Science Fiction and Satire
I have listened to a couple of the audio instalments of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. I like it so far because it is a parody of some of the science fiction that I like. I also love podcasts, so it’s interesting that this was actually made for radio. This in particular reminds me of Galaxy Quest, which is really fun because it takes the ideas of Star Trek and other sci-fi things like it and takes it to the extreme. The way the narration and the dialogue are set up to be quite sarcastic and quirky. It really pokes fun at everything in an engaging way, whereas other satire doesn’t quite handle satire in the same way.
Some of the issues that have already been brought up, even in the first couple audio sessions of the show, are appropriation of land, widespread war, technology, and race differences. It was interesting to me that as Arthur’s town was being taken over and bulldozed in order to put in a bypass, the earth was also being taken over and destroyed in order to put in an intergalactic bypass. Having both happen together was ironic, but the appropriation of land and whole towns does happen now and it happened back when this was first created. The unfairness is highlighted, even though it is still satirical. It was interesting that the ear fish technology that is used to translate all languages across the universe is said to be the cause for the worst wars that had ever been experienced. This relates back to the major growths of technology that allowed the various wars in the 1900’s to be so terrible. The book’s explanations of the different races across the universe are interesting too. They’re kinda like written caricatures of the races. They are also narrations of the different types of humans that actually do exist. Certainly there have always been people like the Vogons. In general, I think the satire in this book/radio show stands the test of time because it satirises the human condition, which doesn’t particularly change too much across the years. It’s funny without being demeaning, which also helps to keep it in people’s minds and hearts. I look forward listening to the rest of the radio show if I can, otherwise I think I will read the book over the summer.
Some of the issues that have already been brought up, even in the first couple audio sessions of the show, are appropriation of land, widespread war, technology, and race differences. It was interesting to me that as Arthur’s town was being taken over and bulldozed in order to put in a bypass, the earth was also being taken over and destroyed in order to put in an intergalactic bypass. Having both happen together was ironic, but the appropriation of land and whole towns does happen now and it happened back when this was first created. The unfairness is highlighted, even though it is still satirical. It was interesting that the ear fish technology that is used to translate all languages across the universe is said to be the cause for the worst wars that had ever been experienced. This relates back to the major growths of technology that allowed the various wars in the 1900’s to be so terrible. The book’s explanations of the different races across the universe are interesting too. They’re kinda like written caricatures of the races. They are also narrations of the different types of humans that actually do exist. Certainly there have always been people like the Vogons. In general, I think the satire in this book/radio show stands the test of time because it satirises the human condition, which doesn’t particularly change too much across the years. It’s funny without being demeaning, which also helps to keep it in people’s minds and hearts. I look forward listening to the rest of the radio show if I can, otherwise I think I will read the book over the summer.
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