74 pages • 2 hours read
Douglas AdamsThe Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1979A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams follows Arthur Dent, the last surviving Earthman, and Ford Prefect, an alien from Betelgeuse, as they hitch a ride on a spaceship just before the Earth is destroyed by the bureaucratic Vogons for a hyperspatial bypass; they join Ford’s cousin, Zaphod Beeblebrox, and Trillian on their voyage through space. The book contains mentions of depression and death by suicide.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is celebrated for its wit, imaginative narrative, and clever satire. Readers praise its humor and philosophical undertones. Some critics find the plot disjointed and the humor too absurd. Overall, it's a beloved sci-fi classic that resonates with fans of quirky and thought-provoking storytelling.
Who Should Read The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy?
Fans of witty, satirical humor and imaginative science fiction will enjoy The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. Comparable to Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five and Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, this novel appeals to readers who appreciate clever absurdity and thought-provoking comedy.
RecommendedReading Age
13-18yearsLexile Level
930LBook Details
Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction
Humor
Fantasy
Society: Politics & Government
Natural World: Space & The Universe
Values/Ideas: Science & Technology