The answer is 42

chronodekar

Senior member
Nov 2, 2008
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Some months ago, I was recommended the book as a good source of entertainment from this section of the forums. I finally got my hands on it (the 6 book trilogy? ... I think.. :) ) and I thought that I'd give back my opinion. ( I'm beginning the restaurant book now)

For reading material, it is the second most useless piece of garbage that I've ever encountered!! But due to the nature of the uncertainty principle and the fact that the improbability engine would recalculate my odds, I will say with an utmost lack of sincerity that it will never join the ranks of my reading list.

Due to an entirely unrelated matter, there will always be a vacant spot at No2 of my recommended reading list. ;)

There is a quote from that book that I find most fascinating. Or, is that supposed to be a lack of interest to a philosopher ?? Here it is,

"We demand rigidly defined areas of doubt and uncertainty !!" -Vroomfondel (who demands that he not be called that, but iterates that it is a solid fact, that, that is , his name)

(The above quote has now been pinned onto my wall, for me to gaze at, everyday. :) )


What I like most about the book is that unlike some other novels I read, this one has a magical ability to permit me to put it down and pick it back up very easily. As a result, it's my bed-time book. I start reading it when I lie down in bed about to sleep, I get drowsy, I close the book, sleep and the process repeats the next night.

:)

I really should come by this neighbourhood more often. (I usually like hanging around the programming section)
 

bryanW1995

Lifer
May 22, 2007
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my wife is constantly confused when I remind her to bring a towel to dinner...and her mom's house... to the store...everywhere
 

TAandy

Diamond Member
Oct 24, 2002
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and, don't forget...
"you're never alone with a rubber duck" :)
 

ericlp

Diamond Member
Dec 24, 2000
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uh.......... you want to recommend a book and you can't even remember the name or a link to it? Sheesh. I've seen some strange posts in my time but this take the cake.
 

petrusbroder

Elite Member
Nov 28, 2004
13,348
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Well, I see your point, ericlp. In one way you are very right. It is strange. But not that strange. Only quite whimisical and probably the OP wants to elicit interest in those books.

The subject of the topic can be googled ...

You will get to this frase:

... the number 42 is The Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything, as calculated by an enormous supercomputer over a period of 7.5 million years. According to the fifth ... -... volume, Mostly Harmless, 42 is the location of Stavromula Beta. Thus, 42 may be the world's longest written riddle, since the riddle of the question to the answer was raised in the first volume, and not answered until the final page of the fifth, and then passes unnoticed by the story's ever-bumbling characters.
BTW: the number 42 is very interesting ... I realised that when I read a Wiki article about that number ... ;)

And the topic is not really off-topic, because ...

... as calculated by an enormous supercomputer over a period of 7.5 million years.
Can you imagine how much faster the answer would have been reached if the calculation hade been performed as a DC-project?

The book OP is thinking of is probably recognized by those who have read it once (probably years and years ago) or seen the movie.
 

chronodekar

Senior member
Nov 2, 2008
721
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Originally posted by: ericlp
uh.......... you want to recommend a book and you can't even remember the name or a link to it? Sheesh. I've seen some strange posts in my time but this take the cake.

Hmmm. :roll:

That depends... You see, as I mentioned in my OP, the book was recommend to me by some members here at DC. I don't remember who they are now, but I just had an urge to tell them my thoughts about the book.

Indirectly... I MIGHT be recommending the book. Its a matter of probability you see... ;)

Wiki

petrusbroder, you are right!! There is a lot of interesting stuff about 42 on wikipedia. I didn't realize it before.

Thanks! :)
 

Wiz

Diamond Member
Feb 5, 2000
6,459
16
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Now you should get the original BBC recordings of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy radio drama - Primary Phase then Secondary phase then Tertiary phase.
The Primary and Secondary were just released for sale recently.
Maybe you could get a copy from your library.
I have the books, and the recordings and the original BBC TV series on DVD.

Here are a few quotes I really like, not necessarily from HHGG but all are Douglas Adams quotes:

"The trouble with most people is that they've never really understood the
question..." (referring to the question to which the famous answer was given)

"Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the
experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination
to do so."

"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that
cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong
goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at or repair."
(sounds like he owned a few British cars)

"I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by."

"Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so."

"The impossible often has a kind of integrity to it which the merely
improbable lacks."

"Anything that is in the world when you're born is normal and ordinary and
is just a natural part of the way the world works. Anything that's invented
between when you're fifteen and thirty-five is new and exciting and
revolutionary and you can probably get a career in it. Anything invented
after you're thirty-five is against the natural order of things."

"Flying is learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss."
 

