Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy questions

[Percycat]

My DS has discovered the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy and has read the first book, checked out from the library. He would like to continue reading in this series. I thought I would get him a 'boxed set', but am completely overwhelmed by all of the various books and variations of the books. It seems the author wrote several books and rewrote the books to address inconsistencies and perhaps wrote some more.

If someone is a fan of these books, please recommend what I should purchase!

Thanks!

[rlu]

These were all the rage when I was in high school (80s). I think there ended up being 5 or 6 in the "trilogy" but I don't think I read beyond Thanks for All the Fish, which I think is number 4. I'm not much help since I read them before all the revisions (and the movie) you are referencing.

I don't think of these as kid books, but can't remember anything specific to point to as inappropriate. I have the first four in my bookcase somewhere but haven't ever gone back to reread, except maybe the first one. DS wouldn't be interested, but my (20-something) niece might, hmmm.

eta: 42! but I found the most memorable to be the concept that learning to fly is to throw yourself at the ground and miss.

[ellies mom]

The Ultimate Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy is a good one. It has, I think, the first four books. And it is reasonably priced.

ETA - Whenever someone asks me "Can I ask you a question?, I always answer 42 because it is a pretty versatile answer to whatever the question may be.

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[klwa]

The Ultimate Guide PP mentioned is probably the best single one out there.

As for the inconsistencies, etc, Hitchhikers was originally a radio show, which was turned into a TV series, which was turned into a book series. :) I think. Which have all then been adapted into other media (movies, etc.) The regular books are the ones you'd probably want. The others are transcripts from the radio show/tv shows.

[KpbS]

Agreeing, Ultimate Guide is by far the best. I remember being disappointed by the others. So I would probably get a nice copy of that one, esp if it came with other books "combined" into 1.

[Percycat]

Thank you everyone for the information. I will look for the ultimate guide.


These were all the rage when I was in high school . . . I don't think of these as kid books, but can't remember anything specific to point to as inappropriate. I have the first four in my bookcase somewhere but haven't ever gone back to reread, except maybe the first one. DS wouldn't be interested, but my (20-something) niece might, hmmm

I haven't read the book(s).... My son will be 14 at Christmas.... Is there something "adult" about these books that should concern me?

Thanks!

[klwa]

I haven't read the book(s).... My son will be 14 at Christmas.... Is there something "adult" about these books that should concern me?

Thanks!
Nothing "adult" as I can think of. I've read part of the first one to my son, and other than being a bit embarrassed about some of the language, it's fine. (And nothing he hasn't heard before, I just don't want to be the one saying it, IYKWIM.) Commonsensemedia rates the first book as okay for 11-12 year olds.
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/the-hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-hitchhikers-guide-series-book-1 I tihkn one of the reviewers has it right: "There's a lot of strange sexual references, but these are brief and some young readers would likely miss them entirely. There's scattered language and some strangely disturbing ideas...which are presented as comedy"

[klwa]

I should probably add that I was in the 15-16 year range when I first read them, and loved them then, and love them now. :)

[rlu]

I haven't read the book(s).... My son will be 14 at Christmas.... Is there something "adult" about these books that should concern me? Thanks!

I truly don't remember. It's been almost 30 years (ah jeez). The first came out in '79 and the sequels during the 80s which is why I didn't read them until high school. You said your son enjoyed the first so probably nothing bothered him about it. You could ask the librarian. At our library it is in the regular section, not YA, but that doesn't really mean much. DS reads book from the regular (non-YA) fiction area as well.

eta: DS is not a big sci-fi fan which is why I said he wouldn't be interested.

[american_mama]

DD1 read the first book this spring in 8th grade, age 14. The teacher choose a couple books and students could self-choose which one they wanted to read. I was surprised, because I perceived it as an older book (for no particular reason except sardonic humor, maybe???). But when I stop and think, I remember reading it at a particular camp, which would have placed me somewhere between 7th and 10th grade, and I remember thinking it was oh-so witty and clever... and then thinking it fell flat when I read later chapters or sequels. I think I concluded it's a book you have to be in the right mood for.

Anyway, my DD1 liked it, maybe for the same reason I did, and I my surprise at her choosing the bike was misplaced.

[spunkybaby]

I haven't read the book(s).... My son will be 14 at Christmas.... Is there something "adult" about these books that should concern me?

Thanks!

There are definitely references to um... "adult activities" throughout the Hitchhiker series, and I remember being surprised that there was an entire chapter explicitly devoted to such activities. I think it was in So Long and Thanks for All the Fish (book 4) when Arthur met up with Fenchurch, but it's been a long time since I read the series.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/So_Long,_and_Thanks_for_All_the_Fish

[Ms B]

This thread is giving me happy memories. You can learn a lot about a person by their reaction when you tell them not to panic and to grab their towel.

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[missym]

The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide will make a great gift. If you want something to go along with it, Shirt.woot has some cute Hitchhiker-themed shirts.
http://shirt.woot.com/catalog?q=hitchhiker

I wear this one regularly :) :
http://shirt.woot.com/offers/forty-two-u?ref=cnt_ctlg_dgn_0

[jam224]

Thank you everyone for the information. I will look for the ultimate guide.
My husband bought the Barnes & Noble hardcover collectible edition back in September when they had a 40% off coupon and I think the book looks pretty cool: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/barnes-noble-leatherbound-classics-the-ultimate-hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-douglas-adams/1106658817?ean=9780307291813

[Percycat]

Thanks for the specific book suggestions. I have the book at Barnes & Noble on hold and I ordered a couple t-shirts and the DVD from Amazon. Birthday is in December.... maybe I can carefully and secretly read the first book before I give it to him to be on the same page. I love how several of you are remembering the book fondly. : )

Thank you all for the help!

[lizzywednesday]

The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide will make a great gift. If you want something to go along with it, Shirt.woot has some cute Hitchhiker-themed shirts.
http://shirt.woot.com/catalog?q=hitchhiker

I wear this one regularly :) :
http://shirt.woot.com/offers/forty-two-u?ref=cnt_ctlg_dgn_0

There are also some great shirts and newly-introduced SOCKS at Out of Print Clothing.

I want the socks, myself.