# The answer is 42 years old **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** books-writing-myths\ **Created:** [October 17, 2021, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-answer-is-42-years-old/952643 "2021-10-17T14:39:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![icon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c6cbf5/32.png) [@icon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/icon)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2021, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-answer-is-42-years-old/952643/1 "2021-10-17T14:39:26Z")
The answer to Life, the Universe and Everything that is. _ **The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy** _ was first published in October of 1979 making it 42 years old now. I know people could argue that since the radio series came out the previous year, it is actually 43 years old, but that is jut the kind of distinction that fits in with the series. Although I did not read the book when it first came out (nor hear the radio series), I can’t believe it has been so long (and thanks for all the fish) ago as well as how relevant it is today. That something that made me laugh in high school still makes me chuckle today is incredible. I will have to brew some tea and maybe have something a little with a lemon to celebrate. Share and Enjoy `//i\\` ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2021, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-answer-is-42-years-old/952643/2 "2021-10-17T15:03:27Z")
Ah, yes, the old “six times nine” anniversary. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2021, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-answer-is-42-years-old/952643/3 "2021-10-17T15:11:23Z")
Jinnan tonyx all around. ---
**Author:** ![its\_the\_daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bb73d2/32.png) [@its\_the\_daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/its_the_daddy)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2021, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-answer-is-42-years-old/952643/4 "2021-10-17T15:39:50Z")
Life? Don’t talk to me about life… ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2021, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-answer-is-42-years-old/952643/5 "2021-10-17T16:14:06Z")
Particle accelerator…check. Rubber bands…check. Liquid lunch…check. \< Looks very silly. \> \< Throws away alphabetical list of everyone in The Universe ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2021, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-answer-is-42-years-old/952643/6 "2021-10-17T18:50:12Z")
Of course you look silly. You don’t have a towel. BTW, I misconstrued your byline as Arms of Legs, Jello of Steel and now I want it for my own. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2021, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-answer-is-42-years-old/952643/7 "2021-10-17T18:55:02Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Ah, yes, the old “six times nine” anniversary. All your base 13 are belong to us. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2021, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-answer-is-42-years-old/952643/8 "2021-10-17T19:16:57Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Of course you look silly. You don’t have a towel. BTW, I misconstrued your byline as Arms of Legs, Jello of Steel and now I want it for my own. - I do to have a towel. \< pulls towel from waist and waves in the air \> See? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2021, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-answer-is-42-years-old/952643/9 "2021-10-17T19:30:04Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > All your base 13 are belong to us. “I don’t do jokes in base 13.” - Douglas Adams ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-answer-is-42-years-old/952643/10 "2021-10-18T03:50:26Z")
Harmless. ---
**Author:** ![Encinitas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Encinitas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Encinitas)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-answer-is-42-years-old/952643/11 "2021-10-18T03:54:58Z")
Mostly. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-answer-is-42-years-old/952643/12 "2021-10-18T03:59:01Z")
Looks like a fish. Moves like a fish. Steers like a cow. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-answer-is-42-years-old/952643/13 "2021-10-18T05:21:51Z")
It’s unpleasantly like being drunk. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-answer-is-42-years-old/952643/14 "2021-10-18T07:05:23Z")
What’s so unpleasant about being drunk? Ask a glass of water. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-answer-is-42-years-old/952643/15 "2021-10-18T08:45:17Z")
I recently went on a road trip and, depressingly, was asked several times why i brought a towel. One person at least sort of redeemed themselves when i explained and they claimed to understand. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Me](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d2c977/32.png) [@Mr.Me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Me)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-answer-is-42-years-old/952643/16 "2021-10-18T17:14:42Z")
> [@icon](#): > > Share and Enjoy Or, go stick your head in a pig. ---
**Author:** ![FordPrefect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@FordPrefect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordPrefect)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-answer-is-42-years-old/952643/17 "2021-10-18T19:09:50Z")
Don’t Panic. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-answer-is-42-years-old/952643/18 "2021-10-18T19:51:36Z")
Says the guy with the nicely inconspicuous name… ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-answer-is-42-years-old/952643/19 "2021-10-18T19:58:37Z")
“Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job.” ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2021, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-answer-is-42-years-old/952643/20 "2021-10-19T20:54:38Z")
Oh no, not again. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-answer-is-42-years-old/952643.md?page=2)