Rating: 
Summary: Secong helping of classic series
Review: "Restaurant" is the follow-up to the first one, and it doesn't disapoint. Hilarious bits like the universe's loudest band, and of course, the scene at the Restaurant is great. The ending is a bit ironic, but funny. You can quite tell that there was going to be a sequel. We still wonder at this point was the Answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything is though.(The next books tells us). Another great book that you'll laugh with.
Rating: 
Summary: A definate let down
Review: After reading the first volume, I was looking forward to this one. What a disappointment! This book went around and around and ended up no where.Save your money. If you enjoyed the first volume, be satisfied. That's as good as it gets.
Rating: 
Summary: Another AWESOME book !
Review: Arthur Dent is having a very bad day. The Earth has been blown up, he has been thrown from the airlock of an alien spaceship, and to top it all off he can't for the life of him get a decent cup of tea. Not to worry. A meal at Milliway's, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe should take his mind off all that. Restaurant, the second installment in acclaimed English author Douglas Adams' hilarious satirical romp through the stars, is the sequel to his immensely popular novel "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy."
"The Restaurant at the End of the Universe" follows the further adventures of Arthur, his savior and good friend Ford Prefect (originally from Betelgeuse, a fact until recently unknown to Arthur), the two-headed Zaphod Beeblebrox, and Marvin the manically depressed robot.
As our story continues, our heroes are still in search of the question to the ultimate answer of Life, the Universe, and Everything. Long ago, a great and ancient race built a supercomputer of astronomical proportions called Deep Thought. Its purpose: to find the answer to the ultimate question of Life, the Universe, and Everything. After millions of years of calculations, Deep Thought arrived at an answer that was entirely unlike anything its creators had anticipated. The problem, the computer explained, is that nobody had ever quite figured out what that question is.
And thus a new, organic computer was constructed to find that question. It's name: The Earth. In Restaurant we'll finally find out what that question is as Arthur and crew search for it. Along the way we'll feast with them at Milliway's, a restaurant constructed in a time envelope at the very twilight of the universe, where one can meet persons from all points in time and where talking cows suggest the best parts of their anatomy for your dining pleasure.
We'll also follow our protagonists back to the emergence of mankind on planet Earth, and learn some rather shocking facts about our origins. All the while, Adams' unique sense of humor will keep you constantly laughing out loud with lines like the following:
In the beginning, the universe was created.
This has made a lot of people very angry and generally been regarded as a bad move.
With an opening like that, you know the book is going to be fun to read, and it is. In many respects Restaurant is even funnier than its predecessor, especially the scenes with Marvin, a robot with a "brain the size of a planet" as he puts it who despises the universe and everything in it.
Adams successfully satirizes the entire science fiction genre, in a way that can be appreciated by fans and non-fans alike. Indeed, his work is as much a parody of life itself as it is space battles and aliens. In many cases, he has just taken our daily experiences and lampooned them on a galactic scale. Its this that gives his works such broad appeal.
"The Restaurant at the End of the Universe" is only a few hundred pages long, and it's a quick read. In fact, you won't be able to put it down, and can easily polish it off in a night or two. Reading "The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy" is strongly recommended as a prerequisite. If you enjoy this I'd highly recommend "The Losers' Club" by Richard Perez, a somewhat unrelated (not sci-fi) but very amusing and FUN book. Short, quick, and funny -- that's how I like them. What's the point of reading a book that doesn't make you laugh, right?
Rating:
Summary: Zarking Great!
Review: In the beginning, The Hitchhiker's Giude to the Galaxy was written. This made a lot of people happy and is generally regarded as a good move. Some time later, it was followed up (by a sequel). This also made a few people ("The people...the things..." "The things are also people," hissed Ford. "The people...the...other people...") very pleased. I am among them. DNA is an excellent writer and this book is perfect alone, after its predecessor, or with a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster. Brilliant satire, wonderful characters, and the depressed droning of our favourite Paranoid Android all contribute beautifully to a work of sheer unadultered weirdness. I'd reccomend reading HHGG first to all newcomers to the HHGG trilogy, but if you've already read the first in the series the best way to follow it up is by reading the second. Or by stopping for lunch at Milliways--The Restaurant at the End of the Universe! (But don't forget your towel!)
