Exploring new galaxies of literature can be exciting, just like hitching a ride on a cosmic adventure. If you enjoyed ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,’ I’m sure you’re looking for similar books to captivate you.
Prepare to journey through space and whimsical tales, meeting quirky characters and facing hilarious mishaps. This article unveils a collection of reads that share the same light-hearted spirit, clever wit, and intergalactic charm. Get ready to discover alternate universes, all while savouring the familiar fun that made the Guide a classic. Embark on these books like The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy to keep the cosmic laughter rolling!
Books like The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
Good Omens (1990)
by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
The story centres on an angel named Aziraphale and a demon named Crowley who have been living on Earth for centuries and have grown accustomed to its comforts. However, they both become uneasy when they learn about the approaching Apocalypse, which will announce the final battle between Heaven and Hell.
As the Apocalypse draws near, Aziraphale and Crowley, despite their allegiances, decide to team up to prevent the disaster they’ve grown quite fond of Earth.
The novel humorously explores themes of good, evil, free will, and the absurdity of human existence. The characters’ interactions with various supernatural and human entities create a series of comical and often unpredictable situations. With as witty dialogues, clever satire, and a unique blend of fantasy and humour as ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,’ ‘Good Omens’ presents a light-hearted take on the classic battle between Heaven and Hell, while also delving into questions of morality and the nature of humanity.
Total Pages– 491 pages
Language- English
Goodreads Rating– 4.25
Amazon Rating– 4.6
If you read at a standard rate, say 30 pages per hour, it will take you 16 hours and 22 minutes to finish Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett.
Guards, Guards! (1989)
by Terry Pratchett
This one is a comedic fantasy novel set in the fictional city of Ankh-Morpork. The story follows the inept Night Watch, a group of city guards who are more concerned with their personal vices than maintaining order. The city is controlled by a secretive brotherhood that manipulates the ruler, until a plot to bring back dragons to seize power is set into motion.
Sam Vimes, the leader of the Night Watch, finds himself in an unexpected position of responsibility as he navigates the chaos caused by the summoned dragons. With the help of a unique group of misfit characters, including a perpetually drunk dwarf and a clever talking swamp dragon, Vimes must confront the threat and restore order to the city.
The novel humorously explores themes of power, corruption, and the potential for change, all while delivering Pratchett’s trademark wit and satire. If you’re looking for a book as humorous as ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,’ this is the one for you.
Total Pages– 376 pages
Language- English
Goodreads Rating– 4.33
Amazon Rating– 4.7
If you read at a standard rate, say 30 pages per hour, it will take you 12 hours and 32 minutes to finish Guards, Guards! by Terry Pratchett.
Red Dwarf (1989)
by Doug Naylor and Rob Grant
‘Red Dwarf’ follows the misadventures of Dave Lister, the last human survivor.
However, Lister’s circumstances left him with no other choice. He recollected the hazy memories of a birthday pub crawl through London, only to awaken with nothing in his pockets except a passport bearing the name Emily Berkenstein.
Faced with this bizarre twist of fate, Lister made a surprising decision – he enlisted in the space corps. To his astonishment, they accepted him. This new path led him to the colossal spaceship known as Red Dwarf, a vessel the size of a small city. It promised to return him to Earth, albeit several years from the present.
Little did Lister realize that this choice would propel him on an unintended journey, hurling him three million years into the future. In this distant era, he would find himself as the sole surviving member of the human race, accompanied only by a holographic companion and an evolved feline creature.
Set against the backdrop of deep space, the novel combines absurdity and wit as Lister navigates the challenges of loneliness and boredom. Rimmer’s holographic presence, despite being irritating, provides a source of humour and camaraderie. The novel humorously explores themes of human nature, artificial intelligence, and the meaning of existence.
Total Pages– 192 pages
Language- English
Goodreads Rating– 3.92
Amazon Rating– 4.2
If you read at a standard rate, say 30 pages per hour, it will take you 6 hours and 24 minutes to finish Red Dwarf by Doug Naylor and Rob Grant.
Slaughterhouse-Five (1969)
by Kurt Vonnegut
“So it goes!”
‘Slaughterhouse-Five” is a unique blend of science fiction, satire, and anti-war sentiment. The story follows Billy Pilgrim, a soldier in World War II who becomes “unstuck in time.” This means he experiences moments from his life in a non-linear fashion, jumping back and forth between different points in time, including his experiences during the war and moments from his mundane post-war life.
