Review: The Restaurant at the End of the Universe by Douglas Adams

Title:The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
Author: Douglas Adams
Publisher/Publication Date: Del Rey Books, April 30, 2002 (First published in 1980)
Genre: Science Fiction
Source/Format: Purchased, Paperback Omnibus Edition

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

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--and 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!

My Thoughts:

“There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable…”

One thing I really like about the Hitchhiker’s books, are the titles. They’re fun, but that’s beside the point. The Restaurant at the End of the Universe is the second book of the misnamed series. Really, it’s not a trilogy. But, who cares? More books, right? Anyway, this book picks up shortly after the end of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Arthur Dent is still aboard the Heart of Gold, as he, Ford Prefect, Zaphod, Trillian, and Marvin search for a place to eat. But this is the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Universe series, and the most simplistic task always has the chance of going seriously wrong. And this time it involves an ill-timed request for a very ordinary cup of tea.

I enjoyed The Restaurant at the End of the Universe as much as I did the first book. It was a great story—serious at times, but also maintaining a sense of humor. The Universe in the novel is, of course, an outrageous place—and one of the many aspects that, so far, I’ve enjoyed about the books. The setting and the characters were fantastic. The different planets were very interesting, and it was nice to see how the characters reacted to the rapidly changing environments. Marvin was his usual self, and so was Ford Prefect and Trillian. Arthur was present, but a good portion of The Restaurant at the End of the Universe was dedicated to Zaphod.

I’m also glad that some of the unresolved mysteries from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Universe were addressed in this book. It all tied together so that was great. But, once again, the ending left me with more questions. So, I will definitely read Life, the Universe and Everything.

One more favorite quote:

“The story so far: In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move.”

Rating 5/5