Changes: So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish

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So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish is the fourth book in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy book series ("trilogy") by Douglas Adams.

Plot Summary

So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish begins three years after the events of Life, the Universe and Everything and eight years after those of The Hitchhicker's Guide to the Galaxy. Arthur, who has apparently hitched a ride all the way to the spot where the Earth once was, is shocked to find the planet perfectly intact. After hitching a ride with a man named Russell, he finds Russell's sister, Fenchurch, or "Fenny," unconscious in the back seat, and immediately falls in love with her. As he learns from Russell, the entire world believes that the Vogon fleet was actually a hallucination, brought on by drugs released into the air as part of an experiment by the C.I.A. Only three months had passed since the incident. Arthur also learns that it is thought that Fenchurch is mentally unstable, having seemingly gone mad at a cafe in Rickmansworth at the exact moment when the Vogons were about to destroy the Earth. Arthur finally makes it back to his house, finding a mysterious Fish Bowl in it. He makes up a story about going on vacation to southern California as an alibi for his three-month-long disappearance. Arthur then runs into Fenchurch again, and, desperate to spend more time with her, drive her to the local train station. He learns that she, too, suspects that the Vogons were not a hallucination. Arthur acquires her phone number, but he ends up losing it (having been written on a winning raffle ticket) and sinks into depression.

Determined to take his mind off Fenchurch, he buys a computer to try to locate the place his cave in prehistoric Earth is currently, and by a stroke of luck the location turns out to be Fenchurch's house. Arthur and Fenchurch start a romantic relationship. Eventually, Arthur learns about dolphins that have disappeared, and, thinking that it may be linked to the hallucinations or Arthur's eight years in space, they fly to California to see a scientist named Wonko the Sane. Wonko shows them a bowl similar to Arthur's, and through the bowl, they learn that the dolphins took an alternate reality version of Earth and placed it where their Earth previously had been.

While these events were taking place, Ford Prefect, while in Han Dold City, discovers that the entry he wrote about Earth (for the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy before it was destroyed, which was edited down to the point where all it said was "Mostly Harmless", has suddenly reappeared in its entirety in his copy of the Guide. Intrigued, he hikes to Earth on a ship commanded by a Giant Robot. Once seeing that Earth again exists, Ford runs into Arthur and Fenchurch, who have decided to go to the location of God's Final Message to Creation, as revealed to Arthur by Prak at the end of Life, the Universe and Everything. They board the ship Ford arrived on and go to the spot, where it has become a major tourist attraction. Arthur comes across Marvin, who, because of the various time travel he's been through, is now many times older than the Universe itself. Marvin reads the far-away message with the help of Arthur and Fenchurch ("We apologise for the inconvenience"), amazingly says that he feels good about it, and promptly dies in Arthur's arms.

Dedication

for Jane
with thanks
to Rick and Heidi for the loan of their stable event
to Mogens and Andy and all at Huntsham Court for a number of unstable events
and especially to Sonny Metha for being stable through all events.

Appearances

Main Characters

Minor Characters

Rob McKenna
Russell
Know-Nothing-Bozo
Will Smithers
Anjie
Wonko the Sane
Enid Kapelsen
Murray Bost Henson
Arcane Jill Watson
Giant Robot
Lajestic Vantrashell of Lob
Marvin
Zarquon (mentioned)
Non-Wonder Dog (mentioned)
John Ainsworth (mentioned)
Yvonne (mentioned)
Jim (mentioned)
Eddie the Computer (mentioned)
Deep Thought (mentioned)
Charles Darwin (mentioned)
Mark Knopfler (mentioned)
Eccentrica Gallumbits (mentioned)
Trillian Astra (mentioned)
Mella (mentioned)
Isleworth (mentioned)
Richmond (mentioned)
David Bowie (mentioned)
Maurits C. Escher (mentioned)
Prak (mentioned)
God (mentioned)
Zaphod Beeblebrox (mentioned)
Blart Versenwald III (mentioned)

Devices

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Towel
American Express Card
Fish Bowl
Electronic Thumb

Ships

Giant Robot's Ship
Heart of Gold (mentioned)

