A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: A Chronological Tour

Douglas Adams's The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is not so much a series as it is a multi-media phenomenon that began as a BBC radio comedy in 1978 and expanded into an "increasingly inaccurately named trilogy" of six books, a TV series, a film, and a towel. The saga is a masterclass in philosophical absurdity, blending biting satire, linguistic gymnastics, and a profound sense of cosmic bewilderment.

It tells the story of Arthur Dent, a perfectly ordinary Englishman who is saved from Earth's untimely demolition to make way for a hyperspace bypass by his friend, Ford Prefect, who is secretly an alien field researcher for the eponymous Guide. What follows is a chaotic, improbable, and hilarious journey across the universe.

Arthur, armed with only a towel and a Babel Fish in his ear, encounters a cast of unforgettable characters, including the two-headed, semi-lunatic Galactic President Zaphod Beeblebrox; Trillian, the only other human survivor; and Marvin the Paranoid Android, a robot with a brain the size of a planet and a personality to match. This guide follows their journey as they search for the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything, and a decent cup of tea.

The Increasingly Inaccurately Named Trilogy of Six

The books are presented in their original publication and chronological order.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the GalaxyDouglas Adams (1979)

The story begins. Arthur Dent is saved from the Earth's destruction by Ford Prefect. They hitch a ride on a Vogon constructor fleet, are thrown into the void of space, and are rescued with "infinite improbability" by Zaphod Beeblebrox aboard the stolen starship *Heart of Gold*. The crew travels to the legendary planet of Magrathea, a world that once custom-built planets. There, they discover the truth about Earth: it was a supercomputer designed by another supercomputer, Deep Thought, to calculate the Ultimate Question to which the Ultimate Answer is "42." Unfortunately, the Earth was destroyed five minutes before its program was complete.

The Restaurant at the End of the UniverseDouglas Adams (1980)

Having escaped Magrathea, the crew travels to Milliways, the Restaurant at the End of the Universe, a five-star establishment where patrons can watch the end of all existence as dinner theatre. The novel is a series of brilliantly satirical set pieces. Arthur learns how to fly, Zaphod meets the man who secretly rules the universe, and Ford gets drunk. The climax reveals that humanity is not descended from apes, but from the useless middle management of a society that fled its doomed planet in a giant B-Ark—namely, telephone sanitizers, advertising executives, and management consultants.

Life, the Universe and EverythingDouglas Adams (1982)

Arthur Dent finds himself stranded on prehistoric Earth. He is rescued by Ford Prefect and they are thrown through time and space to Lord's Cricket Ground in modern London, just before the Earth's destruction. Here they are swept up in a new adventure involving Slartibartfast, the Magrathean planet designer. They discover that an ancient race from the planet Krikkit, who were so pathologically xenophobic they tried to destroy the entire universe, are about to be unleashed again. The novel is about saving the universe from total annihilation, the art of insulting people, and the game of cricket.

So Long, and Thanks for All the FishDouglas Adams (1984)

In a surprising turn, Arthur Dent returns to an Earth that is not destroyed. He discovers that the dolphins, the second most intelligent species on the planet, had initiated a plan to save Earth and all of humanity. They also left a final message, inscribed on crystal bowls, as a parting gift. This is the most romantic and introspective book in the series, as Arthur falls in love with a woman named Fenchurch and tries to live a normal life. It culminates with him and Fenchurch visiting the site of "God's Final Message to His Creation," providing a moment of profound, simple beauty.

Mostly HarmlessDouglas Adams (1992)

The darkest and most complex book in the original series. It introduces a new version of the Guide, the Guide Mark II, a malevolent, bird-like machine that manipulates reality. Arthur's life is once again thrown into chaos. He loses Fenchurch, becomes stranded on a primitive planet, and discovers he has a daughter, Random Dent, who has been left in his care. The novel explores parallel universes and the nature of probability, culminating in a bleak and shocking finale where all possible versions of Earth across all timelines are seemingly destroyed for good.

And Another Thing...Eoin Colfer (2009)

This sixth book in the trilogy was written by Eoin Colfer with the support of Adams's estate, serving as an authorized continuation. Picking up from the grim ending of *Mostly Harmless*, the story reveals that our heroes were saved at the last moment by the ever-convenient Infinite Improbability Drive. They find themselves on a planet populated by a colony of very angry gods. The novel attempts to recapture the madcap energy of the earlier books, sending the crew on a new adventure to find a safe haven for the last remaining humans, all while being pursued by the Vogons, who are determined to finish the job of wiping out all traces of Earth.