Rating:
Summary: Hilarious Sequel
Review: Picking up right where "The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy" left off, Douglas Adams' "The Restaurant At The End Of The Universe" continues the hilarious intergalactic adventures of earthman Arthur Dent, his alien chum Ford Prefect, the two-headed freakazoid Zaphod Beeblebrox, earthwoman Trillian, and Marvin The Paranoid Android. When we last left this ragtag bunch, they were still on the run from the intergalactic authorities in their stolen souped-up spacecraft, The Heart Of Gold. Book 2 includes Zaphod's outrageous adventure to find the man who rules the Universe, a memorable stop at Milliways, The Restaurant At The End Of The Universe, the gang's close shave with having their ship plunge into a sun (all part of a rock concert spectacle put on by the rock group Disaster Area), and finally, Ford & Arthur's adventure onboard an Ark ship manned by a clueless bunch from the planet Golgafrincham. Oh, a startling revelation will also be made, and The Ultimate Question to the Ultimate Answer of "Forty-Two" will also be revealed! (Well, sort of....). Once again, Adams' brilliantly clever wit & writing style shines through on every page, and the book, like it's predecessor, is a real gutbuster.If you have enjoyed the adventures of Arthur Dent & Ford Prefect & company so far, why stop now? Please go to Book 3 in Adams' marvelous sci-fi comedy series, "Life, The Universe, And Everything"....
Rating:
Summary: Hilarious Sequel
Review: Picking up right where "The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy" left off, Douglas Adams' "The Restaurant At The End Of The Universe" continues the hilarious intergalactic adventures of earthman Arthur Dent, his alien chum Ford Prefect, the two-headed freakazoid Zaphod Beeblebrox, earthwoman Trillian, and Marvin The Paranoid Android. When we last left this ragtag bunch, they were still on the run from the intergalactic authorities in their stolen souped-up spacecraft, The Heart Of Gold. Book 2 includes Zaphod's outrageous adventure to find the man who rules the Universe, a memorable stop at Milliways, The Restaurant At The End Of The Universe, the gang's close shave with having their ship plunge into a sun (all part of a rock concert spectacle put on by the rock group Disaster Area), and finally, Ford & Arthur's adventure onboard an Ark ship manned by a clueless bunch from the planet Golgafrincham. Oh, a startling revelation will also be made, and The Ultimate Question to the Ultimate Answer of "Forty-Two" will also be revealed! (Well, sort of....). Once again, Adams' brilliantly clever wit & writing style shines through on every page, and the book, like it's predecessor, is a real gutbuster.If you have enjoyed the adventures of Arthur Dent & Ford Prefect & company so far, why stop now? Please go to Book 3 in Adams' marvelous sci-fi comedy series, "Life, The Universe, And Everything"....
Rating:
Summary: Adams does it again.
Review: The late Douglas Adams had a keen eye for insight and an unrivaled wit, as can be seen by his ironic, satirical series "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy."
The Restaurant at the End of the Universe is the second in the above named series and is similar to the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy in the style of humor and writing, but dont worry, it is far from repetitive. REU continues the tales of earthman Arthur Dent (the standard satirical Brit), Betelgusian Ford Prefect (who is an immeadiatly annoying person), crazy ex-president of the galaxy Zaphod Beeblebrox (who can be considered insane, criminal and annoyingly annoying), Trillian (the voice of reason) and the disgustingly depressed Marvin, the robot.
The second installment picks up right where the first left off, the company were heading to the Restaurant at the End of the Universe (which is indeed, at the very end of the universe, only minutes before its destruction).
