The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy |
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First edition cover of the 1979 novel
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| Creator | Douglas Adams |
| Original work | The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Primary and Secondary Phases (1978–1980) |
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| Novels |
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| Films and television | |
| Films | The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005) |
| Television series | The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1981) |
| Games | |
| Video games | The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1984) Starship Titanic (1997) |
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| Radio programs |
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The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a famous comedy science fiction series created by English author Douglas Adams. It began in 1978 as a funny radio sitcom on BBC Radio 4. Soon, it became a global hit. It grew into popular books, a 1981 BBC television series, comic books, a computer game, and a 2005 feature film. The books have been translated into over 30 languages.
The funny story follows Arthur Dent, an ordinary man from England. One day, alien creatures called Vogons destroy the Earth to make room for a galactic highway. Arthur is rescued just in time by his best friend, Ford Prefect. Arthur learns that Ford is actually an alien researcher. Ford writes for an electronic travel guide called The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. They escape by hitchhiking onto a spaceship. They travel across space with Zaphod Beeblebrox, the two-headed President of the Galaxy, a human woman named Trillian, and Marvin the Paranoid Android, a grumpy robot.
Contents
The Story and the Meaning of 42
During their wild journeys, Arthur learns an amazing secret about Earth. The planet was actually a giant supercomputer. A supercomputer named Deep Thought built Earth to find a cosmic mystery. Deep Thought had already spent millions of years calculating the "Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything". The computer said the answer was simply the number "42".
However, nobody knew what the actual question was! Earth was built to calculate the question, but the Vogons destroyed it right before finishing. Arthur and his strange space friends must run from danger across time and space. They even visit a diner called The Restaurant at the End of the Universe.
History and Book Series
Douglas Adams came up with the idea while travelling around Europe in 1971. He carried a book called the Hitch-hiker's Guide to Europe. One night, while looking up at the night sky in Innsbruck, he thought someone should write a guide for space.
Adams wrote five very popular novels in what he jokingly called a "trilogy in five parts":
- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1979)
- The Restaurant at the End of the Universe (1980)
- Life, the Universe and Everything (1982)
- So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish (1984)
- Mostly Harmless (1992)
Later, author Eoin Colfer, who wrote the Artemis Fowl series, wrote a sixth official book in 2009 called And Another Thing....
Other Fun Adaptations
The franchise has appeared in many formats over the years:
- Radio: The first radio shows were famous for using new sound tricks made by the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. Famous scientist Stephen Hawking even made a guest appearance in later episodes.
- Television: A popular six-part TV series aired in 1981 on BBC 2.
- Film: In 2005, a movie came out starring Martin Freeman as Arthur, Yasiin Bey as Ford, Sam Rockwell as Zaphod, Zooey Deschanel as Trillian, and Alan Rickman voicing Marvin.
- Games: A famous 1984 text-based interactive fiction game was made by Infocom.
Amazing Real-World Predictions
Douglas Adams predicted many modern technologies before they were invented. The fictional Guide was described as a small screen packed with endless information, just like modern tablets or smartphones. He also described computers controlled by touch and voice. He invented the "Babel Fish," a tiny creature that translates any spoken language instantly, which works like modern digital translation apps.
Towel Day
Every year on 25 May, fans around the world celebrate Towel Day. Fans carry a towel everywhere they go. In the story, the Guide explains that a towel is the most useful item any galactic hitchhiker can carry. It can keep you warm, work as a sail, or dry you off after a big adventure!
Images for kids
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Flyer for the 1979 stage show in London
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An actor playing Zaphod Beeblebrox in a stage play
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Cover of the DC Comics adaptation
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Fans celebrating Towel Day with themed towels
See also
In Spanish: Guía del autoestopista galáctico (serie) para niños
- Hitchhiking
- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy cast lists
- List of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy characters
- Phrases from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
- Towel Day
