In this fourth installment to the hitchhiker’s series, Arthur Dent is back on Earth, with only a towel, a plastic shopping bag and a wrapped fishbowl with a cryptic inscription being any indications of his trip through space and time. The dolphins have left the planet and only God knows what is happening. Luckily, he left a message on a star far, far away from Earth.
This particular read has stood out to me in comparison with the previous three.
The story line has changed significantly. Where previously it would have been all chaotic with no clear purpose, this time around it is well defined and focused. And it is most definitely of a romantic genre. Arthur meets a girl who knows how the world could be made a good and happy place, unfortunately, she’s forgotten. They go on adventures of their own and Arthur even teaches her how to fly.
I related to this novel so much, I’m not even sure why. All I know is that by the time I finished reading it, half of the book was highlighted, all the quotes and ideas that spoke to me, and there was so many of them! In multiple instances I found myself in awe that me and Douglas Adams have thought about the same things. For example, it frustrates me how lighters come with a sticker to warn us about fire danger, when Adams had a similar thought about toothpicks:
It seemed to me that any civilization that had so far lost its head as to need to include a set of detailed instructions for use in a packet of toothpicks was no longer a civilization in which I could live and stay sane.
On top of that, this particular read included a number of fascinating insights into the life of a scientist and as I am a chemist myself, I couldn’t help but relate.
A scientist must also be absolutely like a child. If he sees a thing, he must say that he sees it, whether it was what he thought he was going to see or not. See first, think later, then test. But always see first. Otherwise you will only see what you were expecting.
I feel like I cannot adequately describe my love for this series and this book in particular. It is hands down my favourite in the series so far. So many thought-provoking messages and life truths. If you haven’t yet, I’d highly recommend picking up this series, even more so now. It is changing my life. I will keep this review short for that reason, I feel like everyone has to experience it on its own.
Thank you for taking your time to read this review, let me know what you thought, down in the comment section.
Until next time, Dream on, Dreamers!
And once you know what it is you want to be true, instinct is a very useful device for enabling you to know what it is.
The Wolf Pad 