The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Primary Phase [sound recording]
by Douglas Adams
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy radio series (1)
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A dynamic remastering of the original BBC Radio 4 full-cast serial - Fit the First to Fit the Sixth - which spawned a phenomenal hitchhiking legendThe original series of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, remastered by Dirk Maggs (director of the Tertiary, Quandary and Quintessential Phases) to give a full, vibrant sound, now with Philip Pope's version of the familiar theme tune and specially re-recorded announcements by John Marsh.
Join Arthur Dent, Ford Prefect,Trillian, Zaphod show more Beeblebrox and Marvin the Paranoid Android in their first series of adventures as they witness the destruction of Earth to make way for a hyperspace bypass, stumble upon the ancient planet of Magrathea, dine at the Restaurant at the End of the Universe, and seek an answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, The Universe And Everything.
Peter Jones, Simon Jones, Geoffrey McGivern, Mark Wing-Davey, Susan Sheridan, Stephen Moore and a full supporting cast star in these BBC Radio 4 episodes.
A special 55-minute bonus programme, Douglas Adams's Guide to the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, explores the genesis of the radio series and its incredible success, with contributions from the original cast andproduction team.
Audio files were replaced in April 2021
©2008 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2008 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
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Please note: the point of this review is not to discuss the plot of THGttG, but rather to convert those who are diehard fans of the books and are not familiar with the radio show into devotees of the BBC radio series which first aired in 1978, since it, after all, was the basis for the books, and not the other way around. But if you're not familiar with The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, read on to find out what all the fuss is about.
Skip this part if you are already familiar with THGttG since most of this content is lifted from Wikipedia:
Why the original radio version is zillions of times better than the book:
It's like comparing the experience between a mono radio show featuring a crappy banjo player with front and centre seats at a live symphony orchestra playing a concert hall. Well, sort of. THGttG was the first radio comedy show to be recorded in stereophonic sound and it was acted out by a full cast of professional actors, but what really sets this show apart is the sound effects which were completely innovative at the time. "One of Adams's stated goals was to be experimental in the use of sound. Being a fan of Pink Floyd and The Beatles (and especially the experimental concept albums both bands produced in the late 1960s and early 1970s), Adams wanted the programme to have the feel of a "rock album...to convey the idea that you actually were on a spaceship or an alien planet — that sense of a huge aural landscape".
Of course today, there is a quaint quality to those sound effects, but that is part of what adds to the overall charm of the experience. But best of all, though some kind of alchemical process, what might seem funny in the book, here actually SOUND absolutely hilarious. I first discovered this show in the late 80s when a local radio station aired the series, and must say that more than 20 years later, a reading of the book (which not surprisingly seemed awfully flat) it felt just as fresh, off the wall and yes, innovative as it did the first time around. Not convinced? Well you might want to give Vogon poetry a try, you just might like it. show less
Skip this part if you are already familiar with THGttG since most of this content is lifted from Wikipedia:
In the [Primary Phase], Earthman Arthur Dent is about to have his house demolished to make way for a new road, but before work can start his friend Ford Prefect informs him that the world is goingshow more
to be demolished by a Vogon constructor fleet "to make way for a hyperspace bypass" and that he, Ford, is in fact an alien writer for a book called "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy". Hitching a ride aboard the Vogon ship which has just destroyed Earth, the pair eventually find themselves aboard a stolen spaceship called The Heart of Gold. Onboard is Ford's two-headed semi-cousin and President of the Galaxy, Zaphod Beeblebrox, a woman Dent once met at a party called Trisha MacMillan (who has styled herself "Trillian") and a depressed robot called Marvin. Beeblebrox is searching for the mythical planet of Magrathea and the answer to the "Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe and Everything". Dent and the others later find themselves at The Restaurant at the End of the Universe and are ultimately held captive aboard a Golgafrincham ship which is just about to crash-land on Prehistoric Earth.
Why the original radio version is zillions of times better than the book:
It's like comparing the experience between a mono radio show featuring a crappy banjo player with front and centre seats at a live symphony orchestra playing a concert hall. Well, sort of. THGttG was the first radio comedy show to be recorded in stereophonic sound and it was acted out by a full cast of professional actors, but what really sets this show apart is the sound effects which were completely innovative at the time. "One of Adams's stated goals was to be experimental in the use of sound. Being a fan of Pink Floyd and The Beatles (and especially the experimental concept albums both bands produced in the late 1960s and early 1970s), Adams wanted the programme to have the feel of a "rock album...to convey the idea that you actually were on a spaceship or an alien planet — that sense of a huge aural landscape".
