The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: The Primary Phase (Dramatized) Audiobook By Douglas Adams cover art

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: The Primary Phase (Dramatized)

 Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 months free
Try for $0.00
Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 3 months. Cancel anytime.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: The Primary Phase (Dramatized)

By: Douglas Adams
Narrated by: Peter Jones, Simon Jones, Geoffrey McGivern, Mark Wing-Davey, Susan Sheridan, Stephen Moore, full cast
Try for $0.00

$0.00/mo. after 3 months. Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $20.33

Buy for $20.33

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
Switch payment method
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use, License, and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

A dynamic remastering of the original BBC Radio 4 full-cast serial - Fit the First to Fit the Sixth - which spawned a phenomenal hitchhiking legend.

The original series of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, remastered by Dirk Maggs (director of the Tertiary, Quandary and Quintessential Phases) to give a full, vibrant sound, now with Philip Pope’s version of the familiar theme tune and specially re-recorded announcements by John Marsh.

Join Arthur Dent, Ford Prefect, Trillian, Zaphod Beeblebrox and Marvin the Paranoid Android in their first series of adventures as they witness the destruction of Earth to make way for a hyperspace bypass, stumble upon the ancient planet of Magrathea, dine at the Restaurant at the End of the Universe and seek an answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe and everything.

Peter Jones, Simon Jones, Geoffrey McGivern, Mark Wing-Davey, Susan Sheridan, Stephen Moore and a full supporting cast star in these BBC Radio 4 episodes.

A special 55-minute bonus programme, Douglas Adams's Guide to the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, explores the genesis of the radio series and its incredible success, with contributions from the original cast and production team.

Audio files were replaced in April 2021.

©2008 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2008 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd Adventure Fantasy Fiction Literature & Fiction Science Fiction Comedy Funny Witty Interstellar Scary Dramatized Fantasy
Witty Humor • Innovative Storytelling • Excellent Voice Acting • Diverse Character Actors • Creative Concept
Highly rated for:
All stars
Most relevant  
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy was the first radio comedy show to be recorded in stereophonic sound and it was acted out by a full cast of professional actors, but what really sets this show apart is the sound effects which were completely innovative at the time. "One of Adams's stated goals was to be experimental in the use of sound. Being a fan of Pink Floyd and The Beatles (and especially the experimental concept albums both bands produced in the late 1960s and early 1970s), Adams wanted the programme to have the feel of a "rock album...to convey the idea that you actually were on a spaceship or an alien planet — that sense of a huge aural landscape". (From Wikipedia)

Of course today, there is a quaint quality to those sound effects, but that only adds to the overall charm of the experience. I first discovered this show in the late 80s when a local radio station aired the series, and must say that more than 20 years later, a reading of the book (which not surprisingly seemed awfully flat) it felt just as fresh, off the wall and yes, innovative as it did the first time around.

Zillions of Times Better than the Book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Love the writing... Love the performances... Hate the sound balance, or whatever you want to call it.
The narrator is LOUD... Ford is normal, while Arthur is quiet.
Very annoying, makes it hard to listen to.

Great story... Flawed by terrible volume balance!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This is one of the best radio shows I have ever listened to, amazing acting and narration, makes you feel as if you were watching a movie

Amazing

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
here words are not optional and are indeed counted. viva rodentia, long live the mice

anyone reading this already knows the answer

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I confess up front that I've read the book and seen the movie, and more than once at that.

Obviously then, I knew the story was 5 star, and I realized by the length of this audio book that it wasn't the complete work, but I wanted to see how BBC had done the original broadcast. I must say, they did a great job. Well engineered and with a great cast of voices.

The interview at the end was also enlightening and gave some insight into the oddball man that Douglas Adams was.

If you've never listened to or heard of the Hitchhiker's Guide before, I recommend you get the complete work or read the book. If, however, you are like me and have familiarity with the book already, then you will find this work quite enjoyable.

Quirky, wierd, and awesome!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Not a dull moment and uproarious too. Cast of characters wonderfully acted by actors of repute as well, as may surprise you, intelligence.

Marvelous book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Do not let all the reviews trick you. This is how it sounds on the original broadcast. Old radio goodness

Classic radio

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Great if you have a long commute everyday. If you have time to read book it's very good too.

worth it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I absolutely love this one. I have listened to this hundreds of times and pick it up on every format I can. I have read the series and seen all the shows/movies. This is by far - hands down - the best way to experience this series. The book is pretty superb too! So glad to have it digital so I can listen to it much easier with current technology. Thank you so much to the glorious mind of the late D.A.

Amazing! Funny! Witty! Smart! Wonderful!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This is a fun way to revisit the book in an abbreviated amount of time. Nothing compares to the book, but many of the most memorable comical scenes are here in the original radio show. A must for the die-hard Douglas Adams fan!

The best of the series!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews