"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" is a comedic science fiction book series written by Douglas Adams. It originally began as a radio series in 1978 and was later adapted into a series of five novels. The story follows an unwitting human named Arthur Dent who is rescued from Earth just before its destruction and embarks on a journey through space. The series features a variety of quirky characters, including Ford Prefect, an alien researcher for the titular guidebook, and Zaphod Beeblebrox, a two-headed ex-President of the Galaxy. The narrative explores themes of absurdity, the meaning of life, and the universe, often with a humorous twist.