Places

Earth
Han Dold City
Old Pink Dog Bar
The Horse and Groom
Arthur Dent's House
Sesefras Magna
Epun
Taunton
Los Angeles
The Outside of the Asylum
Islington
Hyde Park
Xaxis
Preliumtarn
Denmark (mentioned)
Rickmansworth (mentioned)
Bournemouth (mentioned)
Flargathon (mentioned)
Mars (mentioned)
Venus (mentioned)
Zirzla (mentioned)
Kakrafoon Kappa (mentioned)
Santraginus V (mentioned)
Jaglan Beta (mentioned)
Brequinda on the Foth of Avalars (mentioned)
Sqornshellous Beta (mentioned)
Sqornshellous Zeta (mentioned)
Eroticon VI (mentioned)
Krikkit (mentioned)
Golgafrincham (mentioned)
Stegbartle Major (mentioned)
Letchworth (mentioned)
Betelgeuse (mentioned)

Races and species

Human
Betelgeusian
Babel Fish
Dolphin (mentioned)
Xaxisian (mentioned)
Fuolornis Fire Dragon (mentioned)
Mattresses (mentioned)
Golgafrinchan
Greater Drubbered Wintwock (mentioned)

Publications

(To be added)

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{DISPLAYTITLE:''So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish''}}
 {{Infobox Book
-| image=[[File:So_Long,_and_Thanks_for_All_the_Fish.jpg|250px]]
+| image=[[File:SoLongAndThanksForAllTheFish.jpg]]
-| book name=So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish
+| book name=
-| book number=4
+| book number=
 | author=[[Douglas Adams]]
-| publication date=1984
+| publication date=
-| media type=Paperback and hardcover
+| media type=
-| number of pages=192, UK paperback; 224, US paperback
+| number of pages=
-| previous book=[[Life, the Universe and Everything]]
+| previous book=''[[Life, the Universe and Everything]]''
-| next book=[[Mostly Harmless]]
+| next book=''[[Mostly Harmless]]''
+|date = 1984|pages = 192, UK paperback; 224, US paperback}}
-}}
-[[So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish]] is the fourth book in the [[Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy]] book series by [[Douglas Adams]].
+'''''So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish''''' is the fourth book in [[The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy|''The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'']] book series ("trilogy") by [[Douglas Adams]].
 ==Plot Summary==
-[[So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish]] begins three years after the events of ''[[Life, the Universe and Everything]]'' and eight years after the events of ''[[The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (book)|The Hitchhicker's Guide to the Galaxy]]''. [[Arthur Dent|Arthur]], who has apparently hitched a ride all the way to the spot where the [[Earth]] once was, is shocked to find the planet perfectly intact. After hitching a ride with a man named [[Russell]], he finds Russell's sister, [[Fenchurch]], or "Fenny", unconscious in the backseat, and immediately falls in love with her. As he learns from Russell, the entire world belives that the [[Vogon Constructor Fleet|Vogon fleet]] was actually a hallucination, brought on by drugs released into the air as part of an experiment by the C.I.A. Only three months had passed since the incident. Arthur also learns that it is thought that Fenchurch is mentally unstable, having seemingly gone mad at a cafe in [[Rickmansworth]] at the exact moment when the [[Vogon|Vogons]] were about to destroy the Earth. Arthur finally makes it back to his house, finding a mysterious [[Fish Bowl|fish bowl]] in it. He makes up a story about going on vacation to southern California as an alibi for his three-month-long disappearance. Arthur then runs into Fenchurch again, and, desperate to spend more time with her, drives her to the local train station. He learns that she, too, suspects that the Vogons were not an hallucination. He receives her phone number, but he ends up losing it (having been written on a winning raffle ticket), and Arthur sinks into depression.
+''So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish'' begins three years after the events of ''[[Life, the Universe and Everything]]'' and eight years after those of ''[[The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (book)|The Hitchhicker's Guide to the Galaxy]]''. [[Arthur Dent|Arthur]], who has apparently hitched a ride all the way to the spot where the [[Earth]] once was, is shocked to find the planet perfectly intact. After hitching a ride with a man named Russell, he finds Russell's sister, [[Fenchurch]], or "Fenny," unconscious in the back seat, and immediately falls in love with her. As he learns from Russell, the entire world believes that the [[Vogon Constructor Fleet|Vogon fleet]] was actually a hallucination, brought on by drugs released into the air as part of an experiment by the C.I.A. Only three months