Douglas Adams has the ability to briefly mention something in a book, and then, a book or two later, make a connection. That's why when reading a Douglas Adams book it is important to keep an eye out for details (like what a sperm whale thinks as it plummets through the sky to the ground) or you will miss much of Adams' trademark humor. But dont panic, such things will stand out in memory more then the blatantly funny moments. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is not for everyone. But if you like humor, droll wit and satires, or if you like science fiction (but not the serious kind), then this series is just for you.
Rest in peace, Douglas Adams.
Rating:
Summary: Even better and deeper than the first book
Review: This book continues where _The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy_ left off with Zaphod Beeblebrox's announcement that he was hungry and wanted to find the nearest place to eat. The computer was trying to make Earthling Arthur Dent a cup of tea as close to his specifications as possible. Unfortunately this process so tied up the computer's thought processes that it could do little else. Arthur, Ford Prefect, Beeblebrox and Trillian (a woman Earthling I neglected to mention in my review of _Hitchhiker_) and others decide to visit Milliways, a restaurant located in the same exact spot but millions of years into the future. While the crew is attempting to enjoy a savory repast, the masters of ceremonies of Milliways will be providing for their entertainment pleasure the exact moment the universe will end. Mind boggling, to say the least. Douglas Adams treats this impending event as akin to a New Year's celebration. In the interim, our crew discovers very strange but very prophetic goings-on, including thousands of frozen and seemingly dead bodies. Not only are they are not dead, but they prove later (or is it really more sooner?) to have an extremely important role to play. Ford Prefect also discovers a most unlikely ruler of the Universe who would rather play with his cat than be concerned with administering governmental policy. The ruler comes up with the interesting premise that those individuals most wanting power were probably the least competent to lead. Then there is Arthur's strange attempt to play scrabble with the natives of a mysterious world--on which they crash-land--in order to teach them language. There are so many witty moments in this wonderfully written and most profound book, nothing less than Ford Prefect's ongoing endeavor to find the question to the answer to the meaning of life.
Rating:
Summary: absolutly histarical
Review: this is a classic among comical books. it takes the series to a whole new level. I have read this book numourus times. This book is so funny its orgasmic. its a oerfect syphony of favore with a wonderful gravy. ORGASMIC
Rating:
Summary: As great as everything else Douglas has written. But still..
Review: This is a review of the Restaurant At The End Of The Universe
(AUDIO CD rendition). The Book is fantastic! Totally hilarious. A welcome sequel to
any first-time reader of HGTG. The CD set consists of five (5)
CDs, and the story is read by Douglas Adams (the author) himself.
For anyone not familiar with the voice of DA, his reading,
inflections, and ease in switching voices during dialog passages
adds greatly to the presentation. The CD does have some
'electronically-modified' voices (Marvin & the ship's computer,
for instance), but they're all Douglas Adams, and he makes
it quite difficult not to laugh out loud while listening.
It's also pretty hard not to consume the whole book at one
sitting. My two complaints on this media presentation are that it is
simply a straight transfer to CD of Douglas Adams'
CASSETTE-TAPE recordings. They didnt even remove all of the
'End of Side' notations from the original. Imagine that
you're listening to the story, and in the *middle* of a
disc, you hear Douglas say "End of side TWO". Then the story
continues. I also have to mention my biggest
beef with this presentation (as with ALL of the CD renditions)
which is that each disc is comprised of only ONE track!
You cannot jump forward or backward by chapters. If you
cannot listen to an entire disc at one sitting (about an hour),
then you cannot resume midway if you happen to stop the disc.
In this regard, the cassette-tapes excel over the CD renditions. Considering that Douglas was pretty-much a techno-hound, I think
he'd be pretty disgusted that his works were being stamped-out
in such a shoddy fashion. All-in-all, the book is as good as, if not better than,
the HITCHHIKERS GUIDE. Adams fanatics will love it. It's a
book that demonstrates that DA was an accomplished wordsmith,
and that he spent considerable time and effort to add hundreds
of subtle cross-references between passages that cannot be
caught at first reading (listening). In this regard, you'll
find something new each time you consume this book.
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