The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
A novel by Douglas Adams

Forget about Mary. If you ask me, there's something about British people. And comedy. The English have mastered the art of being funny without being stupid, something that we Americans can't seem to get right. Don't believe me? Remember Scary Movie? I know you were trying to forget. So was I, but the point had to be made. From Eddie Izzard to Monty Python, Brits know their funny. Which brings us right around to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the silliest, funniest, absolutely bestest book ever.

Arthur Dent was having a semi-normal day. Someone's trying to knock his house down, his good friend Ford Prefect is from a small planet somewhere near the vicinity of Betelgeuse -- and not from Guilford as he originally claimed -- and Vogons have come to destroy the Earth. All he really wants is a decent cup of tea. This is what makes Arthur the best hero ever. Sure, you'd like to think that if you got caught up in matters of galactic importance that you could swing it, be Sarah Conner circa Terminator 2 or Indiana Jones circa anytime. But the truth is, most of us would end up being Arthur, running around screaming for a Coke and maybe a nice nap.

It's the silliness hidden under that stiff upper lip that gets me every time. Along the way, Adams wanders, stream of consciousness-style, through all sorts of unrelated things. Where the hell have all your ball-point pens gotten off to? Why are people so obsessed with digital watches? Who is this God person anyway? The Hitchhiker's Guide lets him do this. It's a small computer book with the words 'Don't Panic' printed on the front in large letters, that can tell you something about anything. It might not be helpful or accurate, but at least it's something. But the genius of Adams is how he eventually weaves all of these digressions into the story.

About the only complaint I could possibly voice about this book is that Adams seems to suffer from the one-girl-in-all-the-world syndrome, and I'm not talking about Buffy. Trillian is the only woman in the book, apparently the only one in the universe except for Eccentrica Gallumbits, the triple breasted whore of Eroticon 6, who must be extremely tired by now. Trillian has degrees in math and astrophysics, but comes off as a bit stupid in places.

Basically, all I can say is, if you haven't read this book already, what the hell are you waiting for? Don't you want to understand what everybody is talking about when someone says '42' and everyone giggles? I mean, really, what's wrong with you? You're dishonoring your geeker heritage! If you can find a copy of the BBC radio program, be sure to snap it up. Barring that, listening to Douglas Adams read the book is heavenly. You need the accent to complete the effect. Or, kidnap a really hot British guy and force him to read the book to you. Could be the start of a beautiful felony.

RE-READ FACTOR: I'm on my third copy of this book, because people keep stealing it from me. And I keep buying it again. Stupid loser friends. Get your own!

SEQUEL FACTOR: Yep. There's five books in this trilogy. Don't ask.

STRONG CHICK FACTOR: Not really. But there's a manically depressed robot. Who's also male. Sigh.

-- Alicia Thompson

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, published by Ballantine Books, is currently available in paperback.

We welcome your comments on The 11th Hour and this review. Please send letters to: letters@the11thhour.com