The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy

If there are still some people around who have not yet discovered the delights of this extremely funny book, invite them to join the cult. The sheer invention blows the imagination - earth destroyed to make way for a new hyper-spatial express route (and that's only for starters) leaves Arthur Dent, lone surviving Earthman, and Ford Prefect, researcher for the invaluable Hitch-Hiker's Guide, roaming the Galaxy in the company of Vogons (third worst poets in the universe), Zaphod Beeblebrox, President of the Imperial Galactic Government and starship stealer, and Marvin, a depressed robot. It has the logic of lunacy and has transferred to book from radio without losing a laugh. Beware, though, at least one sixthformer got the giggles in Private Study.