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  • Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

  • By: Douglas Adams
  • Narrated by: Stephen Fry
  • Length: 5 hrs and 51 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (13,439 ratings)
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Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

By: Douglas Adams
Narrated by: Stephen Fry
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Editor reviews

Master of comedy Stephen Fry delivers a brilliant audiobook narration of the best-selling novel The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, written by Douglas Adams. Arthur Dent is a very British man having a very bad day. He discovers his friend is an alien and he’s taken off earth just as it’s destroyed to make way for a galaxy highway. To make matters worse, he hasn’t even had his morning cup of tea yet. This ingeniously constructed story takes a humorous look at how something as precious as Earth isn’t always appreciated until it’s gone. A lighthearted and enjoyable listen. Available now from Audible.

Summary

A much loved science-fiction classic, this entertaining intergalactic adventure has a lot going for it - including narration by British comedian Stephen Fry. Adams displays his talents for a creating a whole new world in this first of five audiobooks in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series. Packed with brilliant humour, extraordinary characters and a highly original storyline, it's no wonder that this novel is a favourite of so many.

One Thursday lunchtime the Earth gets unexpectedly demolished to make way for a new hyperspace bypass. For Arthur Dent, who has only just had his house demolished that morning, this seems already to be more than he can cope with. Sadly, however, the weekend has only just begun, and the Galaxy is a very strange and startling place.

©1979 Serious Productions Ltd (P)2005 Random House US

Critic reviews

"By turns authoritative as the narrator, bemused as Arthur Dent, deadpan as Ford Prefect and manic as Zaphod Beeblebrox, he [Stephen Fry] makes an altogether appropriate reader . . . The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy" ( The Times)

What listeners say about Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Classic English Comedy Sci-Fi, but...

This is a classic English Sci-Fi comedy novel which has been translated into a number of different formats including BBC Radio 4's show, the BBC TV series (both in the 1980s) and a 2005 feature film.

The story itself is a quirky, detailed, observant and hilarious. Stephen Fry's narration is, as you would expect absolutely flawless. He brings the story, characters and idiosyncrasies of the book to life.

The only flaw in this telling of the story (and it's a flaw bigger than the Complaints Division of The Sirius Cybernetics Corporation) is that the book as been translated into American English. Why on earth (or anywhere in the Galaxy for that matter) would you take a classic by an English author, have it narrated by a great English actor and translate it into American English?

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160 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Like Reading it Myself

Stephen Fry has read this the same way I read the book many, many years ago. A real pleasure, but too many Americanism that aren't in the original

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46 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Unmissable, quirky adventure. Perfectly performed.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would definitely recommend this audiobook. The story itself is quirky, comedic and unbelievable until you have actually read or listened to it. I don't think you particularly have to be a sci-fi fan to enjoy Hitchhiker's - a good sense of humour is the only pre-requisite! Hitchhikers does well as an audiobook and I could think of no better performer than Stephen Fry to read it,

Who was your favorite character and why?

Marvin, the loveable depressed android, is my favorite character. Such an original and unique take on humanoid robots; uniquely and hilariously captured.

What about Stephen Fry’s performance did you like?

I love ANY book read by Stephen Fry. His voice is especially suited to the quirky (that word again!) characters and events that take place in Hitchhikers. He does not just read the words, he performs the story and does it beautifully whilst still staying true to the book.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

An event concerning a whale is my favourite part of the story... but I don't want to give too much away!

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24 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A brilliant book, brilliantly read!

When I saw Stephen Fry had narrated this, I had to listen to it; adn I was not dissappointed!



Stephen reads Adams's dry, sarcastic humour exactly so; with his own dry & sarcastic wit.



He does what the movie couldn't; actually make the book sound plausible (no matter how far fetched & bizarre it really is).



Absolutely recommended listening!

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19 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent story, really well-read

What did you like most about Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy?

It's hard to find something new to say about this story. It's been wonderful every time it's been told. And Stephen Fry is the perfect narrator.

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18 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A classic from a comic genius, read wonderfully

Where does Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Pretty high up. I had read the book and seen the BBC series beforehand so knew the story (so far) so there was not the novelty factor of other great reads. It was great to listen to.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Arthur Dent. A man more out of his depth than any other man has ever been out of his depth before, and unlikely to be outdone as his planet has been destroyed and he is the last man alive, in or out of his depth.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Any additional comments?

A great book that everyone should read before the end of the world.

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16 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

fantastic satirical humour

shame its not the whole book!

otherwise its a fantastic series mixing whit and humour with intelligent storyline.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Brilliantly Off the wall book, excellently read

If you like your humour surreal, mad, and unobviously obvious, then you will like this book. This version is read by Stephen Fry, who spent a lot of time with Adams sharing their Apple Geekery before the word 'Fanboy' had ever been applied to Apple Disciples. I always prefer actors reading books as they always seem to give it a bit more gusto, and this certainly applies to Stephen Fry here. Overall a very good book read very well. Although I did feel it was a bit short. Just have to find the Restaurant At The End Of The Universe now, I guess.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

better than the film

narrator kept me focused and the story was just marvellous to hear and fantastically written

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8 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Cult book all Sixth formers must read

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I'd definitely recommend this book as it is a modern classic that would appeal to teenagers and those reminiscing of bygone years

What did you like best about this story?

The strong opposing character

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The book made me laugh and reminded me of the TV adaptation created in the 80s

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6 people found this helpful