Customer Reviews (4)

new perspective for our pointless lives
Even though I thought that the last two books were a let down I still give the story 5 stars.I just love the use of science fiction to make you think about your every day life and existance.I was laughing out loud.This is definately odd humor, not everyone is going to be amused but what about the answer to everything? and the new explanation on how life on earth began?Cows bred to want to be eaten, and with the ability to say so?You will find out that flying is possible, just don't think about it.I should read this again.

Science Fiction farce at its best
Douglas Adams is a master of the farcical science fiction novel, and here are three perfect examples in one collection!The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The Restaurant at the end of the Universe, and Life, the Universe,and Everything compose the first three novels of the Hitchiker's trilogy(yes, there are four, check out So Long and Thanks for All the Fish).Inthis series, Arthur Dent, along with a broad array of alien companionsseeks to discover the great question to the answer to life, the universe,and everything (the answer is 42).Along the way, excerpts from thegreatest book of books, The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy (vastly morepopular than the Encyclopedia Galactica), force readers to laugh out loudand annoy people sitting around them by repeatedly saying, "You've gotto read this book!"

If you're looking for a comical way to spend aboring day, grab yourself a copy of this book.You won't regret it.

Excellent Library Addition for Hitchhiker Trilogy Fans
This volume combines all five titles from the Hitchhiker Trilogy under one cover. If you are a fan of any or all of the Hitchhiker books, this is an excellent way to keep them all together. For those who have never read thembut enjoy science fiction, it's a chance to discover a new Universe.

Titles combined include The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy; TheRestaurant at the End of the Universe; Life, the Universe, and Everything;So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish; and Mostly Harmless.

You'lltravel with Arthur Dent from the destruction of the Earth throughout theUniverse in a series of adventures and misadventures. He meets some of themost uproarious characters in the Universe, and realize he's met some ofthem before. All of this to answer the ultimate question of "Life, theUniverse and Everything".

The book moves comparably in speedspeed and action to the Hobbit, and Trilogy of the Rings. And wouldn't weall like to go "There and Back Again."

A definite must-read
A modern-day masterpiece, Douglas Adams' "Hitchhiker's Trilogy" is a fast read that will leave the reader rolling on the floor with laughter.The characters are richly written, from the ego-driventwo-headed Zaphod Beeblebrox to the manic-depressive robot Marvin, makingthe reader empatize with them during their journeys through space and time. A true must-read for all. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

More Than Complete
This may be the "More Than Complete" Guide, but it does not contain the fifth book (The Salmon Of Doubt).However, this book was my introduction to Douglas Adams and I have read it at least a dozen times since it was given to me six years ago.

If you think you'd like British science fiction comedy, you'll like this book.If you saw the movie, don't try to compare it to the book - movies are one form of media, and books are another.It's impossible to transfer this type of written humor into a movie.

Give Douglas Adams a try, and you too can be one of the few people who burst out laughing whenever somebody says "42".

Very good edition. Great for a Douglas Adams Fan.
I loved the entire book. This is my peronal first of reading anything by Douglas but this book is a perfect (or PREfect) for a beginer.It's tantalizing and Adams has a world class imagination. ... Read more

Book Description

Term paper due tomorrow? Need to cram for a test? Or just looking for the best information about a favorite literary work?

Turn to "Novels for Students" to get your research done in record time. Brought to you by Thomson Gale--the world's leading source of literary criticism and analysis--this e-doc contains: plot summary; character analysis; author biography; an overview of the novel's themes, style, and historical context; a compendium of in-depth critical material; study questions; suggestions for further reading; and much more.

Why choose "Novels For Students"? Because no other source offers so much in such a compact package. Trust the experts: Thomson Gale--and "Novels for Students."Download Description

Term paper due tomorrow? Need to bone up for a test? Or just looking for the best information about a favorite literary work?

