Character Analysis
(Avoiding Spoilers)
Living… in Magrathea. During its heyday, the planet was the wealthiest in the galaxy. Aiming its services at the richest of the rich, Magrathea manufactured other planets for the universe’s billionaires, outstripping the economies of every other world.
Profession... designer of planets. Slartibartfast plans out coastlines, oversees the production of oceans, checks up on the development of new mountains. Hey, building a new world is no easy task.
Interests… fjords. Slartibartfast’s specialty is fjord construction. He is quite proud of his skill: “Ever heard of a place, I think it’s called Norway? That was one of mine. I got an award for it.”
Challenge… creating Earth Mark II. After the destruction of the first, Slartibartfast and the other Magratheans must start from scratch. He’s been assigned, however, to work on Africa. Looks like those fjord-making skills will have to be put to the side for now.
Personality… eccentric. Everything about Slartibartfast – from his name to his occupation – is a little bit strange. Not that he questions any of it. Slartibartfast deals with the chaos of life by saying “hang the sense of it” and keeping himself occupied. After all, it’s better to “be happy than right any day.”
Get to Know him in...
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Mere seconds before the Earth is to be demolished by an alien construction crew, Arthur Dent is swept off the planet by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher penning a new edition of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy."
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Seconds before the Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is plucked off the planet by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised edition of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy who, for the last fifteen years, has been posing as an out-of-work actor. Together this dynamic pair begin a journey through space aided by quotes from The Hitchhiker's Guide ("A towel is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have") and a galaxy-full of fellow travelers: Zaphod Beeblebrox—the two-headed, three-armed ex-hippie and totally out-to-lunch president of the galaxy; Trillian, Zaphod's girlfriend (formally Tricia McMillan), whom Arthur tried to pick up at a cocktail party once upon a time zone; Marvin, a paranoid, brilliant, and chronically depressed robot; Veet Voojagig, a former graduate student who is obsessed with the disappearance of all the ballpoint pens he bought over the years. Where are these pens? Why are we born? Why do we die? Why do we spend so much time between wearing digital watches? For all the answers stick your thumb to the stars. And don't forget to bring a towel!
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Don't Panic! The story of Arthur Dent, an average Englishman who life was spared by his friend, who turned out to be an alien, while the planet Earth is destroyed. His friend tells him about the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, a guide with anything you ever needed, and wanted to know. They travel across the galaxy, meeting friendly, and not so friendly characters in order to find the great question (the answer being 42).
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You are Arthur Dent, an Englishman with a bad hangover wearing a dressing gown containing a much needed buffered analgesic and some fluff. Your house has just been destroyed, followed shortly thereafter by your planet Earth (mostly harmless). You've been rescued by your friend Ford Prefect, who's not actually an out-of-work actor. He has given you a book (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy), a towel, and is now telling you to put a fish in your ear. It must be a Thursday; you've never quite gotten the hang of Thursdays. Death can come quickly if Arthur fails to observe his surroundings, collect inventory, talk to people, and consult the Guide. Don't Panic!
