Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

[WildWop]

I'm looking for something fun to read after the debacle that is Candide (if satire was art, this would be fingerpainting), and I recall someone with a similar sense of humor to mine in college reading the books in this series fervently. What's everyone's opinion on these books?

[scsg75]

good book. Never read the whole thing myself, but my ex roomate loved it.

[sblymnlcrymnl]

I enjoyed it. I just saw the hardcover collection on a clearance shelf at B&N. I was tempted to buy it, but I've only read the original so I held off.

[evilpenguin9000]

It's a series of several books, the first is good. Lots of aburdist and surreal humor. If you're into things getting weird it's pretty great.

[Cornfedwb]

Excellent, get the whole series. Very eclectic.. but great reads.

[Snowcone]

I enjoyed it. I just saw the hardcover collection on a clearance shelf at B&N. I was tempted to buy it, but I've only read the original so I held off.

I picked up the hardback edition with the whole series and I love it. I finished off 3 of the books before taking a break and reading a little Dan Brown, but Adams is a fabulous writer.

[Xevious]

I enjoyed Candide. There is only one Voltaire!

[WildWop]

I enjoyed Candide. There is only one Voltaire!

It's a little too haute couture (sp?) for me. It's like some rich people sitting around busting on each other in that corny movie-based-in-late-1700's-France type of way. The "satire" is thinly veiled at best, and not at all clever. If there's another of Voltaire's novels you'd recommend, I'm willing to give him another shot, but for now Candide is giving me a headache.

[WildWop]

I enjoyed it. I just saw the hardcover collection on a clearance shelf at B&N. I was tempted to buy it, but I've only read the original so I held off.

I can't find a hardcover collection on their website, in stock or no... I'd pick them all up if it's reasonable.

[spoo]

I bought the whole set on old paperbacks off of Ebay a year or so ago but have only read the first one. A great book!!! Go read it now before the movie comes out.

[sblymnlcrymnl]

I enjoyed it. I just saw the hardcover collection on a clearance shelf at B&N. I was tempted to buy it, but I've only read the original so I held off.

I can't find a hardcover collection on their website, in stock or no... I'd pick them all up if it's reasonable.

ISBN is 0517149257, includes 6 books:


The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
Life, the Universe and Everything
So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish
Young Zaphod
Mostly Harmless

Seems to be going for about $14 before shipping.

[Cornfedwb]

I enjoyed it. I just saw the hardcover collection on a clearance shelf at B&N. I was tempted to buy it, but I've only read the original so I held off.

I can't find a hardcover collection on their website, in stock or no... I'd pick them all up if it's reasonable.

ISBN is 0517149257, includes 6 books:


The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
Life, the Universe and Everything
So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish
Young Zaphod
Mostly Harmless

Seems to be going for about $14 before shipping.

BTW, the last two are pretty poor compared to the first four. If its a decent savings, I'd just get the first four books individually and not waste your money on the last two pieces.

[Xevious]

I enjoyed Candide. There is only one Voltaire!

It's a little too haute couture (sp?) for me. It's like some rich people sitting around busting on each other in that corny movie-based-in-late-1700's-France type of way. The "satire" is thinly veiled at best, and not at all clever. If there's another of Voltaire's novels you'd recommend, I'm willing to give him another shot, but for now Candide is giving me a headache.

Your opinion is valid. I enjoyed Candide for what it is and I had knowledge of the cutural background of Voltaire and his time and such.

[WildWop]

ISBN is 0517149257, includes 6 books:



Thanks.

Does the 25th Anniversary Edition come with all six books as well? It doesn't say anything like that in the description, I figured maybe one of you guys may know from seeing it in-store. ISBN 1400052920

[ElwoodCuse]

You've got to read them all but So Long and Thanks For All The Fish and Mostly Harmless are like the recent seasons of the Simpsons: still good, but they pale in comparison to the work's peak.

[karmapolice]

I recomend getting it...I had the hardback copy with all 6 books...Yet I cant find it anywhere...And im super pissed because I wanted to read it again...a very well written book and funny

[Xevious]

I was a fan of the Hitchhiker books. I also played the Hitchhiker Game which was put out by Infocom. It was a text adventure game. Lots of fun.

[starman9000]

good book. Never read the whole thing myself, but my ex roomate loved it.

Best book review ever.

[Reality's Fringe]

I thought the first book was pretty good, and will read the second one soon. I feel that adams can be boring at times, but there's some odd humor to it, and it keeps the story interesting.

[epobirs]

The two Dirk Gently books are also highly recommended.

Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency

The Long Dark Tea Time of the Soul

Also, a kind of collection of works in progress and unfinished thoughts can be found in The Salmon of Doubt. The man had a lot more material in him when he died.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1400045088/qid=1095739533/sr=8-6/ref=pd_csp_6/104-8877323-0480704?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

Another great book in the non-fiction section is 'Last Chance to See' in which Adams chronicles his travels around the world to see severely endangered species. Despite the somber subject it is incredibly funny, too. Somewhat like P.J. O'rourke in good form.

[epobirs]

Two other British writers of humorous novels I highly recommend are Tom Holt:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/index%3Dstripbooks%26field-keywords%3DTom%2520Holt/104-8877323-0480704

He deals heavily in shaking up mythology. For example, in 'Odds and Gods' features a rebellion in a nursing home for obsolete elderly gods.


Tom Sharpe is in his Seventies but still going strong. His first book, Riotous Assembly, took on the bizarre nature of South Africa long before complaining about apartheid became fashionable. He amazingly is able to do fine slapstick in prose. Readers of Terry Pratchett's Night Watch novels will recognize the inspiration he received from Sharpe's two South Africa novels.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/index%3Dstripbooks%26field-keywords%3DTom%252520Sharpe%26store-name%3Dbooks/104-8877323-0480704

[sblymnlcrymnl]

ISBN is 0517149257, includes 6 books:



Thanks.

Does the 25th Anniversary Edition come with all six books as well? It doesn't say anything like that in the description, I figured maybe one of you guys may know from seeing it in-store. ISBN 1400052920

According to buy.com (www.buy.com) that edition is only 224 pages. If accurate, and I have no reason to believe it isn't, then it's only the first book.

[dafoomie]

I have the hardcover edition with all the books in it, its great. The last 2 books aren't as great though, because he wrote them right after his mother died. He felt bad and started writing a new book in the series, but he died of a heart attack before it was done. Sad. Great author though.