10 Books of Summer – The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Wake-Up Call

And then, one Thursday, nearly two thousand years after one man had been nailed to a tree for saying how great it would be to be nice to people for a change, a girl sitting on her own in a small café in Rickmansworth suddenly realised what it was that had been going wrong all this time, and she finally knew how the world could be made a good and happy place. This time it was right, it would work, and no one would have to get nailed to anything.

Sadly, however, before she could get to a phone to tell anyone about it, a terrible, stupid catastrophe occurred, and the idea was lost for ever.

This is not her story.

But it is the story of that terrible, stupid catastrophe and some of its consequences.

It is also the story of a book, a book called The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – not an Earth book, never published on Earth, and until the terrible catastrophe occurred, never seen or even heard of by any Earthman.

That’s right, everybody, the time has come! It’s the final instalment of the YWS 10 Books of Summer, and what better book to end on than the stunning sci-fi comedy, loved by readers all across the world for over three decades, the first book of the trilogy-in-five-volumes, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams!

Hitchhiker’s began life as a BBC radio comedy in 1978, and was rewritten into book form in 1979. Since then, it’s hit screens small and big, with a TV series and a movie adaptation, and the book remains a firm favourite of many – or at least, I know it’s one of mine! Perhaps it could be one of yours, too? There’s only one way to find out – pick up a copy and have a read! (Or, if getting hold of it is tricky, take a peek at this handy .pdf.)

A week from today, I’ll be posting again with thoughts on the book, ready to discuss it with you all – so you better get reading! As you go, here are a couple of things to think about, and get your mind all ready for next week’s post:

• First and foremost, did you enjoy it?
• What do you think makes Hitchhiker’s funny?
• Are there things you don’t understand – references to 1970s things? Does it matter?

I look forward to seeing you next week! Happy reading!

Cadi.x