Turn to "Novels for Students" to get your research done in record time. Brought to you by the Gale Group--the world's leading source of literary criticism and analysis--this e-doc contains: plot summary; character analysis; author biography; an overview of the novel's themes, style, and historical context; a compendium of in-depth critical material; study questions; suggestions for further reading; and much more.

Why choose "Novels For Students"? Because no other source offers so much in such a compact package. Trust the experts: The Gale Group--and "Novels for Students." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Useless, do not buy this book.
Out of the twenty-five pages eight are acknowledgements and bibliography.Then the first page that does relate to the topic is half blank.Thought the document is padded with over large pictures of disco dancers and hitchhikers. After a brief summary and character sketch it begins to give background on the 70's in America.The book is British so this has little or no value.This document ends with six pages of reviews of which only one is specifically about hitchhikers guide. At the end there is a page advertising their other products.What little useful information this contains is not only buried under pages of crap but also not entirely accurate.Save you money and time don't bother with this. ... Read more

Product Description
INCLUDES:LIFE, THE UNIVERSE AND EVERYTHINGTHE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXYTHE RESTAURANT AT THE END OF THE UNIVERSE ... Read more

Book Description
The brand new third installment of Douglas Adams's classic time travel tale, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Tertiary Phase, is now available on audio. The long-awaited CD—which revives the BBC's popular radio series with this new six-part dramatization of Adams's book Life, the Universe and Everything—features 25 minutes of exclusive and previously unheard footage and features the author himself playing the role of Agrajag. The plot picks up where the second radio series left off: Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect escape from prehistoric Earth on a time-traveling sofa while a pack of homicidal robots blow up Lords Cricket Ground. Armed only with a rabbit bone, a worn dressing gown, and a spaceship that looks remarkably like an Italian bistro, Arthur embarks on an intergalactic journey to save the universe.

Several members of the original BBC Radio 4 cast reunited for this special audio production, including Simon Jones as Arthur Dent, Geoffrey McGivern as Ford Prefect, Susan Sheridan as Trillian, Mark Wing-Davey as Zaphod Beeblebrox, and Stephen Moore as Marvin the Paranoid Android. Richard Griffiths, Chris Langham, Joanna Lumley, and cricket commentators Fred Trueman and Henry Blofeld also star in this brilliant satire replete with incisive comedic wit. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

BBC Radio Recordings
This would be a much better series in a copleat box set of the radio series.It would be even better (5 Star rating) if the first two portioins of the radio brodcasts were availble on CD in the USA.

I look foward to listing to the first two sets of CD's when they become availble.

Tom

this is a great radio version of the guide
Sometimes people get stuck of something they like and expect the next effort to be the same.Other time people get mad at the new effort for being the same as the last.
Personally I find the Tertiary Phase has all the same of the old and great new stuff to enjoy.
This version of the book "Life, the Universe and Everything" harkens back to the original radio shows.Most of the original cast is back as well as small tribute to Adams by using some of the voice over he used in a book on tape.There are great elements such as the party the never ends,The man who gets an award for the most gratuitous use of the word #@%@%$%, the kriquett warriors, bistro math(a mathematical method that is based on how to split up a check at a restaurant) and such.It is a great buy and I recommend trying to get the first two parts as well.

Lots of Hope, Little delivery
I've been a fan of Hitchhiker for a long time, so naturally bought the CDs for Tertiary Phase.

I only heard the first two CDs of the set, and haven't developed the interest to finish.Why?

First, note that the original person who did the voice of the guide died, and the replacement just doesn't compare - at all.

The plot seems to be zany for zany sake, and not funny. The talking mattress doesn't help the plot but is more of a distraction.It's like the author just hobbled the book together in a hurry to make some easy money. I don't think his soul was in it. Too bad, because I would have loved for the series to go on.

