cross-posted from: https://kbin.social/m/13thFloor/t/476755

Don’t panic, and bring a towel.

For seasoned galactic travelers, if you’re looking for the Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, which includes:

  • Hitchhiker’s Guide
  • The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
  • Life, the Universe, and Everything
  • So Long and Thanks for All the Fish
  • Young Zaphod Plays It Safe
  • Mostly Harmless

… this wormhole should get you there.

Also, upon conferring with both Space and Ice Pirates, I’ve been persuaded to also provide their contribution here in honor of the late, great Douglas Adams.

Now could you guys please untie my cats and get them off the plank?

  • hakase@lemm.eeEnglish
    34·
    9 months ago

    I’ve never understood the love for these books. I tried my damnedest to read them, but quit halfway through the third book once I irretrievably lost what little ever existed of the plot and hadn’t cracked a smile in over a hundred pages.

    • Sinnerman@kbin.social
      7·
      9 months ago

      what little ever existed of the plot

      The plot isn’t really the point.

      hadn’t cracked a smile in over a hundred pages.

      Apparently one of the reasons for the historic rivalry between France and England was their different senses of humor, with the French wit considered much classier. Anyway, plenty of people would agree with you, though I think the books are hilarious.

      • Syldon@feddit.ukEnglish
        1·
        9 months ago

        I saw HGTG posted on a reddit book forum about 2 years back: it was slated badly. It really put me off a reread. Comments like it hadn’t age well, and just plain silly came to mind. I caved and started it again. I was hooked from page 1 all over again. It really does fall into the marmite book category.

    • ranoss@lemmy.worldEnglish
      4·
      9 months ago

      I really like them because they feel like how the inside of my brain looks. It may be that you don’t jive with how Adam’s writes? He did Dirk Gentlys Holistic Detective Agency if you want to try another series but if it’s not for you no worries.

      Plenty of books out there.

    • HipPriest@kbin.social
      3·
      9 months ago

      Tbh, I think the first two books are the best and it finishes perfectly for me there. It feels like that’s where he was on a roll creatively and his heart was really still into it. That might not actually be true, but that’s how it feels.

      Douglas Adams himself didn’t like the third book although I still like bits of it. The fourth and fifth I don’t enjoy much - they’re not bad books, just not very funny.

    • Solivine@sopuli.xyz
      2·
      9 months ago

      I didn’t laugh at all reading them, and I did occasionally lose track of the plot, but I absolutely enjoyed the books for their creativity and writing. I found it flowed well, and it was like looking into how the author thinks and feels. As with all art though, the experience is very subjective.

    • katy ✨@lemmy.blahaj.zone
      2·
      9 months ago

      I’ve never understood the love for these books.

      It’s basically an internet meme before internet memes existed (that’s not meant to be derogatory)

      It’s just fun, quirky, and irrelevant camp.