Original artwork, not a still
The Restaurant at the End of the Universe · 1980
There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable.
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
It is the series' philosophy in two sentences: finding out why the universe exists might end it, and the answer may already have arrived. Adams sets it up with a straight face, then undercuts it with the second theory. Fans quote it whenever something so odd happens that the world seems to have been swapped for a stranger one.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for The Restaurant at the End of the UniverseShow the scene
Adams uses this as the preface to The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, the 1980 sequel, placing it before the story begins. A second sentence follows straight away, saying there is another theory that this has already happened. Chapter 1 then opens with a mock summary of the story so far: in the beginning the Universe was created, which has made a lot of people very angry. The book, inspired by the Procol Harum song 'Grand Hotel', then carries on to Milliways.
Sources (2)
- Wikiquote: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the GalaxyThe Restaurant at the End of the Universe (1980) section, PrefaceReference checked
- Wikipedia: The Restaurant at the End of the UniverseLeadReference checked
Context reviewed
