I’m pleased to announce a new occasional feature in this space. I’m calling it, “But does it hold up?”
I’m motivated by some recent face-to-face Biblioracling where after hearing the list of recent reads (which included Christopher Moore and Terry Pratchett), my brain conjured up “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” by Douglas Adams. But before issuing the recommendation, I realized that I read the novel 30 years ago, when I was 14 years old, and I had no idea if I’d still think it was any good.
When I was 14, it was my favorite novel, Adams my favorite writer. My primary memory was of the silly humor, the outlandish names and situations, and sly irony that made me feel mature when I caught the jokes, which was not all the time.
I began to wonder if the book was juvenile, and if the adult standing in front of me would think me a fool for recommending it.
I decided I needed to re-read it first.
I was shocked to comb the house and realize I didn’t own a copy.
I remedied this with a quick trip to the bookstore, where I was confronted with a choice between the mass market paperback or the ginormous omnibus collection, “The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” which includes the original and its four sequels.
I went cheap and got the mass market paperback.
Which I am now regretting, because I re-read “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” and it is awesome and now I have to go back and buy the omnibus so I can reacquaint myself with the rest of the series.
For those not familiar with the book, “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” begins as Arthur Dent, earthling, is rescued by his best friend Ford Prefect (who appears human, but is actually from Betelgeuse) moments before a Vogon Constructor Fleet obliterates the entire planet to make way for an intergalactic hyperspace thruway.
It gets stranger from there. The plot isn’t really all that important, which is why I didn’t recall it. It’s a shaggy dog story following Arthur and Ford after they’re picked up by Zaphod Beeblebrox and his female companion, Trillian, who have stolen the world’s first Infinite Improbability Drive spaceship.
There’s also Marvin, a passive-aggressive robot.
The humor is as silly and seemingly random as I remembered, except it is silly and random in the Monty Python vein, which actually reveals a deep-seated humanity and wisdom. (Not surprising since the Internet tells me Adams was friends with Python Graham Chapman and even has a co-writing credit on one of their sketches.)
Take Marvin, the robot who is outfitted with a “Genuine People Personality” to make him a more palatable companion for humans, but has instead made him miserable as he’s forced to contemplate the waste of his incredible intellect as he does menial robot tasks.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide itself is a kind of mix between a Kindle and Wikipedia, a device conjured by Adams in 1979.
The jokes almost overwhelm, they come so quickly. If one or two fall flat, no matter; there’s a dozen more on the way. And in the midst of them Adams drops in bits of wisdom. In describing Zaphod Beeblebrox, an irresponsible playboy who somehow becomes president of the galaxy, he writes, “Trillian had come to suspect that the main reason (Beeblebrox) had had such a wild and successful life was that he never really understood the significance of anything he did.”
I’ve known my share of Beebelbroxes, haven’t you?
So does “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” hold up?
Absolutely, in ways I never would have imagined.
Biblioracle John Warner is the author of “The Funny Man.” Follow him on Twitter @Biblioracle More Top Picks Espresso Machines
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The Biblioracle offers his recommendations
1. “The Goldfinch” by Donna Tartt
2. “Love and Shame and Love” by Peter Orner
3. “Handling the Truth” by Beth Kephart
4. “J.D. Salinger: The Escape Artist” by Thomas Beller
5. “Carsick” by John Waters
— Margaret N., Des Plaines
John Waters on anyone’s list makes me think they have an interesting sense of humor, so I’m going to lean in to that and recommend a new novel, “Dear Committee Members” by Julie Schumacher. Its an epistolary academic satire that had me grinning throughout.
1. “The Virtues Of Aging” by Jimmy Carter
2. “In Harm’s Way” by Doug Stanton
3. “The Known World” by Edward P. Jones
4. “Freakonomics” by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
5. “Flyboys” by James Bradley
— Tom R., Orland Park
This is actually a request on behalf of a “book club of 15 men strong,” which makes me really feel the pressure. I’m going to offer two picks, nonfiction and fiction. The nonfiction is safe and courtesy of Mother Biblioracle, who is in my ear to read “Boys in the Boat” by Daniel James Brown. I haven’t read it, but Mother Biblioracle said it’s for those who really enjoyed “Unbroken.” The fiction recommendation is “Gilead” by Marilynne Robinson.
1. “Swamplandia” by Karen Russell
2. “Eat, Pray, Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert
3. “The Good Lord Bird” by James McBride
4. “In the Lake of the Woods” by Tim O’Brien
5. “Orphan Train” by Christina Baker Klein
— Toni C., Chicago
For Toni, “Skippy Dies” by Paul Murray. A long, wholly involving reading experience.
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