The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
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$1581
Chapter Book · 1979

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

By Douglas Adams

Book #1 in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series

Earth's gone, Arthur's lost in space with a towel and a guide. Can he survive the universe's chaos?

5.8/7 Bookroo expert·4.2/5 Goodreads · 2,064,965 ratings
195 pages· 46,783 words
$17.00Save 7%

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Bookroo's summary

Arthur Dent's ordinary life shatters when Earth is destroyed for a galactic freeway. Rescued by his alien friend Ford Prefect, Arthur embarks on a cosmic journey with a quirky crew, including a two-headed president and a depressed robot. Armed with a towel and The Hitchhiker’s Guide, Arthur must navigate a bizarre universe. Can he uncover the ultimate question to life, the universe, and everything? Join this whimsical odyssey and discover the secrets of the cosmos, but remember: don't panic and always bring a towel.

From the publisher

“IRRESISTIBLE!”–The Boston GlobeSeconds before the Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is plucked off the planet by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised edition of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy who, for the last fifteen years, has been posing as an out-of-work actor.Together this dynamic pair begin a journey through space aided by quotes from The Hitchhiker’s Guide (“A towel is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have”) and a galaxy-full of fellow travelers: Zaphod Beeblebrox–the two-headed, three-armed ex-hippie and totally out-to-lunch president of the galaxy; Trillian, Zaphod’s girlfriend (formally Tricia McMillan), whom Arthur tried to pick up at a cocktail party once upon a time zone; Marvin, a paranoid, brilliant, and chronically depressed robot; Veet Voojagig, a former graduate student who is obsessed with the disappearance of all the ballpoint pens he bought over the years. Where are these pens? Why are we born? Why do we die? Why do we spend so much time between wearing digital watches? For all the answers stick your thumb to the stars. And don’t forget to bring a towel!”[A] WHIMSICAL ODYSSEY…Characters frolic through the galaxy with infectious joy”.–Publishers Weekly

At a glance
Format
Pages
195
Words
46,783
Audience
Adult
Lexile
930L
Themes & topics
Books about aliens and extraterrestrial beingsBooks about journeys and voyagesBooks about outer spaceBooks about bureaucracyBooks about the end of the world
What readers & critics say

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The series

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series

See the whole series
Mostly Harmless
Series

Mostly Harmless

1992

The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

1996
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The fine print

Book details

Reading levels
ATOS
6.6
F&P level
~V
AR points
8
AR interest level
UG
AR quiz
7109
Publication
Published
June 23, 1997
First published
October 12, 1979
Publisher
Del Rey
Edition
Language
English
Type
Chapter Book
Identifiers
ISBN
9780345418913

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