The "Real" Hitchhikers Guide, as good as ever!
This BBC radio performance is fantastic. A disasterously incomprehensible last act does little to diminish the return of Hitchhikers in pure form. The return of the "real" Arthur Dent and friends (Simon Jones et al) is a welcome and amazing experience, and the soundscape is a perfect match to the original Hitchhikers' series from so many moons ago -- which is really amazing when you consider that the old series was put together on old fashioned magnetic tape. The sonic environment of the Hitchhikers universe is as curious as you may remember it - and even a bit improved upon, as more advanced stereo means you can even hear characters circling one another, or running about through the swishy tall grass of a field trying to catch a fast-moving couch, or engaging in repartee with their other head (for those who have more than one).

Not as funny as the original series? Perhaps, but Douglas Adams' books evolved through the years, becoming more philosophically searching (his fascination with the possible comedic implications of quantum mechanics on mere mortals) and less slapstick. And frankly I am pleased that this evolution in tone is carried through to this radio rendition. Though make no mistake, this series is still a comedic romp.

I've just listened to this Teriary Phase and am immediately ordering up the next two Phases courtesy of Amazon.co.uk. It saddens me that author Douglas Adams is no longer with us, but his cast and crew have made the best possible gift of his talents to the rest of the world through this performance. Bravo.

I Cried, I Laughed, I Cried Some More
When I found this item on the audiobook rack at my local bookstore (the one with the cafe stapled onto it) it took me at least an entire minute to figure out what it was I was looking at.I thought it must be a reissue of the original radio episodes (from 25 years ago) or a new reading by somebody or other.Gradually it dawned on me like a sledgehammer through molasses that this was an all-new radio series based on the third Hitchhiker's book performed by the (surviving) original radio cast, four years after the untimely death of author Douglas Adams.

"Mine," I judged as soon as I sorted out just what the hell it was.I was delighted to find that Stephen Moore was still alive and had returned to voice Marvin the Paranoid Android again.Peter Jones has unfortunately passed on, but makes a posthumous appearance in this new series, as does Douglas Adams himself!

From the moment I popped it in my CD player and began listening to it, tears bubbled into my eyes.Here again was that wonderful old theme song (an Eagles tune, isn't it?) and, my God, the same BBC announcer from 25 years ago!Okay, so I first heard the original shows fifteen years ago, but still, did I expect to ever hear another series?

Ultimately I've loved this Tertiary Phase.Adams wrote the first episode (before getting distracted by Hollywood again) and the entire series is well done.The music and sound effects are all you could hope for.The original cast is again brilliant and sound almost exactly as they did 25 years ago.The new cast members are excellent as well, with Richard Griffiths (Mr. Dursley from the Harry Potter movies and Swelter from Gormenghast) taking over the role of Slartibartfast.I've listened to the whole thing four times now, and like it better with each listening.

The worst I could say critically is that the pace is the tiniest bit sluggish, the performances the slightest bit geriatric, the energy just a little less than the original shows, and the humour, well, a tad bit less.Not enough to affect my rating however.I've been dying to know if the BBC was going to do adaptions of the final two Hitchhiker's books...

...and they have!The Quandary and Quintessential Phases have already been broadcast, with the same cast and producers as the Tertiary Phase.They should both be available commercially within the next six months or so.Just enough time for me to have another bath. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Did I do something wrong, today, or has the world always been like this and I've just been too wrapped up in myself to notice?
Douglas Adams was brilliant.

I came into the Hitchhiker world fairly late in the game, having read the books only shortly before Douglas died. Still, though they'd been written twenty years ago, they remained fresh and original, opening my eyes to a style of writing I'd never seen before. Since then, Douglas Adams has been a major obsession of mine. In addition to his Dirk Gently books, Last Chance to See, and the posthumous Salmon of Doubt, I've overjoyed at the DVD release of the Hitchhiker TV series and the long-delayed film version. But, sadly, I never got to hear the original radio series. At least until I finally bought an import of this CD set through Amazon Marketplace. In addition to both seasons of the radio series, this set also includes a documentary and Douglas Adams interview.

Truth be told, both the film and television versions - though they still contain Douglas's brilliant writing - suffer from a number of shortcomings, falling well short of the novel versions. Happily, the radio series works wonderfully.

It also makes me appreciate the fact that Douglas kept no version of Hitchhiker strictly faithful to any other version, making each unique in its own way. Great as bits like the babel fish and the search for the question to the ultimate answer of life, the universe, and everything are, I've seen/heard/read them a lot in repeated readings/viewings of the other versions. So, it's very refreshing, now, to hear the radio series go off into different directions than later versions. The second series, in particular, contains episodes that bear almost no resemblance to anything whatsoever contained in the novels, effectively reminding me of just why his writing appealed so much to me all those years ago.

If you're a Hitchhiker fan, you owe it to yourself to listen to the radio series. If you're not a Hitchhiker fan, but wondering if maybe you could be one, I would suggest starting with the books, if only on the basis that the CD set price tag is a bit high for a simple introduction. If, like me, you find that Douglas Adams's brand of insightful satire and absurd humor speaks to you, then, yeah, you'll want to hear this. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

One Amazing Book, Another Pretty Boring
Dirk Gently is probably Douglas Adam's best written book and has an extremely well defined plot. The humor as good as ever, I laughed out loud on many occassions. The notion of "fundamental interconnectedness of things" that Adams introduces in this book is quite powerful and yet quite humorous. The problem of the stuck couch in an impossible position, missing cats, ancient professors in universities, an electric monk - a multiple set of oddities all fall into place into a great pattern.

I found Long Dark Tea Time of the Soul a bit boring. It is interesting in parts but on the whole there's much new stuff in what Adams says.

On the whole the book is a great buy - if you liked Hitchhiker's series at all, you would most certainly love Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency. Guaranteed.

Not the Hitchhiker's Guide Series,.. but still good
A previous reviewer has noticed that this work is really nothing like the Hitchhiker's Guide books. While this is true, this does not make this a bad book. It is just that it is almost in a different genre.

If you were expecting the hilarity that is the HGTTG series, you may be surprised. But if you enjoy detective stories that make you think, you'll love these books. Just realize that Adams often doesn't expressly tie up all the loose ends: he expects the reader to be able to reason well enough to figure it out.

Adams reads some of his best work
After reading the five (!) books in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy trilogy, I turned to his two books featuring Dirk Gently, Holistic Detective. Although it took me a bit of time to warm to these stories, I wound up liking them even better than the HhGttG trilogy, much to my surprise. This audiobook version of these two excellent books is everything you would want in such a thing - unabridged and read by the author. On the downside, it is slightly pricey, and on the way far downside, it is out of print, and therefore a little hard to find. (Here's hoping that is remedied soon.) The late and much lamented (by me in any case) Douglas Adams was a writer of rare talent. He could write books about great subjects such as the origin of life and the meaning of existence, and make them riotously funny and entertaining. I believe that the only thing that will keep him from being recognized as a major writer is that he wrote science fiction. Too bad, because science fiction or not, his stuff was superb.

The long dark rambling of the boredom&dirk gentlys confusing
... agency.

Well,I love his other books, you know. hhgttg (hithchikers guide to the galaxy) trilogy, In fact it's my favorite book. But this one SUUUCKS!! I can't remember how many times I fell asleep while tring to read this monstrosity. I still haven't figured out why the horse was upstairs to begin with, and now,I really don't care.

The Long Dark Tea Time of the Soul and Dirk Gently
Being a long-time fan of Douglas Adams and his "Hitchhiker Series" doesn't automatically mean you will fall in love with Dirk Gently, but...

If you have any love of Norse Mythology, and enjoy a greatDetective story...you will love these stories immensely.

Lurkingrefrigerators, redheaded housekeepers, Odin, Thor, jets, the birth of newGods, Valhalla, cripsy linen sheets, exploding desks at airports, missingpassports, pregnant cats, Coke machines, time warps, hot potatoes, rockgroups, soothsayers, strange horoscopes, greed, history, mythology, and ofcourse at the center of it all is the humor of Douglas Adams.

