Arthur Dent is the last human in the galaxy after Earth is destroyed thanks to the Vogon Constructor Fleet that clears the planet away to make room for an interstellar highway. However, he escapes destruction by sneaking away on a Vogon ship with his good friend,secretly an alien from Betelgeuse, Ford Prefect. They meet up with the President of the Galaxy,who was stolen the fastest ship in the galaxy. However,when they finally make it to a factory-planet that designs luxury planets,they discover the truth about Earth-it was a giant computer meant to figure out the meaning of life,after the second-greatest computer in the universe could only come up with "42". The book is peppered with great humor and exercepts from the Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy (an imaginary book with the words DON'T PANIC on the cover) it's one of the best humor/scifi books ever. | ||
Plot & Themes FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story Explore/1st contact/ enviro story Yes Explore: Parody Yes Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Descript. of chases or violence - 30 % planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 10 % Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 30 % Main Character Identity: - Male Profession/status: Age: - 40's-50's Main Adversary Identity: - Male Alien Age: - 40's-50's Profession/status: How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount How sensitive is this character? Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters Setting Terrain Spaceship setting: - alien spaceship A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body: - empty, or nearly empty world Planet outside solar system? Yes Takes place in spaceship? Yes Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - no torture/death scientific jargon? (SF only) - an average amount of scientific explanation How much dialogue? - significantly more dialog than descript |