Life, the Universe and Everything Adams, Douglas

The third instalment in Douglas Adams' gloriously absurd Hitchhiker's series finds Arthur Dent grappling with cricket, killer robots, and the ultimate question of life itself. When the universe faces annihilation (again), it's up to our hapless hero and his peculiar companions to save existence—armed with little more than wit and terrible timing. Adams' signature blend of philosophical musing and laugh-out-loud comedy is in full swing here. Perfect for sci-fi fans who favour their space opera with a side of satirical brilliance, and anyone who believes the answer really might be 42.