Log #1

        
       On first sight of the book, of its blurb, and of its first chapter, the word popped into my mind was, if any, “ridiculous”, and if I were to deliberately and meticulously choose a word to describe it, it would be “nonsense”. Nonetheless, it rates at no.51 on the reader’s “100 best novels” list, and was shot into a movie of the same title in 2005. From the first five chapters I have read I can deduce that the entire book is ninety-nine percent of sarcasm and one percent of literature. Nevertheless, to conclude this little introduction, I would say that the book is absolutely enjoyable.

        Much had happened in the first five chapters. To begin with, Earth was demolished. Earth was demolished by the “Vogon Constructor Fleet” to build a hyperspacial express route minutes after our main character, Auther Dent, found his house demolished for a new bypass to be built. Both of these benevolent constructions were properly sanctioned, and both of these plans had been out for “public viewing”. One was locked in the bottom of a file cabinet located in an abandoned lavatory in the city council’s cellar with no lights, the other had been on display in a neighboring system “merely four light years” away for fifty years. The demolition was carried out by the Vogons, who would not even move a finger to save their grandmothers without proper order signed in triplicate. The implication of government red tape, sterness and incapability cannot be more plain and explicit, and the author spelled them out marvelously.

As Earth was about to be demolished, panic spread. Some put paper bags on their heads, some rushed into the house, some rushed out of the house, while some made noises at the noises made by the Vogons. I think this describes what people do when they panic with a certain level of accuracy－nothing helpful or whatsoever. Luckily, Arthur was rescued by his friend, Ford Perfect, who was actually an alien hitchhiker trapped on Earth. Together, they hitched a ride on Vogon Commander’s Flagship off Earth. They were let onboard by the cooks, a species named “Dentrassis”. There were two specific things they enjoyed, Vogon money and irritated Vogons. I believe this is a hint that if not treated well, even civil servants will potentially undermine the government and enjoy an irritated leader, which can be proved by recent events when some mayor and president fail to treat his/her workers fairly.

Unfortunately, as Earth was busy getting demolished, an announcement was made by the Galactic Government, declaring that a hyperdrive that shall render all hyperspacial routes useless had been invented. This often happens when different branches of a government do not communicate. Morerover, it could be hinting that governors love to tear down what they consider useless to build what is truly useless but with their names all over it.

        All in all, the first five chapters seems to be a load of nonsense, but after reading it, one can easily see the sarcasm behind Douglas Adam’s flirtatious words. I think even without its metaphorical meanings this novel is delightful to read, as the story is hilarious both plot-wise and word-wise and easy to follow. Its imaginations have no limits, and I very much look forward to finish the book.