Mostly Harmless

Summary

In this last book of the trilogy in five parts, Douglas Adams answers many of the questions still left open by the other books, in a grand finale. Known for its darker and more existential tone compared to the other books in the series, Mostly Harmless explores themes of randomness, disillusionment, and the search for meaning in an increasingly absurd universe. It examines the complexity of existence and the absurdity of it all.

Arthur Dent, one of the main characters, has become a sandwichmaker on a small planet. He is trying to find a purpose in a seemingly random and inconsequential activity, away from all the craziness of the universe. Douglas Adams tries to show that purpose can be found in whatever we enjoy doing, and that anything goes, as long as we find it intrinsically meaningful. The whole scene reminds me of the philosophy professor who became the chef in a roadside diner from Atlas Shrugged.

However, because anything goes, we also have to continually lie and deceive ourselves into truly believing that what we do really has a meaning... because ultimately it doesn't, no matter what we tell ourselves, and any quest for finding a true purpose in life is bound to fail as a futile fruitless endeavor.

In the book, Arthur Dent's quiet life is turned on its head when his daughter with Trillian from another timeline gets dropped into his lap completely out of nowhere. His daughter, named Random, comes into the possession of the second edition of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy–a book with sinister motives, contrived by a evil corporation trying to make more sales. The Mark II Guide can alter the very fabric of reality itself in order to achieve its goals. The novel emphasizes the randomness of existence through the appearance of Random. She represents unpredictability and the chaos of the universe clawing its way back into Arthurs sheltered and isolated life. Her actions, along with the Guide Mark II's manipulations of reality, highlight the idea that life is often dictated by chance rather than fate and that we have no choice but to go along with the messy nature of existence. And that even if we give it our bests, random shit can always come along and break everything we have built all again.

The book also highlights that even when people try to find comfort in isolation, they are inevitably drawn back into the messy, unpredictable web of human connections, just like Arthur. An old friend calls, you bump into a stranger at the supermarket, somebody close to you dies, or the daughter you didn't know existed gets dropped at your doorstep.

Yet, throughout all of this the book suggests that life is best lived with an acceptance of all these uncertainties and the chaos inherent in it. We have to embrace the absurdity of the universe. Only that way we can have a semblance of happiness and inner peace. This to me, is closest to the thoughts of existentialism and absurdism from authors such as Albert Camus or Jean-Paul Sartre.

In summary, Mostly Harmless by Douglas Adams is a darker, more introspective conclusion to the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series, exploring the randomness and absurdity of existence. Mostly Harmless leaves readers with a bittersweet reflection on the unpredictability of life and the resilience required to face it. The book before it, is So Long and Thanks for All The Fish.