. The script, the sound effects and music all contain differences - I've compared it to my original (very old) cassette recordings off the radio and the CD version is definitely different - cleaner maybe but somehow rather "flat".

Maybe the BBC lost the original recordings as they did with so many other radio and TV shows? Maybe the quality was thought to not be good enough? Maybe they thought they could improve the original sound effects with newer technology? Whatever the reason, claiming this as the original is not quite true. BBC, if you have the originals you should include them as an "extra", or release them seperately.

From episode 5 this sounds like it is the original in every respect.

Pass me my Babel Fish, 01 Mar 2006
I was absolutely captivated by the original radio version of HHGTTG as a young teenager in the late 70's and I was delighted to rediscover the pan-galactic magic with these CDs. Douglas Adams was quite simply a genius. I took my sons (9 & 12) to see the movie a few months ago and after that they were keen to hear the radio originals. We keep the CDs in our car and they are absolutely brilliant for long journeys - you really can listen to them again and again, which is ideal if your vehicle does not have an Infinite Improbability Drive. And don't forget to listen out for the little joke at the end of the credits after each episode.

Still one of the most entertaining radio plays of all time, 04 Feb 2005
This is the true way to experience the Hitchhikers guide. It is perhaps one of the most entertaining and hilarious radio plays of all time. It is wonderful to be able to get hold of the radio plays that I had not managed to hear when they first came out and it gave me a whole new opportunity to fall back in love with Marvin, Arthur and Ford.

In the same way as the books allow the readers imagination to run away with themselves so the radio plays continue to enhance this. For people who do not like reading this is one of the best ways to get into Douglas Adams' classic......and for those that do like reading - well this is like welcoming an old friend home

The original and best...but incomplete!, 05 Sep 2004
I first heard the Guide when it was broadcast back in the late 70's, and bought the LPs from Original Records when they were released, but looked forward to getting the original broadcasts on CD when the BBC got round to issuing them.
So! when they came out, I bought!. There is an edit....confirmable by checking against the remains of an off-air cassette recording, and the scripts (not the novels!) as published by Pan Books.
When they arrive on Magrathea in Fit the Third, the background music is recognisable to all Pink Floyd fans...in the show, but not on these CDs, Arthur says "Do you know this robot can hum like Pink Floyd?" and asks if Marvin can do anything else, whereupon Marvin bursts into "Rock and Roll music" by the Beatles....
A small point but one for which I deduct a star....

Douglas Adams remarked in the script book that he was convinced there wouldn't be a second radio series, with the resulting end of this first series....but there was. He then deliberately left the second series open for a third to continue the story....and there wasn't. We can only regret that, since the TV series and the books took such a different course to the radio show, and never took up the challenge of the second radio series....

Buy these CDs, and the second series CDs, and listen to the continuation that should be on BBC R4 soon....

I thought it would be funnier., 15 Sep 2008
I hate to say it but I didn't enjoy the book that much, it was alright and funny in parts but it just wasn't enough. I prefere Terry Pratchet books. I'm disappointed that I didn't love the book, but I don't know if I'm disappointed at me, the book or both. It just wasn't funny enough.

Forty Two Reasons to Buy., 30 Jul 2008
And then, one Thursday, nearly two thousand years after one man had been nailed to a tree for saying how great it would be to be nice to people for a change, I borrowed Hitch Hikers from the library and changed my outlook on reading forever. At school they told us what and when to read and as a consequence I'd never read anything except for `Winnie-the-Pooh' and `The House at Pooh Corner', then they sent us home to revise for our `O' levels and I needed a silent occupation to keep me entertained whilst my Mother thought I was revising. Early on I was caught with my walkman on, I hadn't heard my mum coming up the steps, and so reading seemed like the ideal solution.

I'd enjoyed the TV series of Hitch Hikers and so got this from the library and changed overnight from a non-reader to a prolific reader. I didn't so much read as consume this and the remainder of the then four Hitch Hikers books over the next couple of days. Douglas Adams prose was so entertaining that it not only made him instantly my favourite but also introduced me to reading for pleasure. Before my revision leave was over I'd not only read the four part Hitch Hikers trilogy three times but I had also read the entire output of Tom Sharpe as well as all the James Bond and Phillip Marlowe books.

Twenty five years later Adams is still my favourite author and I can't help but think if I'd not discovered these books then I would never have read and would have missed out on all the hundreds of great books I've read since. Mind you I might have done better in my `O' levels, I could have been a contender....


Very clever "...the Best Bang since the Big One...", 21 Feb 2008
I'm not really a science fiction fan, which might go some way to explain why I only read this for the first time at the age of 28!

Born in the year of it's release, I remember being vaguely aware of the TV series, but had never watched it. This is a book that everyone has heard of. Even if you've never read it, it's one that's in your consciousness. I remember seeing the bo