1.5 stars for The Restaurant at the End of the Universe (Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy book 2) by Douglas Adams.
At the end of book 1 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, readers learn that only two Earthlings, Arthur Dent and Tricia McMillian survive the decimation of Earth by the Vogons to make way for a new hyperspace bypass. And thus all hopes of finding the ultimate answers to the ultimate question of Life, the Universe and Everything fall unto the shoulders of these two survivors.
In this book 2, we are told that the Vogons do not like leaving a job unfinished, especially the Captain who is in charge of destroying planet Earth. So, Arthur and Trillian, together with their two Alien friends, Ford Prefect and his cousin Zaphod are pursued by the Vogons.
In their efforts to escape from the Vogons, this group of four miraculously turn up in Milliways which is the Restaurant at the End of the Universe. This is by far my favourite part of the story as the brilliancy of it all amuses me to no end. The Restaurant at the End of the Universe - it is not a figure of speech but taken literally, it means - Boom! End of Universe. Period. Milliways happens.
Sadly, other than my enjoyment of reading on how these four beings end up at the Restaurant, the same cannot be said for the rest of the story. Seriously, after the first half of the book, I have no idea what story the author is trying to tell. The plot simply degenerates into fragmented pieces that do not make much sense to me. It is no longer funny in a silly kind of way but absurd in a stale kind of way.
Publisher: Tor; Reprints edition
Publication date: 1 Sep 2009
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Facing annihilation at the hands of the warlike Vogons is a curious time to have a craving for tea. It could only happen to the cosmically displaced Arthur Dent and his curious comrades in arms as they hurtle across space powered by pure improbability band desperately in search of a place to eat.
Among Arthur's motley shipmates are Ford Prefect, a longtime friend and expert contributor to the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy; Zaphod Beeblebrox, the three-armed, two-headed ex-president of the galaxy; Tricia McMillan, a fellow Earth refugee who's gone native (her name is Trillian now); and Marvin, the moody android who suffers nothing and no one very gladly. Their destination? The ultimate hot spot for an evening of apocalyptic entertainment and fine dining, where the food (literally) speaks for itself.
Will they make it? The answer: hard to say. But bear in mind that the Hitchhiker's Guide deleted the term "Future Perfect" from its pages, since it was discovered not to be!
"What's such fun is how amusing the galaxy looks through Adams' sardonically silly eyes."
*Blurb from Goodreads*
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