The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy: Douglas Adams

Douglas Adams was a fan of Wodehouse and science fiction: what's not to like? The original radio series burst upon the scene (for me) like one of those things that burst upon the scene. A firework maybe.

The book became that much-devalued thing, a number one bestseller. It is about as far from beiing a work of literary fiction as a book can possibly be, which is delightful. Our moment in the sun. Take that at the Hay-on-Wye Festival and smoke it. The Hitchhiker brand got diluted after the second series and second book, but not after it inspired Terry Pratchett (another physicist) to leave the nuclear industry and write for fun.

Here's the book:



Here's the radio series: