# Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy; I think I've been "whooshed" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 10, 2003, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitchikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-i-think-ive-been-whooshed/160394 "2003-03-10T20:30:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2003, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitchikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-i-think-ive-been-whooshed/160394/41 "2003-03-17T03:33:00Z")
Suffer through it, young Padiwan. Only then will understand. Arthur gets it in the end! ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2003, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitchikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-i-think-ive-been-whooshed/160394/42 "2003-03-17T06:07:00Z")
_shrug_ I loved all of the books. I thought Mostly Harmless was brilliant. Fascinating situations and a great story. It was less funny than the first two, but the story still had me engaged and laughing at the right points. ---
**Author:** ![Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boo_Boo_Foo)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2003, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitchikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-i-think-ive-been-whooshed/160394/43 "2003-03-17T08:53:05Z")
This is Marvin speaking… I’m depressed… I have a brain the size of a planet, and all you get me to do is open doors for you? ---
**Author:** ![dalovindj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/65b543/32.png) [@dalovindj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalovindj)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2003, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitchikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-i-think-ive-been-whooshed/160394/44 "2003-03-17T15:05:12Z")
There were 42 posts when I opened this thread. . . Loved the series. I started reading them in a train station waiting for Amtrak to show up. I kept getting wierd looks because I couldn’t stop laughing like a maniac. For those of us with a love for dry wit, sarcastic musings, and absurd pontifications these books are the bomb. I read RATEOTU first because I found it in a give-away-book-bin at my school. No one saw me for a week after that as I had to read the whole series (4 at the time) right away. My favorites include the (not so)intelligent tank that proves his ferocity, the depressed future-seeing elevators, and the I was hooked from the time I read the following words: > [@](#): > > Arthur had found a Nutri-Matic machine which had provided him with a plastic cup filled with a liquid that was almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea." DaLovin’ Dj ---
**Author:** ![DKW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dkw/32/3118_2.png) [@DKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DKW)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitchikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-i-think-ive-been-whooshed/160394/45 "2003-03-18T07:28:25Z")
Oh _man_, the Hitchhiker “Trilogy”. One of the few things about my high school experience that was even remotely bearable. Adams, of course, never trafficked in deep philosophy. The HT is a _parody_ of deep philosophy, and it relentlessy mocks those that claim to have discovered The Truth. (The fact that he was an atheist no doubt played a big part in this.) Blistering, relentless humor and compelling stories…I mean, what more do you want? Footnote…I, who have trouble simply figuring out what the hell is going on in many scenes of more Shakespearan plays than I care to admit, and who hasn’t read _Hitchhiker’s_ in ages, can still quote the following to the letter: _Oh freddled gruntbuggly, they micturations are to me / As plurdled gabbleblotchits on a lurgid bee / Groop I implore thee, my foonting turlingdomes / And hooptiously drangle me with crinkly bindlewurdles / Or I will rend thee in the globberwarts with my blurglecruncheon, see if I don’t!_ Of course, the fact that I was LMAO the first time I read this (something that printed words almost never do, BTW) may have had something to do with it… ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitchikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-i-think-ive-been-whooshed/160394/46 "2003-03-20T04:03:34Z")
Remember, the one thing we can’t afford to have is a sense of perspective. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitchikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-i-think-ive-been-whooshed/160394/47 "2003-03-20T05:21:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Yllaria \* > \*\*As to philosophy - there’s the SEP field, the Total Perspective Vortex, and telling the whole truth. That’s DEEP, man. Can’t remember which books those were in, though. \*\* The SEP field and telling the whole truth were both from _Life, the Universe, and Everything_. Zaphod was placed in the Total Perspective Vortex (albeit one in a universe which had been constructed with him in mind) in _The Restaurant at the End of the Universe_. Just so you know. ---
**Author:** ![Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitchikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-i-think-ive-been-whooshed/160394/48 "2003-03-20T09:01:19Z")
Take all the numbers on a six-sided die and add them together…then multiply by two. (A pair of dice) And the result is 42. Was Adams trying to say something about life just being the luck of the draw? ---
**Author:** ![TheRealJohnPeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TheRealJohnPeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheRealJohnPeat)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitchikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-i-think-ive-been-whooshed/160394/49 "2003-03-20T14:47:58Z")
I too would have found the entire process of High School unbearable were it not for Hitchhikers in it’s LP, radio and written forms. Douglas’s greatest work is, however, “Last Chance to See” - the book of his journeys to seek out rare and endangered animals. It’s his funniest and most meaningful work and he said himself later that it made him wish he’d gone into Zoology or the like as it fascinated him so. His friendship with Richard Dawkins must have fueled this as well of course - and who would be surprised by the tale that he wrote to Dawkins to tell him how much he liked his books only to receive a near-identical letter in return - 🙂 As for ‘reading things into’ the HitchHikers guide - it’s just absurdist parody - you don’t have to be a ‘tree hugger’ to find the idea of a planet being demolished to make way for a bypass ironic do you?? It’s worth remembering that it was written when the world was a different place tho - and I can see how people would try to look ‘too deeply’ into it now. DNA (he was DNA in Cambridge just before DNA was discovered in Cambridge!!) is the funniest writer I’ve ever read - an almost unique talent and his contribution to the world will be sorely missed… TTFN JP p.s. I should highlight tho that his partner was on BBC Radio recently and she did attempt to dispell the rumour that his death was staged purely so he could get out of yet-another-deadline - that was Douglas to a ‘T’! ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitchikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-i-think-ive-been-whooshed/160394/50 "2003-03-20T19:59:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tree Boy \* > \*\* > Is he taking jabs at Americans or Earthlings in general? \*\* The latter. I don’t think he’s taking jabs at Americans at all. He’s taking jabs at Brits, certainly, but I think he just regards Americans as refreshing oddities. He only ever has chick Americans (had a thing for American girls, I’d wager), as far as I can remember. Well, plus Wonko the Sane. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitchikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-i-think-ive-been-whooshed/160394/51 "2003-03-20T23:16:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TheRealJohnPeat \* > \*\* > p.s. I should highlight tho that his partner was on BBC Radio recently and she did attempt to dispell the rumour that his death was staged purely so he could get out of yet-another-deadline - that was Douglas to a ‘T’! \*\* You mean he wasn’t spending a year dead for tax purposes? ☹ That was my last hope. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitchikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-i-think-ive-been-whooshed/160394/52 "2003-03-20T23:23:47Z")
> [@](#): > > he had some pretty strong opinons about our cultural values/capitalism and so on… …Is his view typical of Brits[?] Us Brits are a paradox. We will be firm in the belief that patriotism is flawed, illogical, and counter-productive to the good of mankind (as a whole), and at the same time be just about the most patriotic citizens on earth. (IMO) ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitchikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-i-think-ive-been-whooshed/160394/53 "2003-03-20T23:29:00Z")
Embarrasment ensues in droves! I misread your ‘capitakism’ as ‘patriotism’! A thousand :smack: 's! ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitchikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-i-think-ive-been-whooshed/160394/54 "2003-03-21T03:32:40Z")
One of my favourite, although simplest lines, is “Arthur Dent. You’re an idiot” ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitchikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-i-think-ive-been-whooshed/160394/55 "2003-03-21T03:54:50Z")
“You’re a jerk, Dent. A complete kneebiter.” ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitchikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-i-think-ive-been-whooshed/160394/56 "2003-03-21T04:40:26Z")
ZB: Shut up, you semi evolved Simian AD: Go bang your heads together, Four Eyes! Waiter: Sir, your monkey has it right… ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitchikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-i-think-ive-been-whooshed/160394/57 "2003-03-21T05:32:41Z")
“We could just program it to say things like _What?_ and _I don’t understand_ and _Where’s the tea?_ and no one would know the difference!” ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitchikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-i-think-ive-been-whooshed/160394/58 "2003-03-22T19:13:42Z")
\<\\> As added information, that’s good to know. But as a nit it won’t pick. The Hitchhiker’s Guide is a trilogy with, variously, three, four or five books in it, depending on your tastes. The fact that the first book of the trilogy is also called the Hitchhiker’s Guide is irrelevant. Ambivalence is part of the fun. (Also irrelevant is the fact that a good deal changed between the original radio broadcast and the books and between the books and the video (which is usually agreed to be bad). ) ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitchikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-i-think-ive-been-whooshed/160394/59 "2003-03-22T19:46:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Yllaria \* > (Also irrelevant is the fact that a good deal changed between the original radio broadcast and the books and between the books and the video (which is usually agreed to be bad). ) The radio show corresponds almost totally to the first two books. By that I mean that there are plenty of things from the radio show in books 1 and 2, and almost none in 3, 4, and 5. What you say about a lot changing is kind of true, but a lot stayed the same, for an adaptation. And a whole lot of it was re-ordered and mixed up. One of my favorite examples of this is that the “Belgium” joke appears in the three version in very different places. In the video, it’s very quick and subtle. One more thing is that there’s a reference to the the bird people (Zaphod sees one) from the radio show in the second book _Restaurant at the End of the Universe_ that was utterly lost on me when I first read it. I just read “Young Zaphod Plays It Safe” last night for the first time. I guess the writing was the same classing Adams I love, but I didn’t really get the point of the plot. Anyone want to help me out? ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitchikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-i-think-ive-been-whooshed/160394/60 "2003-03-22T20:01:19Z")
I think one of the “Artificial Personalities” was Arthur Dent. Marvin the P. A. could’ve been one, too Remember the _Heart of Gold_ picked up Ford and Arthur (saving them from death after being off the Vogon ship) while passing through sector Zed Zed Nine Plural Zed Alpha. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitchikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-i-think-ive-been-whooshed/160394.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitchikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-i-think-ive-been-whooshed/160394.md?page=4)