The narrative focuses on the bombing of Dresden, Germany, during the war, a horrific event that Vonnegut himself experienced as a prisoner of war. Through Billy’s experiences, the novel explores the senselessness of war, the trauma it inflicts on individuals, and the concept of fate. Vonnegut’s dark humor and satirical tone underscore the absurdity of human violence and the seeming inevitability of certain events.
“Slaughterhouse-Five” challenges traditional narrative structures, emphasizing the cyclical and often senseless nature of human history.
Total Pages– 215 pages
Language- English
Goodreads Rating– 4.09
Amazon Rating– 4.4
If you read at a standard rate, say 30 pages per hour, it will take you 7 hours and 10 minutes to finish Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut.
John Dies at the End (2007)
by David Wong
A comedic horror novel by David Wong, ‘John Dies at the End’ follows David Wong and his friend John as they navigate a bizarre and otherworldly series of events after ingesting a mysterious drug known as “Soy Sauce.” The drug grants them paranormal abilities and opens their perception to a hidden supernatural world.
As David and John attempt to make sense of their newfound abilities, they uncover a reality of alternate dimensions, monstrous creatures, and malevolent forces threatening to invade their world. With a mix of humour and horror, the two friends find themselves battling bizarre and terrifying entities, all while trying to maintain their sanity and the safety of their town.
The narrative is nonlinear, often jumping between different timelines and perspectives, creating a sense of disorientation that adds to the eerie atmosphere of the story. The title itself serves as a hint of the book’s unpredictability, blurring the lines between life and death.
Total Pages– 362 pages
Language- English
Goodreads Rating– 3.88
Amazon Rating– 4.4
If you read at a standard rate, say 30 pages per hour, it will take you 12 hours and 4 minutes to finish John Dies At The End by David Wong.
Small Gods (1992)
by Terry Pratchett
If you liked the satire and wit in ‘Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,’ this one will blow your mind.
Set in the Discworld universe, the story follows Brutha, a lowly novice in the Omnian Church, a powerful religious institution that worships the Great God Om. However, the god Om has fallen from his former glory and has been reduced to the form of a small, powerless tortoise due to the dwindling belief of his followers.
When Brutha stumbles upon Om in his tortoise form and the two set out on a journey to challenge the oppressive and corrupt Church hierarchy. Through their adventures, they encounter philosophical debates, political intrigues, and encounters with a variety of characters, including philosophers, warriors, and revolutionaries.
The novel humorously explores themes of religion, belief, power, and the nature of gods. Pratchett’s signature wit and satire are evident as the story pokes fun at organized religion, blind faith, and the absurdities of deity worship.
Total Pages– 389 pages
Language- English
Goodreads Rating– 4.31
Amazon Rating– 4.7
If you read at a standard rate, say 30 pages per hour, it will take you 12 hours and 58 minutes to finish Small Gods by Terry Pratchett.
Catch-22 (1961)
by Joseph Heller
A blend of satire, tragedy, and wit, ‘Catch-22’ is a satirical novel set during World War II. The story follows Captain John Yossarian, a U.S. Army Air Forces bombardier stationed on a Mediterranean island. Yossarian is caught in a paradoxical situation known as a “catch-22”: he can only be declared insane and unfit for duty if he requests a mental evaluation, but anyone who requests a mental evaluation is considered sane and therefore fit for duty. This circular logic traps Yossarian and his fellow soldiers in a nightmarish cycle.
The novel employs dark humor and absurdity to expose the senselessness and bureaucracy of war. Yossarian navigates through a series of bizarre events, encounters eccentric characters, and struggles with the horrors of war, all while trying to maintain his sanity and escape the dangerous missions that keep increasing his chances of death.
The narrative is non-linear, weaving together the experiences of various characters, revealing their fears, desires, and the chaotic nature of war.
Total Pages– 453 pages
Language- English
Goodreads Rating– 3.99
Amazon Rating– 4.4
If you read at a standard rate, say 30 pages per hour, it will take you 15 hours and 6 minutes to finish Catch 22 by Joseph Heller.
The Sirens of Titan (1959)
by Kurt Vonnegut
The book follows the journey of Malachi Constant, a wealthy but purposeless man who becomes entangled in a cosmic game orchestrated by a distant civilization.
Through a series of unexpected events, including time travel and interplanetary travels, and a chance to take a space journey to distant worlds with a beautiful woman at his side; Constant’s life becomes intertwined with that of Winston Niles Rumfoord, a space traveler. This leads to a series of absurd and thought-provoking situations that challenge the characters’ beliefs and the nature of free will.
