So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, #4)

Title: So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, #4)

Author: Douglas Adams

Published in: 1984

Date read: 13th June 2006

Score: 4/5

Genre: Fantasy, Science fiction

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish," published in 1984, is the fourth book in Douglas Adams's beloved "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" "trilogy of five." It marks a shift in tone, being more overtly romantic and introspective than its predecessors, while retaining Adams's signature absurd humour and philosophical musings.

The story opens with Arthur Dent inexplicably back on Earth, after years of intergalactic wandering and the planet's previous destruction. Not only is Earth seemingly intact, but everything is exactly as he left it, including his house, which should have been vaporized. This bewildering return immediately sets the stage for a new mystery.

Arthur's attempt to readjust to normal life is complicated by two major developments. Firstly, he falls deeply and unexpectedly in love with a mysterious and charming woman named Fenchurch. Their relationship quickly becomes central to the narrative, providing a grounding emotional core that was less prominent in previous books.

Secondly, Arthur discovers a cryptic message left by the dolphins – the highly intelligent creatures who had previously departed Earth, uttering the titular phrase. This message, and the sudden reappearance of Earth, lead him to suspect that something very peculiar is afoot, even by galactic standards.

Meanwhile, Ford Prefect, Arthur's alien friend and fellow hitchhiker, is also back on Earth, having missed its reappearance. He is baffled by its presence and sets out to investigate, eventually reconnecting with Arthur. Ford's attempts to decipher the anomaly lead him to confront the implications of Earth's return on galactic history and bureaucracy.

The narrative involves Arthur and Fenchurch embarking on a cross-country quest to understand the impossible return of Earth and the truth behind the dolphins' final message. Their journey leads them to bizarre encounters, including an encounter with an immortal being, and to the eventual revelation of the truly mind-bending cosmic mechanism responsible for Earth's re-creation.

The book explores themes of love, longing, the nature of reality, and the search for meaning in a chaotic universe. While still filled with Adams's unique brand of wit and absurdity, "So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish" offers a more personal and emotionally resonant journey for Arthur Dent, culminating in a quirky yet profound explanation for Earth's improbable existence and a touching reunion.

Comments:
I distinctly remember enjoying this...but I just cannot remember anything about it. Sorry Douglas!

Books that we've read by Douglas Adams (4):
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, #1) (1979), The Restaurant at the End of the Universe (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, #2) (1980), Life, the Universe and Everything (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, #3) (1982), So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, #4) (1984)