I think Douglas Adams has been misleading us. I would say 24 is closer to the answer than 42.
2007-05-09 19:57:21 · 21 answers · asked by Superstar Udupendra 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
What a coincidence, I only just finished So Long and Thanks For All the Fish yesterday. 42? Because 42 is bigger than 24 and I think the bigger the number, the better, cos
"Space, is big. Really big. You won't believe how vastly hugely mindbogglingly big it is. I mean you may think it's a long way down the road to the chemist, but that's just peanuts compared to space." And that's just Space, only an itsy part of Life, the Universe, and Everything. Obivously, it wouldn't fit in 24. Who do you think you are, anyway? I doubt you've been working on it for seven and a half million years! Come back in eight million, and say that it's 24 then!
2007-05-09 21:21:31 · answer #1 · answered by Phia 2 · 5⤊ 0⤋
It has to do with The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Its a sci-fi book about a computer that says after millions of years that the answer to the ultimate question is 42. You can research the book and read about it. The author states that he randomly chose 42, for no special reason, yet people are finding special meanings in the number. Good luck.
2016-05-19 21:13:56 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I read in "Don't Panic" by Neil Gaiman that Douglas Adams decided on 42 by locking himself in a room with John Lloyd (one of the guys from Monty Python and Douglas' college roommate) for several hours. When they emerged from their meeting, they had resolutely decided that 42 is the funniest number.
You're right...24 would make more sense. But the point of the answer is not to make sense.
Douglas is the man.
2007-05-09 20:36:39 · answer #3 · answered by ms dont panic 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
For those who seem not to know '42' is the answer that the mice invented the universe to discover. 'The meaning of Life, The Universe, Everything'. What you get if you multiply 6 x7. As in Douglas Adams book, 'The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy' There is also a film.
2007-05-09 20:37:15 · answer #4 · answered by rdenig_male 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The question is referencing the book/movie "The Hitch-hikers Guide to the Galaxy".
What is the answer to life, the universe, and everything?
42.
If you watch the special features on the DVD. He said it was a reference from another movie by the same director. I can't remember specifically what it was.
However, the answer is incorrect... It is not possible to know both The Ultimate Question & The Ultimate Answer. If we discovered the answer to the universe, everything would disappear and be replaced by something even more complex.
At least this is what I came to understand.
2007-05-09 20:38:00 · answer #5 · answered by calebb1982 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Lol. Only people that have actually read this book will catch what you are saying.
I think 42 was just some random number off of the top of it's head..er screen?
2007-05-09 20:26:56 · answer #6 · answered by Lexi 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
According to some scientists, 42 is the meaning of life. Perhaps that was what he was getting at?
2007-05-09 20:23:17 · answer #7 · answered by melburniandonut 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
why 42 and why douglas adams?
2007-05-09 20:25:28 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'm with the mice - It's the number of roads a man must walk down - I don't think 24 would really be enough, do you?
2007-05-09 20:33:29 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Deep Thought
.
2007-05-09 20:15:45 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