Philippart

Golden Member
Jul 9, 2006
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this sounds interesting, what would you recommend the most? The book or the bbc audiobook? (An audiobook would be even better for bedtime ;))
 

Wiz

Diamond Member
Feb 5, 2000
6,459
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81
I love them all, but I've been listening to the original BBC radio dramas a lot lately.
"So long and thanks for all the fish" is another great book.
 

Smoke

Distributed Computing Elite Member
Jan 3, 2001
12,650
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:)

Nothing to add but after reading the thread I just had to :).
 

PCTC2

Diamond Member
Feb 18, 2007
3,892
33
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Originally posted by: chronodekar
Originally posted by: ericlp
uh.......... you want to recommend a book and you can't even remember the name or a link to it? Sheesh. I've seen some strange posts in my time but this take the cake.

Hmmm. :roll:

That depends... You see, as I mentioned in my OP, the book was recommend to me by some members here at DC. I don't remember who they are now, but I just had an urge to tell them my thoughts about the book.

Indirectly... I MIGHT be recommending the book. Its a matter of probability you see... ;)

Wiki

petrusbroder, you are right!! There is a lot of interesting stuff about 42 on wikipedia. I didn't realize it before.

Thanks! :)

I believe it was in the BBQ thread. We had a short conversation about it.

"How many roads must a man walk down?" <- The best laid plan of mice often go afoul.

"Sorry for the inconvenience."
 

chronodekar

Senior member
Nov 2, 2008
721
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Originally posted by: Fullmetal Chocobo

EDIT: I'm confused. Did the OP like or dislike it?

One would think that to be the least likely question to be asked here. But, I suppose that means it should be expected. Which brings me to the next part, .. the answer.

Without meaning to be vague, but with the sadness that it cannot be helped, I am sorry to say that I did not dislike the book. The book was not boring. The guide was a lot more interesting. I really liked the part where things get soo obustifucated that not even the original poster (possibly me?) even understands what I'm answering.

Perhaps its because I lost the question ? ... Hmmm... :confused:

The funny part is, Fullmetal, I remember you being among those who recommended the book to me months ago... :) :thumbsup: ;)
 

chronodekar

Senior member
Nov 2, 2008
721
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Originally posted by: Wiz
Now you should get the original BBC recordings of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy radio drama - Primary Phase then Secondary phase then Tertiary phase.
The Primary and Secondary were just released for sale recently.
Maybe you could get a copy from your library.
I have the books, and the recordings and the original BBC TV series on DVD.

Hmmm... I didn't realize that the audio-versions still existed. I must hunt them down. Thanks!!
 

Fullmetal Chocobo

Moderator<br>Distributed Computing
Moderator
May 13, 2003
13,704
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Originally posted by: chronodekar
Originally posted by: Fullmetal Chocobo

EDIT: I'm confused. Did the OP like or dislike it?

One would think that to be the least likely question to be asked here. But, I suppose that means it should be expected. Which brings me to the next part, .. the answer.

Without meaning to be vague, but with the sadness that it cannot be helped, I am sorry to say that I did not dislike the book. The book was not boring. The guide was a lot more interesting. I really liked the part where things get soo obustifucated that not even the original poster (possibly me?) even understands what I'm answering.

Perhaps its because I lost the question ? ... Hmmm... :confused:

The funny part is, Fullmetal, I remember you being among those who recommended the book to me months ago... :) :thumbsup: ;)

Oh yea. I'm a very strong advocate of the book. I think I have around 5 copies, including one of them signed. I was just too tired to comprehend if you liked the book or not. :eek:
 

m1ldslide1

Platinum Member
Feb 20, 2006
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I just finished the 900-page compilation last week for the first time. Somehow all of that biting satire eases the pain of the existential crisis that most people face at at least one point in their lives - pondering you know - life, the universe, and everything.
 

chronodekar

Senior member
Nov 2, 2008
721
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Originally posted by: Wiz
life...

don't talk to me about life..

Lets see.... no life topics with Wiz .... That leaves us with 2 options, The universe & Everything.

Hmmm... yes, I think that should be sufficient for conversation material. ;)

You feeling down at the moment, or something, mate ?
 

Fullmetal Chocobo

Moderator<br>Distributed Computing
Moderator
May 13, 2003
13,704
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Originally posted by: chronodekar
Originally posted by: Wiz
life...

don't talk to me about life..

Lets see.... no life topics with Wiz .... That leaves us with 2 options, The universe & Everything.

Hmmm... yes, I think that should be sufficient for conversation material. ;)

You feeling down at the moment, or something, mate ?

Or he was quoting Marvin... :)