Author guide

Douglas Adams

Douglas Adams (1952-2001) was an English writer from Cambridge who studied English literature at St John's College, Cambridge. He created The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy for BBC Radio 4 and expanded it into novels, television, games, stage adaptations, and collaborations ranging from humorous reference books to nonfiction travel writing.

science fictionhumorsatirenonfiction

Not sure where to begin?

Start with one of these

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

First novel in the main Hitchhiker series.

Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency

First Dirk Gently novel.

The Meaning of Liff: The Original Dictionary Of Things There Should Be Words For

Standalone humorous reference work.

Last Chance to See

Standalone nonfiction collaboration.

Read in order

Books by series

novel series · complete

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Douglas Adams's absurdist science-fiction series about Arthur Dent, Ford Prefect, and the Guide.

Series guide →

1

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Book 1 · novel · 1979

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2

The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
Book 2 · novel · 1980

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3

Life, the Universe and Everything
Book 3 · novel · 1982

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4

So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish
Book 4 · novel · 1984

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5

Young Zaphod Plays It Safe
Book 4.5 · short_story · 1986

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6

Mostly Harmless
Book 5 · novel · 1992

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novel series · complete

Dirk Gently

A comic detective series built around the interconnectedness of all things.

Series guide →

1

Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency
Book 1 · novel · 1987

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2

The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul
Book 2 · novel · 1988

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3

The Salmon of Doubt
Book 3 · collection · 2002

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collection series · complete

The Meaning of Liff

Humorous reference works that recycle place names as definitions for unnameable experiences.

Series guide →

1

The Meaning of Liff: The Original Dictionary Of Things There Should Be Words For
Book 1 · nonfiction · 1983

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2

The Deeper Meaning of Liff: A Dictionary of Things That There Aren't Any Words for Yet
Book 2 · nonfiction · 1983

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collection series · complete

Hitchhiker's Guide BBC Radio Series

BBC radio dramatizations and later phases of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

Series guide →

1

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Primary Phase
Book 1 · collection · 1978

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2

The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy: Secondary Phase
Book 2 · collection · 1980

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3

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: The Tertiary Phase
Book 3 · collection · 1979

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4

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: The Quandary Phase
Book 4 · collection · 2005

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5

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: The Quintessential Phase
Book 5 · collection · 2005

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collection series · complete

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Graphic Novels)

Authorized graphic-novel adaptations of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

Series guide →

1

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy #1 (Graphic Novel)
Book 1 · graphic_novel · 1993

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Outside the series

Standalone and other books

Last Chance to See
nonfiction · 1990

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Starship Titanic
novel · 1997

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The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: The Complete Radio Series
collection · 2005

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The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Future: Douglas Adams and the Digital World
nonfiction · 2020

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The Utterly Utterly Merry Comic Relief Christmas Book
anthology · 1986

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Douglas Adams' Starship Titanic: The Official Strategy Guide
nonfiction · 1998

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Digging Holes in Popular Culture: Archaeology and Science Fiction
anthology · 2002

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Life, the Universe, and Everything: The Authorized Collection
graphic_novel · 2018

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Not 1982: Not the Nine O'Clock News rip-off annual
collection · 1981

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Doctor Who: Classic TV Adventures Collection One
collection

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