Thursday, December 28, 2006

Another favourite 'Hitch-Hiker' joke

At the beginning of the second radio series of 'The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy', Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect, marooned on prehistoric Earth, get caught up in a sudden volcanic eruption and find themselves trapped in an underground cavern, shut in by what appears to be an enormous boulder overhead which they could not possibly move, and with no possible hope of rescue.

Moments later, they are fortuitously rescued.

This - and indeed, most if not all of the second radio series - was ditched from the series of novels through which the story subsequently became better known around the world.

A pity - because this incident did prompt one of the finest ever comments from The Book.

Ford and Arthur need advice on their predicament, so they consult the 'Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy' entry on
"What to do if you find yourself trapped underground by an enormous boulder which you cannot possibly move, and with no hope of rescue".

And it says:
1) Consider how lucky you are that life has been good to you so far.

2) If, on the other hand - which, considering your present circumstances, seems more likely - life hasn't been good to you so far; consider how lucky you are that it won't be bothering you much longer.

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