“Same as you, Arthur. I hitched a ride. After all, with a degree in maths and another in astrophysics it was either that or back to the dole queue on Monday. Sorry I missed the Wednesday lunch date, but I was in a black hole all morning.”

British science fiction writer and humorist of the late 20th century, best known for *The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy*, a satirical space comedy that blends absurdity with sharp social commentary. His work explores existential questions with wit, critiquing human behavior through the lens of alien perspectives and cosmic absurdity.