These aretwo of the most thoroughly enjoyable stories to be found on tape, and Igive it 5 stars, it never flags, it holds your attention to the lastparagraph of the last page.And it is especially nice to hear them read inthe author's own voice, unabridged.Every little jewel is included,nothing is lost in the transition from print to spoken story. ... Read more

Book Description
The making of the most astonishing adventure in the Universe.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is one of the biggest and most eagerly anticipated film events of recent years. A much-yearned-for project of Douglas Adams, it has taken twenty-five years to bring the Galaxy to life on screen, and this interpretation of the classic novel is groundbreaking.

Starring Sam Rockwell as Zaphod, Mos Def as Ford Prefect, Zooey Deschanel as Trillian, Martin Freeman as Arthur, Bill Nighy as Slartibartfast and John Malkovich as Humma Kuvala, a new character created by Douglas especially for the movie, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy draws on a refreshing mix of CGI technology and state-of-the art puppeteering from Jim Henson's Creature Workshop.

In The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: The Filming of the Douglas Adams Classic, Robbie Stamp, Executive Producer and close friend of Douglas Adams, reveals the craft of the making of the film. From the emphasis throughout production on making real sets and real creatures, Robbie Stamp has interviewed many of the people involved in the film's production.

Storyboards, sketches, never-before-seen artwork and the making of the Heart of Gold, the Vogons (including what it's like to puppeteer and act inside one), the Guide itself and of course Marvin create a must-have companion to the film. With 400 color and black & white images, plus a wealth of insider jokes and cultural cross-references, this is the book old and new fans of Hitchhiker's have been waiting for.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy—The Movie © 2005 Touchstone Pictures ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Pan Galactic Gargleblasterly Good!
This book is fantastic. If you more of a fan of the book, TV show, or radio show, this isn't really for you. There are many large, detailed illustrations and photos with explanations to boot. It shows many hidden factoids from the film and describes the development of how they wanted to portray the characters and story line in this version of... The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy . If you really loved this movie, you will really love this book.

The book about the Making of the Movie of the Book ....
I discovered Douglas Adams and the Hitchhiker's Guide (Hitch Hiker's Guide for those who prefer it in it's original English) when I was in high school. I devoured each book as I could afford it, always eager for more. I was thrilled when the trilogy expanded. When the PBS station out of Washington DC started playing the BBC TV show, I was in heaven. And when the NPR station I listened to at college started playing the original radio show, I rigged up a way to record the shows on audio cassette so I wouldn't miss an episode.

So you can understand my embarrassment when I admit that I have yet to see the movie. But I've done the next best thing-I've read the book about making the movie. And I want to see the movie even more now.

This book is incredible. The pictures include not only final set designs, but the various stages that the designs went through. The Guide itself is pictured in every incarnation it went through. The Heart of Gold is shown in all its splendor. The costuming for Marvin, everyone's favorite paranoid android, is shown in enough detail to make me feel very sorry for the actor who had to wear it. Concept sketches abound. Any book that shows the actual bypass plans for both the Cottington bypass (inside front) and the Hyperspace bypass that requires the demolition of the Earth (inside back) has to be on every fan's must-read list.


The justification for changing parts of the "original" story are made in the book as well. True Hitchhiker's fans need no justification, though-we know that none of the various forms that the story has taken agrees with any other version. It should come as no surprise that the movie is different from the books, which were different from the TV series, which was different from the radio show, which is different from the lunchbox...

Anyone who watches movies and wonders "How did they DO that?" needs this book. Any Douglas Adams fan needs this book. Anyone who has ever written Vogon poetry needs this book.

The movie came out on DVD on Tuesday of this week. It's been out two whole days, and I haven't bought it yet. This book will get me through until I can get my copy-I might even be able to hold out for the collector's edition that will surely come out soon.

