Isaac Asimov is the undisputed master of science fiction, but I must admit that I still enjoy reading "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy". What's more I've had a copy since I was young(er) and my daughter recently found it, read it, and enjoyed just as much as I still do.
G.
I know this is an old thread, but I was searching for something else and the word I was looking for showed up in this thread!
I got hooked on "Hitchhiker's" when the series ran on public tv back in the early 80's. Bought the book in hardback right away. Later on got the leather bound gilded edge copy of the 4 book "trilogy" for Christmas. I'm a hitchhikers addict. My 3 kids are all grown now and they all can quote certain lines from it, and all know what a "pan-galactic gargle blaster" is, know to never forget your towel, and understand my love of dolphins. They still have a hard time with the proper pronunciation of "Zaphod", though, even though I bought the series on VHS!
Someday, we'll all meet at the Restaurant at the End of the Universe.