Life, the Universe and Everything (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, #3) (Listen for pleasure)

by Douglas Adams

In consequence of a number of stunning catastrophes, Arthur Dent is surprised to find himself living in a hideously miserable cave on prehistoric Earth. However, just as he thinks that things cannot possibly get any worse, they suddenly do. He discovers that the Galaxy is not only mind-bogglingly big and bewildering, but also that most of the things that happen in it are staggeringly unfair.

• ISBN10: 0330267388
• ISBN13: 9780330267380
• Publish Date: 21 September 2001 (first published 1 January 1982)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 18 August 2011
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Pan Macmillan
• Imprint: Tor
• Format: Paperback (A-Format (178x111 mm))
• Pages: 208
• Language: English

Reviews

[batsysk]

I did not enjoy the first half of the book that much but then it all started to make somehow sense. After all it was a very funny and interesting reading. I truly don't know how Douglas Adams did it again and came up with so many absurd ideas that make sense

[celinenyx]

Douglas Adams' books are crazy. They are over the top, impossible to understand and all over the place. Life, the Universe and Everything was no exception. Maybe I'm getting tired of his style or maybe I was in a wrong mood to read this, but I felt more annoyed by his style than amused. After hundred pages or so I kind of wanted him to get on with the plot instead of introducing yet again other planets and tribes that waged war against each other. Life, the Universe and Everything was an okay read, but not my favourite.

[Quirky Cat]

I’ve been going forward with my audiobook run through of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and I’ve got to say I’m so happy I decided to do so. This series is a great, fun, and fantastic read, but it’s a wholly new experience to hear them read out loud, especially by a talented reader (the version I’m listening to is by Martin Freeman, for those that are curious).
I actually think that Life, the Universe, and Everything may be my second favorite in the series (my favorite obviously being The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy). Once again Arthur finds himself wrapped up in a crazy, or should I say absurd, quest that he doesn’t fully understand. You’d think he’d be used to it by now, and I guess by the end of this novel he actually does start getting a good feel for it. Granted certain events really force that perspective forward a bit.
In Life, the Universe, and Everything Arthur goes from being trapped on a prehistoric earth to being at the center of a plot to save the universe, back to a quieter life again. He goes through quite a bit more throughout the course of this book. I actually think this is the one that hits his dignity and opinion of himself the hardest (for obvious reasons I believe).
I love this series for the absurd nature it covers. Sometimes events will happen; even just little things that repeat frequently (like the bag thing) and they’ll never fully get explained or resolved. It’s really the attention to detail that makes the writing for this series so perfect.
I’m really enjoying listening to Martin Freeman read them too. Obviously if you’ve seen the movie you’ll know he played Arthur Dent in it (yes, the Arthur Dent). It’s kind of nice hearing the very same Arthur Dent in the rest of the novels as well. I also very much like the voices he uses for other characters. It’s interesting to see his interpretation of some of them.

For more reviews, check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks

[inlibrisveritas]

It was interesting to say the least, it wasn't as good as the first two but it was still highly entertaining. Adams did a good job yet again helping to further the universe and thoroughly confusing humoring and recapturing you.