A Fun Book
OK, so you've read the books (several times), seen the movie (several times), going to buy the DVD when it comes out. Why would you want to buy a book on the movie?

Well, maybe because you want to see how they did some things. Maybe because the still shots in the movie give you time to look at what you are seeing for a while instead of being forced to go on to something else.

The making of a major motion picture like this is a big effort combining the talents of a lot of highly skilled folk. If you're into movies, knowing how they had to import material for Arthur Dent's pajamas from Turkey makes a very good trivia point to have at your fingertips.

I guess there's really no good good, solid, sound reason to buy this book. Except I like it, I found the pictures and writing to be fun to read. I've loaned it out to a few other fans. Good reason or not, I think you should go out and buy it.

not truely awesome
As a long time Hitchhikers reader/viewer/listener this book comes in rather far down the enjoyment list.I have not seen the new film, but have the older DVD based on the BBC program, saw the original BBC shows, heard and recorded all the radio programs and have the original books.Perhaps the book documenting parts of how the new film was made would be useful to movie people, I'm not a very friendly viewer of movies and usually prefer the books and radio stuff to feed my imagination. So with that bias put out for all to see, you can judge how useful these opinions might me for purchasing the book.
Books can't do much to get us inside the realy technical stuff of a modern special effects movie.So it is not a surprise that this gives a fairly superficial treatment of the technical aspects.What is less understandable is why central characters get an equally surface only treatment and it really escapes me as to why Marvin the paranoid robot is made to look like a childs cartoon neutered blob.What audience were the producers trying to reach, and how can we imagine pains down the diodes on the left side of a blob! Even more puzzling is the lack of a systematic framework about life, the universe and everything.So yes, I am not glad I purchased the book.

Very cool book!
I've been obsessed with H2G2 lately, and as soon as I heard about this book, I had to get it. There are many pictures in here, from concept drawings to in-depth photos and diagrams of practically everything. It explains the Vogons and what they had to do to get them moving, the Guide's appearance, each character's personality and clothing, Magrathea's factory floor... even everything about Arthur's house.

My only complaint, and it's a small one, is that Arthur, Zaphod, and Trillian get four pages of coverage, while Ford only gets two. Then again, I'm a huge Ford fan, so I'm biased.

If you're a fan, you must get this book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Terry Jones is a literary genius!
I picked this book up when I originally read the Hitchhiker's series back in the late 90's, but never got around to reading it. With next to nothing out there review-wise I kind of pushed it aside. Finally this year I set down and read it and was very surprised!

Although Douglas Adams had Terry Jones write this spin-off from a segment in HHGTG, Jones totally hit the nail on the head. The clever and reoccurringjokes that made the hitchhiker's series a great read is omnipresent here. Little quirks such as "The Journalist" being called "The" for short gets a laugh every time you read it. Along with that little HHGTG flair such as footnotes explaining items which would seem peculiar to an earth-bound reader make this a good read.

If you are a fan of Douglas Adams and couldn't get enough of the "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" this should be at the top of you list to read. I only wonder why Terry didn't step in when the screenplay for the movie was being written in the early 2000's. With his brilliant British humor I fully believe he could have saved a lot of embarrassment to the Hitchhiker's franchise! ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is an article from Word Ways, published by A Ross Eckler on February 1, 2005. The length of the article is 1167 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Lewis Carroll and Douglas Adams.(Critical Essay)
Author: Will Nediger
Publication: Word Ways (Magazine/Journal)
Date: February 1, 2005
Publisher: A Ross Eckler
Volume: 38Issue: 1Page: 19(2)

Article Type: Critical Essay

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is an article from The Humanist, published by Thomson Gale on March 1, 2007. The length of the article is 686 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Humanist profile: Douglas Adams (1952-2001).(Biography)
Author: Gale Reference Team
Publication: The Humanist (Magazine/Journal)
Date: March 1, 2007
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 67Issue: 2Page: NA

Article Type: Biography

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more