A classic science fiction comedy from Douglas Adams, I am dumbfounded as to why I hadn't entered this world before
now! Arthur Dent, a normal, cynical, highly bemused narrator takes us through one of the most extraordinary days in his life. After witnessing the Earth being demolished to make way for the galactic version of a motorway, things get progressively weirder as Arthur encounters lethal alien poetry, a ship that runs on improbability, a charming fugitive President and super-intelligent mice as he stumbles through space with his best friend. Who, it turns out, is actually an alien journalist for the guidebook that forms the title.
One of my favourite things about this book is that it takes nothing - not even itself - seriously. The biggest criticism I usually reserve for SF novels is the confusing, lengthy, bafflingly intelligent passages describing astrophysics or futuristic technology or the battle rituals of an alien empire that both damage the plot line and make it hard to relate to the characters.Although I admit this is a part of SF that shouldn't be lost, I have always searched for a book that includes all of these things, but in a way I feel adds to the story. Adams achieved this spectacularly, wittily mocking conventional SF, itself and humanity in general. The characters are absurd and loveable (even the suicidal robot Marvin), the anti-hero Arthur suitably realistic and hilariously unimpressed with unfolding events, the situations off-the-wall and masterfully written. The novel as a whole has a satirical, cynical and sarcastic tone - very classically British in its humour but completely accessible to all and fast-paced enough to make it very easy to read through the more difficult parts.
The only criticism I can think of is that one can tell it was originally a radio piece. There are five books in Adams's 'trilogy', and although I have only read the first one, it suddenly cuts out in a place I felt was quite unnatural and the chapters were all very short, presumably because of the snappier nature of a radio broadcast. However, this is easily overlooked as the writing itself is so fine and the story so wonderful. I can entirely understand why this series has become a classic, and cannot wait to get hold of the remaining four books! Oh and as an aside: long live the day when even in a fictional pub one could buy six pints for under £5..
All in all, an excellent, funny, exciting read and recommended to all, especially to fans of light-hearted but witty fiction in a similar style to Pratchett's Discworld series.