Of course today, there is a quaint quality to those sound effects, but that is part of what adds to the overall charm of the experience. But best of all, though some kind of alchemical process, what might seem funny in the book, here actually SOUND absolutely hilarious. I first discovered this show in the late 80s when a local radio station aired the series, and must say that more than 20 years later, a reading of the book (which not surprisingly seemed awfully flat) it felt just as fresh, off the wall and yes, innovative as it did the first time around. Not convinced? Well you might want to give Vogon poetry a try, you just might like it. show less
I try to imagine what it was like to hear this series when it first aired back in the late 70's. The characters are nearly perfect for the world they inhabit and the dialogue and narration snaps right along. Douglas Adams' hilarious commentary on the irrationality of human behavior cannot be missed!
This is the first of the series in the Hitchhiker story. Follow Arthur Dent and friends on a journey through an outer space quite unlike anything else in the genre of science fiction.
This is the first of the series in the Hitchhiker story. Follow Arthur Dent and friends on a journey through an outer space quite unlike anything else in the genre of science fiction.
The original radio series on three CDs. When it first appeared, HHGG was a phenomomen. SF fans could not believe that someone had produced a series that was so knowing about sf's tropes and so ready to undermine them. The rumour circulated that 'Douglas Adams' was a pseudonym for a really well-known writer - what other explanation could there be?
In fact, Adams came out of Cambridge, the Footlights and the Pythons. These people were all fairly media savvy, though not as much as in later generations of British comedians; and indeed, so much formula science fiction was already a parody of itself that this was not the achievement it first seemed.
Douglas Adams' reputation as an author was built on the novelisations of HHGG, though it must be show more said that his ability as a novelist was not as great as it was as a generally all-round creative mind. So much of the impact of HHGG came out of the radio presentation with its imaginative use of sound effects and some quite wonderful ensemble casting and playing. The upshot of this is that after more than thirty years, HHGG still comes up as an original and inspired radio comedy. show less
In fact, Adams came out of Cambridge, the Footlights and the Pythons. These people were all fairly media savvy, though not as much as in later generations of British comedians; and indeed, so much formula science fiction was already a parody of itself that this was not the achievement it first seemed.
Douglas Adams' reputation as an author was built on the novelisations of HHGG, though it must be show more said that his ability as a novelist was not as great as it was as a generally all-round creative mind. So much of the impact of HHGG came out of the radio presentation with its imaginative use of sound effects and some quite wonderful ensemble casting and playing. The upshot of this is that after more than thirty years, HHGG still comes up as an original and inspired radio comedy. show less
It has been several years since I last heard and even longer since I read this. A classic that is amusing and a magnificent radio production.
I'm not a big science fiction guy. I didn't hate this book but I didn't love it either. Some of the chapters were tedious but not so bad that I stopped reading. I'm just glad this book wasn't too much longer. I couldn't have taken it if it was more than 250 pages.
The audio speed seemed much too slow.
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Douglas Noel Adams (sometimes referred to Bop Ad because of his distinctive signature) was born in Cambridge, England, on March 11, 1952 and educated at St. John's College at Cambridge University. He graduated with honors in English Literature in 1974. In addition to being a writer/editor for radio, television, and stage, Adams has worked as a show more hospital reporter, barn builder, and radio producer. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, 1979, one of his bestselling humor and science fiction novels, was originally a radio series. It was the first in a four-book series that includes The Restaurant at the End of the Universe; Life, the Universe, and Everything, and So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish. He once stated that the idea for his first novel came while he was "lying drunk in a field in Innsbruck and gazing at the stars." He pokes fun at humanity by mixing science fiction with humor. Adams's additional books include The Meaning of Liff; The Deeper Meaning of Liff; Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency; The Long Dark Tea-time of the Soul; and Mostly Harmless. He has also co-authored the book Last Chance to See, about endangered species. Douglas Adams died May 11, 2001 of a heart attack in Santa Barbara, California at the age of 49. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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- Canonical title
- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Primary Phase [sound recording]
- Original publication date
- 1978 (radio broadcast) (radio broadcast)
- People/Characters
- Arthur Dent; Ford Prefect; Tricia McMillan (Trillian); Zaphod Beeblebrox
- Important events
- The destruction of planet Earth
- Related movies
- The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy (1981 | IMDb); The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005 | IMDb)
- Original language
- English
- Disambiguation notice
- "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Primary Phase" is the first series (first broadcast 1978) of the radio programme "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy", written by Adams. It has six episodes.
Adams adapted the s... (show all)tory for his 1979 novel with the same title, though only the first four episodes of those six episodes were adapted. Please do not combine that novel with this radio programme.
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- Reviews
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- Rating
- (4.37)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 10
- ASINs
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