Customer Reviews

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: The Complete BBC Radio Series

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Updated Info:

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After finally getting around to listening to Quandary and Quintessential CDs from this set I found both are actually extended versions that are a vast improvement over the original 30-minute radio broadcasts that I have heard previously.

Quandary and Quintessential phases in the original 30 minute radio format seem rushed and feel incomplete due to time constraints required to meet the 30 minute length. The extended versions of Quandary and Quintessential in this collection fill in all the missing gaps and make listening truly satisfying. The extra cut in Quandary alone add up to over 23 minutes!

A must have for any H2G2 fan.

Original Review:

I purchased this set to condense my own copies spread over Cd's, tape and MP3s. Packaging is all paper/paperboard so that aspect comes up short since it will deteriorate with use. Primary and Secondary phases have been remixed/edited so they are not the exact original radio show and some purists might not be happy. With cast and track listing for each phase but no other extras or info except the Douglass Adams interview. If you already own these on CD there is no reason to upgrade. If you have old tapes or low rez MP3s the Amazon price is well worth it and you should upgrade.

I read Douglas Adams' books with a friend when we were teenagers over 20 year agos but I didn't realize how much better they were as they were originally broadcast on the BBC. The plot lines are so tangled and the allusions so quick, you can listen to them over and over again and still feel like you're catching more each time.

A friend of mine said that he had a hard time following the Quintessential Phase while he was driving. All I could say was - listen to it again! I've listened to some discs 2 or 3 times before I got even "most" of the jokes.

Unlike movies that you rarely want to see twice, never mind 3 or 4 times, the Hitchhiker Guides can be enjoyed over and over again and still not get old.

On Wednesday, March 8th, 1978, listeners to BBC Radio 4 first learned about what is perhaps the most remarkable, certainly the most successful book ever to come out of the great publishing corporations of Ursa Minor, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the galaxy.

Now, you can own the complete BBC Radio series and hear how it all started.

Much of the early material presented here comes before the books, before the TV series and definitely before the movie.

If you think you know it all, think again.

The primary and secondary phases of the radio series will be somewhat familiar, but, especially in the secondary phase, Arthur, Ford Prefect and the other characters are taken in a completely different direction from the books or the movie.

In the secondary phase, join Zaphod as he visits Wormhole Disco. Follow Arthur, Ford Prefect and the rest as they visit the planet Brontitol (not sure of the spelling), and hear Arthur's reaction as he sees a 15-mile high statue of himself.

See who else they meet up with on Brontitol.

You'll get to meet some characters that you won't find in the books, TV series or the movie.

Don't expect total continuity between the original radio series and the more modern continuation. There are differences which could not totally be reconciled.

However, don't let this stop you from enjoying the ride as you hitchhike the galaxy for less then30 Altairian Dollars a day. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy this romp through the galaxy that you'll never forget. Make sure you know where your towell is, and, above all, don't panic!

My husband is legally blind and we are both huge fans of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. He bought me the complete leather bound book and I felt bad that he couldn't read it, so I went to Amazon to see if they had any audio on the Hitchhiker's. I found this and it is true to the book that I am reading. We compare notes to see if the Audio CD is following the book and we have NO complaints at all! My husband is just sooo happy that he can listen to his favorite book now and I would recommend this to anyone who is visually impaired or who wants to add to their collection. A must have!!

It was excited about finally receiving the Hitchhiker's BBC series I was looking for 30 years. It's been great to listen to it and it's very much treasured.

DON'T PANIC!

I won't spoil it for you, but if you've never had the extreme good fortune to listen to the Hitch-Hikers Guide to the Galaxy on the radio while partaking of a glass of milk and learning how to get a drink out of a Vogon, then you have not lived. Buy this! Listen to it! Hide away the breakables as you will laugh so hard that milk will knock over the cat!

Long Live Douglas Adams!

I'm enjoying this very much. I'm sorry I waited so long to get it.

This is pretty much what you expect, and if you buy this you're probably already a HGG fan, so you know you'll like it.

The Hitchhikers Guide complete BBC radio series is excellent. I have wanted it for a very long time. I first heard it on Public Radio over twenty years ago. It goes way beyond the tv series or the movie. It takes you to places that the video versions don't even hint about. I have a 300 disc cd player and The Hitchhikers Guide has taken permanent residence in it.
Douglas Adams has an imagination unlike any other. If we all could be as warped as he was there wouldn't be nearly as much crap going on in the world. Get The Hitchhikers Guide BBC radio series and take a millenium to chill out and listen to it.

Finally the complete orginal radio version.
I had only heard the first 6 episodes prior to receiving this set.
Fantastic!.