The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams - Paperback

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, book 1 of 6 completed series.

Seconds before 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 a galaxyful of fellow travelers: Zaphod Beeblebox, the two-headed, three-armed ex-hippy and totally out-to-lunch president of the galaxy; Trillian (formerly Tricia McMillan), Zaphod's girlfriend, whom Arthur tried to pick up at a cocktail party once upon a time zone; Marvin, a paranoid, brilliant, and chronically depressed robot; and Veet Voojagig, a former graduate student obsessed with disappearance of all the balpoint pens he's bought over the years. 

Where are the pens? Why are we born? Why do we die? For all the answers, stick your thumb to the stars!