Vonnegut uses the novel to explore themes of fate, free will, the absurdity of human existence, and the limitations of human understanding in the face of cosmic forces. With his signature blend of satire, dark humour, and philosophical pondering, Vonnegut crafts a narrative that questions the very essence of human purpose and the role of individuals in a seemingly indifferent universe, making it the perfect read for you if you liked reading ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.’
Total Pages– 224 pages
Language- English
Goodreads Rating– 4.15
Amazon Rating– 4.4
If you read at a standard rate, say 30 pages per hour, it will take you 7 hours and 28 minutes to finish The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut.
Year Zero (2012)
by Robert Reid
A humorous science fiction novel that centres on the absurd consequences of copyright infringement on an intergalactic scale, ‘Year Zero’ follows Nick Carter, a human copyright lawyer, who stumbles upon the fact that Earth’s music is the most popular in the universe due to its unparalleled excellence. However, when extraterrestrial civilizations realize they owe an astronomical amount in copyright infringement fees for enjoying Earth’s music without permission, it leads to an unimaginable financial crisis that could bankrupt the entire universe.
As the aliens attempt to resolve this issue, Nick finds himself caught in a whirlwind of bizarre situations, from negotiating with alien lawyers to escaping threats from copyright enforcement zealots. The novel explores themes of music’s universal appeal, the absurdity of copyright laws, and the unintended consequences of cultural exchange on a galactic level.
“Year Zero” blends witty humour, pop culture references, and satirical commentary on the legal and entertainment industries.
Total Pages– 364 pages
Language- English
Goodreads Rating– 3.61
Amazon Rating– 4
If you read at a standard rate, say 30 pages per hour, it will take you 12 hours and 8 minutes to finish Year Zero by Robert Reid.
Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency (1987)
by Douglas Adams
The story follows Dirk Gently, a self-proclaimed holistic detective who believes in the interconnectedness of all things. The plot kicks off with a missing cat, an eccentric professor named Reg, and an intricate web of seemingly unrelated events.
As Dirk investigates, he uncovers a complex puzzle involving time travel, ghosts, ancient curses, and a powerful time machine disguised as an electric monk. The narrative intertwines seemingly disparate threads, revealing how each event is interconnected and influenced by the others.
Dirk’s unconventional investigative methods, which involve following the “fundamental interconnectedness of all things,” lead him to unexpected discoveries. The story is filled with absurd situations, witty dialogue, and clever twists, characteristic of Adams’ signature style.
Through its humorous and convoluted narrative, the novel explores themes of causality, destiny, and the unexpected ways events can intersect.
Total Pages– 306 pages
Language- English
Goodreads Rating– 3.97
Amazon Rating– 4.3
If you read at a standard rate, say 30 pages per hour, it will take you 10 hours and 12 minutes to finish Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams.
Space Opera (2018)
by Catherynne Valente
This novel humorously blends space opera with music competition. In a galactic universe, Earth is introduced to an interstellar community that decides to resolve conflicts through a grand musical competition called the Metagalactic Grand Prix.
The story follows washed-up rock musician Decibel Jones, once famous on Earth, who’s chosen to represent humanity in the competition. Teamed up with his former bandmate Oort St. Ultraviolet, Decibel must perform a dazzling show to prove Earth’s musical worth and avoid its destruction by a hostile alien species.
The novel humorously explores themes of identity, survival, and the power of music across the cosmos. Valente’s writing infuses quirky humour, inventive world-building, and vibrant descriptions, creating a unique blend of space adventure and fantastical musical spectacle. ‘Space Opera’ is a delightful and imaginative take on the classic space opera genre, offering a cosmic journey filled with absurdity, heart, and the universal language of music.
Total Pages– 294 pages
Language- English
Goodreads Rating– 3.47
Amazon Rating– 4
If you read at a standard rate, say 30 pages per hour, it will take you 9 hours and 48 minutes to finish Space Opera by Catherynne Valente.
Conclusion to Books like The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
And that concludes the list for books like The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy!
In conclusion, the universe of literature, much like Douglas Adams’ book is vast and full of surprises. These books like The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy we’ve explored here are just a glimpse into the diverse array of witty, satirical, and mind-bending reads that can tickle your funny bone and expand your cosmic horizons.
So, hitch a ride with these reads and explore galaxies of laughter and imagination. Your next bookish journey is ready to launch!