Possible Reason For Some Low Ratings

In the Primary Phase, one reviewer (Vance) gave the series a very low rating. It seemed odd to me, as I had listened to the 3rd, 4th, and 5th phases with no problems. Yes, I know I'm listening to them backwards, but it doesn't matter, as they are all fun. As I write this, I have not listened to the Primary Phase where Vance gave his review, but I have listened to the Secondary Phase, which also is a remastered version, as opposed to the 3rd, 4th, and 5th phases, which are not.


Here is what I found from the Secondary Phase. I always download the audio book to the iPod side of my iPhone, and I listen a lot while driving. Though I had no problems with the 3rd, 4th, and 5th phases while driving, I had quite a bit of a problem with the Secondary Phase. It seems that some of the voices for some of the time have been mixed at too low of a volume. I'm not sure if the recording engineer mixed the stereo pan too far left or right, but here's what happened. While driving in the car, a voice would drop so low in volume that I had to turn up the radio dial volume (I have my iPhone connected to the car's stereo system)...then the volume on the next voice would come booming through, and I had to quickly turn the volume back down. After about 15 minutes of playing with the volume, I gave up on listening to it in the car. Eventually I finished it, but I did so with my iPhone ear phones stuck in my ears while on my walks. There was still a problem with the volume swing of the voices, but not to the extent that I had while listening in the car. Again...no such problem with the 3rd, 4th, and 5th phases.


One fun thing about the Secondary Phase is that is provides us with an audio interview of author Douglas Adams. I found it very enjoyable. It is a shame that he died so very young. I think the interview is worth the purchase of the audio alone. If you feel you can deal with the volume swings, then make the purchase, as the story and the acting are both great.

14 people found this helpful

Another great addition from the BBC and Audible

Here it is! The continuation of the adventures of Arthur Dent, Ford Prefect and the rest of the Hitchhiker characters! The next 6 episodes take up where the first phase left off and take you in a completely new direction from the books, TV series or the movie. Some things will be familiar, but, others are completely new. Whether you're a long-time Hitchhiker fan or new to the series, you won't want to miss this unique production from Douglas Adams and the BBC. Get it now! Don't wait! Add it to your cart right now before you forget it! Then, sit back, listen, and, again, most of all, Don't Panic!

16 people found this helpful

Radio Broadcast

This is the original radio drama production, and includes an interview with the author at the end. Good audio quality and chaptering.

2 people found this helpful

Predatory BS

Amazon offers me free shit with Prime then gives my card info and email adress to a sister company carte blanche, I can't even access the content without jumping through hoops and after cancelling the subscription to this sister company that costs more then prime itself and finding I can't assess the content from amazon the first thing the sister companys website does is bring up my card info and say "so you want to pay us right now?" No! No I don't ever want to give you a dime. If I noticed your ceo going for a penny of the street I'd snatch that shit, lick lincon on his filthy frickin face and then offer it to him. No context. Just a blank expression to haunt his money grubbing dreams next time these kinds of choices come up...

"Marketing thinks we should go with a more predatory business model. What do you think boss?"
"His eyes were just... Empty..."
"Sorry what boss?"
"I think we better be careful how it looks"

Then in the off chance he does take it off me I'll just demand $15 a month for it's use... All the same...

1 person found this helpful

Lackluster Followup

Lackluster followup to a brilliant first series. The story doesn’t really go anywhere, starting a few threads and then leaving them all quite uninterestingly for a future sequel, which never came during the author’s life. I don’t like the way they changed Beeblebrox’s character to rely so heavily on the crutch of 70’s colloquialisms. It was also frustrating how many times they’d cart out old jokes from the first series, just to get a cheap laugh from remembering that much more inspired work.

The first series’ behind-the-scenes featurette laid out the completely rushed process of making this second series, and it definitely shows. Still an impressive full cast, fully produced radio play though. [AUDIBLE]

1 person found this helpful

Book and interview are great

While slightly different than the books the radio programs are fantastic. Easy to see why it's become such a phenomenon.

1 person found this helpful

More zany craziness, but not as much pop.

This is just as crazy as the first series, but not quite as well done or filled out. It doesn't move as well. Having said that it is still a bit of fun well worth listening to, especially as it it is performed by a top notch cast.

1 person found this helpful

So Good I Forgot to Review!

I listened to this with such relish that I started it, finished it, and started & finished the next audio drama before I realized I never entered either into Goodreads! If that doesn't tell you how much I enjoyed it, I don't know what will 😆 The Hitchhiker's Guide series has been among my lifetime favorites since childhood and listening to these dramas for the first time in decades has shown me that my appreciation for the material has only grown as I've aged. The stories are just as plausible as they are ridiculous and I think their firm grounding in science and logic is what gives them evergreen appeal. I can't wait to listen to the rest!

refuses to play

I've tried everything I can think of and it won't play, updated the app/deleted and redownloaded/used a computer nothing is working

A classic for everyone

if you liked the first series you will not be disappointed! If you are new don't jump in at this point, you really need to start from the beginning!