For a comedic SciFi novel to become a best-seller is unprecedented. Douglas Adams was very, very lucky that he got decisive support from BBC Radio4. They produced 15-minute programmes, which became a cult. Adams then wrote a series of books developing the concept. This is the first of them.

Nearly half a century later how, do they stand up? Are they still readable? Are they funny?

They are amazing. Like reading Lewis Carrol is Adams is compulsive reading. After taking the first agreeable step the reader is rewarded with wildly improbable worlds and characters. Carroll’s characters are timeless as are his fantasy worlds. Adams too has a series of characters and worlds, which acquire an identity.

My favourite character is Marvin the Depressed Robot. How is it possible that a depressed robot can become a favourite character? I don’t know.

Try this:

“It hated me because I talked to it.”

“You talked to it?” exclaimed Ford. “What do you mean you talked to it?”

“Simple. I got very bored and depressed, so I went and plugged myself in to its external computer feed. I talked to the computer at great length and explained my view of the Universe to it,” said Marvin.

“And what happened?” pressed Ford.

“It committed suicide,” said Marvin and stalked off back to the Heart of Gold.

Douglas Adams The Hitch Hikers Guide to Galaxy (Kindle Locations 1901-1904)

And from Lewis Carroll

“Sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”