"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" is a comedic science fiction novel by Douglas Adams. It follows the adventures of an ordinary human named Arthur Dent, who is whisked away from Earth just before it is destroyed to make way for a hyperspace bypass. Along the way, he meets a variety of quirky characters, including his friend Ford Prefect, an alien researcher for a travel guide. The story is filled with absurd humor and clever observations about life, the universe, and everything in between. Central to the plot is the titular Hitchhiker's Guide, a digital book that provides helpful advice for intergalactic travelers, often with hilarious results.