Don't Panic!
October 19th 2006 03:51
Don't Panic!
These are the comforting words printed on the front of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. These two words are what make it a best seller. These two small words are a hilarious yet sarcastic commentary on human society. The very point of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Adam Douglas is that people should get over themselves. People think they are the centre of the universe but Adam Douglas suggests that we should realise how really huge the universe actually is and that we may not be the centre of it. Using humour and a parody of Science Fiction Douglas Adams makes a thoughtful commentary on capitalism, human pride and other things. For example by contrasting the attitude of the earthly wreckers and the Vogons the book makes an interesting comment on capitalist society. Apparently the plans to build a bypass right where Arthur Dent's home was had been on display at the office for ages. Of course Arthur Dent had no idea of this and the display was in the basement of the building! In the same way the Vogons don't understand the fuss the human beings made over the destruction of earth in order to make way for an intergalactic highway. The plans for this had also been on display therefore it was Earth's fault for not keeping up with local affairs! Mind you, if earth had the ability to travel lightyears away to see into "local" affairs they might have!
Another interesting aspect of the novel is the attack on human pride. Apparently the dolphins of earth - being far more intelligent than human beings-knew all along that the Vogons were coming to destroy earth. They tried to warn earth but the silly humans merely interpreted their signals as cute tricks. As well as this human beings had the idea that they were the one's experimenting on mice. However, it was the mice that were experimenting on them! These things illustrate man's pride in all we achieve and suggest that perhaps we should humble ourselves a little. Therefore this apparent comical parody of science fiction actually makes some pretty interesting points. Trash? I don't think so.
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nice to meet you and finally visit your blog... I'm a bit of a closet sci-fi nut and loved this lot - which red blooded 'skiffy' ....[that's how my mum pronounces it].... fiend, wouldn't be....
I wondered what you thought of the recent film take on it...?
Lilla...