Asking about the meaning of life – review of the book “Hitchhiking through the Galaxy”

Zysk i s-ka publishing house made us, fans of fantasy, a real surprise – the jubilee edition of the cult book Hitchhiking through the Douglas Galaxy , initiated to celebrate the 42nd anniversary of Adams’s first publication, is a must have on your shelf!

A long time ago in a distant galaxy …

Young Earthling Arthur Dent learns one day that his closest friend, Ford Prefect, is an alien. Surprisingly, this is not the only unusual piece of information! The earth is on the route of the planned intergalactic highway, so it is to be destroyed soon. Such a top-down regulation, Dear Readers! Clueless Dent is surprised, but Prefect quickly explains to him that information about the planned redevelopment appeared some time ago at the galactic office on Alpha Centauri. Unfortunately, the Earthlings did not attempt to protest this order, so they were deemed to have agreed. The protagonist does not know yet that the information he has obtained will forever change his view of the world. Before disaster strikes, Prefect decides to take his friend on a journey across the galaxy, which will enable them to collect materials for the new edition of the compendium of all known knowledge, ie the guide “Hitchhiking through the Galaxy”. Will Arthur manage to solve the greatest mystery of the cosmos, and then answer the age-old question about the meaning of life? And… what will happen to the Earth?

 Reheated chops? Not necessarily

The jubilee edition of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is a real gem, an opus mangum , and not only for Douglas Adams fans. The novel has been published in a hardcover and enriched with illustrations by award-winning cartoonist and author Chris Riddell. These elements already make the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy you want to simply own. And the best is really yet to come – the plot of Adams’s novel is a masterpiece that cannot be ignored. Reading it, we become stowaways – we get on board and visit places, meet characters we had no idea about before. Even though it’s been many years since Hitchhiker’s debut to the Galaxy(radio play – 1978, novel – 1979), ie 42, in words: forty-two (a significant number for fans of the series!), comedy fantasy can still be enjoyed, especially since the situational humor is sophisticated. Futuristic applause, Adams!

Subjectively

I first read The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy a few years ago. I remember that I liked the book very much then. Today I can say that after many years it is read with even greater commitment. Some moments also brought a sincere smile on the lips (Marvin’s monologues, the creation of the double-headed Zaphod Beeblebrox …). Importantly, Adams’s fictional solutions do not lose their value, just like the work of Monty Python’s group (often referred to in the context of this novel). Paweł Wieczorek’s translation is adequate to the topics discussed and will really bring you a lot of fun! To sum up, Zysk i s-ka has really worked hard to make the new release meet the tastes of all sci-fi fans. I wonder if we will be able to collect other parts of the series in this series as well. May it be.