Sing with me!

[hobie16]

It has been determined by fans that six times nine in base 13 is 42.

Thanks for digging the correct numbers up!!!

[BRWombat]

Thanks for digging the correct numbers up!!!

Not to throw a wrench into this discussion, but there are more than just the books -- Hitchhiker's Guide started as a BBC Radio series, and then the "trilogy" (of 5 books), and also a BBC TV series. No two have exactly the same plotline. I seem to recall the "6x9" question from the TV series, but I'm not sure about the radio series.

Yes, I am a total geek.

[lady ulrike]

Yeah, I know there are lots of versions, but the book is what was handy so I could look the information up. I'm pretty sure that this is one thing that would remain consistent. Maybe not though, I haven't watched/read/listened to every version of the Hitchiker's.

[LegoDan]

I did not listen to the radio version yet but i believe that they were all consistent with the 6 x 9 = 42. The tv show was a combination of the first three books i think. ( the tv show was very odd and only lasted like a week). Don't forget your towel and if the planet's about to be destroyed stick out your thumb and beware of vogan (i think that's how it's spell) poetry. I hear it is the 3rd worst poetry in the universe. Oh, and beware of Kricket.

[BRWombat]

I did not listen to the radio version yet but i believe that they were all consistent with the 6 x 9 = 42. The tv show was a combination of the first three books i think. ( the tv show was very odd and only lasted like a week). Don't forget your towel and if the planet's about to be destroyed stick out your thumb and beware of vogan (i think that's how it's spell) poetry. I hear it is the 3rd worst poetry in the universe. Oh, and beware of Kricket.

The TV series was very odd! It had six 30-minute installments. I used to have them on videotape, recorded in the wee hours of the morning off of PBS. It was tremendously low-budget and looked it, but that also gave it a kind of charm -- so much so that I'm having trouble processing the slick hi-tech look of the upcoming HGTTG movie!

We're way OT now, but has anyone heard whether the new movie will be any good? They have some fairly unusual casting choices, and it's being marketed like an adventure film rather than a comedy.

[lady ulrike]

I read one really bad review which basically said it's not even recognizable from the other formats, but pretty much every other review I've seen has said it was good and this was from both fans and non-fans. Of course all the reviews said they were watching unfinished material, it was at screenings and such. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

[screnwriter]

All right, I'm not LegoDan but I just finished the books, literally 2 days ago (the movie's coming out, I had to reread it) and I looked it up just to be sure.
It's in the next to the last chapter of the Restaurant at the End of the Universe and the letters spelled "What do you get when you multiply six by nine"
It has been determined by fans that six times nine in base 13 is 42.

Ok, now you all know for sure I'm a nerd. You may have suspected it before, now you know.

Every now and then, a guest when I asked, "Do you have any questions I might answer?" Would pipe up with, "What's the answer to life, the universe, and everything."

Knowing the answer was like doing Monty Python and the Holy Grail lines with them. The only kind of lines we're allowed to do with the guests anyway.

When you are 42, it's cool to tell people who ask your age, "When you know the answer to life, the universe, and everything - you'll know how old I am."

Belgium!

[BRWombat]

Every now and then, a guest when I asked, "Do you have any questions I might answer?" Would pipe up with, "What's the answer to life, the universe, and everything."

Knowing the answer was like doing Monty Python and the Holy Grail lines with them. The only kind of lines we're allowed to do with the guests anyway.

When you are 42, it's cool to tell people who ask your age, "When you know the answer to life, the universe, and everything - you'll know how old I am."

Belgium!

I would think knowing MP lines would be a benefit as a CM. If any guest gets abusive, you can just yell, "Help! Help! I'm being repressed!" :)

("Lemon curry?")

[PirateJohn]

The Ultimate Question is mentioned twice in the third book of the series, Life, the Universe, and Everything. The question is, "pick a number. Any number."

Marvin, in The Restaurant at the End of the Universe says he can read the question in Arthur's brain. At the beginning of Life, the Universe, and Everything he is talking with the mattress about how smart he is. He tells the mattress, "pick a number. Any number." The mattress responds with "nine." Marvin says, "wrong."

At the end of the book, Arthur is talking to Eddie and says he wishes he knew the question. Eddie replies, "pick a number. Any number."

[LegoDan]

I seem to remember someone saying, in the book, that it was impossible to know the answer and the question at the same time. And that as soon as you knew one the other would change. *whistles the star spangled banner while jumping through a hoop*