had passed since the incident. Arthur also learns that it is thought that Fenchurch is mentally unstable, having seemingly gone mad at a cafe in [[Rickmansworth]] at the exact moment when the [[Vogon]]s were about to destroy the Earth. Arthur finally makes it back to his house, finding a mysterious Fish Bowl in it. He makes up a story about going on vacation to southern California as an alibi for his three-month-long disappearance. Arthur then runs into Fenchurch again, and, desperate to spend more time with her, drive her to the local train station. He learns that she, too, suspects that the Vogons were not a hallucination. Arthur acquires her phone number, but he ends up losing it (having been written on a winning raffle ticket) and sinks into depression.
-Determined to take his mind off Fenchurch, he buys a computer to try to locate the place his cave in prehistoric Earth is currently, and by a stroke of luck the location turns out to be Fenchurch's house. Arthur and Fenchurch start a romantic relationship. Eventually, Arthur learns about [[Dolphin|dolphins]] that have disappeared, and, thinking that it may be linked to the hallucinations or Arthur's eight years in space, they fly to Florida to see a scientist named [[Wonko the Sane]]. Wonko shows them a bowl similiar to Arthur's, and through the bowl they learn that the dolphins took an alternate reality version of Earth and placed it where their Earth previously was.
+Determined to take his mind off Fenchurch, he buys a computer to try to locate the place his cave in prehistoric Earth is currently, and by a stroke of luck the location turns out to be Fenchurch's house. Arthur and Fenchurch start a romantic relationship. Eventually, Arthur learns about [[Dolphin|dolphins]] that have disappeared, and, thinking that it may be linked to the hallucinations or Arthur's eight years in space, they fly to California to see a scientist named [[Wonko the Sane]]. Wonko shows them a bowl similar to Arthur's, and through the bowl, they learn that the dolphins took an alternate reality version of Earth and placed it where their Earth previously had been.
-While these events were taking place, [[Ford Prefect]], while in [[Han Dold City]], discovers that the entry he wrote about Earth (for the [[The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (travel guide)|Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy]] before it was destroyed, which was edited to the point where all it said was "Mostly Harmless", has suddenly reappeared in his copy of the Guide. Intrigued, he hikes to Earth on a ship commanded by a [[Giant Robot]]. Once seeing that Earth again exists, Ford runs into Arthur and Fenchurch, who have decided to go to the location of [[God]]'s Final Message to Creation, as revealed to Arthur by [[Prak]] at the end of ''[[Life, the Universe and Everything]]''. They board the ship Ford arrived on and go to the spot, where it has become a major tourist attraction. Arthur comes across [[Marvin]], who, because of the various time travel he's been through, is now many times older than the [[Universe]] itself. Marvin reads the far-away message with Arthur and Fenchurch ("We apologize for the inconvenience"), amazingly says that he feels good about it, and promptly dies in Arthur's arms.
+While these events were taking place, [[Ford Prefect]], while in [[Han Dold City]], discovers that the entry he wrote about Earth (for the [[The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (travel guide)|Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy]] before it was destroyed, which was edited down to the point where all it said was "Mostly Harmless", has suddenly reappeared in its entirety in his copy of the Guide. Intrigued, he hikes to Earth on a ship commanded by a Giant Robot. Once seeing that Earth again exists, Ford runs into Arthur and Fenchurch, who have decided to go to the location of [[God]]'s Final Message to Creation, as revealed to Arthur by [[Prak]] at the end of ''[[Life, the Universe and Everything]]''. They board the ship Ford arrived on and go to the spot, where it has become a major tourist attraction. Arthur comes across [[Marvin]], who, because of the various time travel he's been through, is now many times older than the [[Universe]] itself. Marvin reads the far-away message with the help of Arthur and Fenchurch ("We apologise for the inconvenience"), amazingly says that he feels good about it, and promptly dies in Arthur's arms.
 ==Dedication==
@@ Line 45: / Line 46: @@
 *[[Lajestic Vantrashell of Lob]]
 *[[Marvin]]
+*[[Zarquon]] (mentioned)
 *[[Non-Wonder Dog]] (mentioned)
 *[[John Ainsworth]] (mentioned)
@@ Line 56: / Line 58: @@
 *[[Trillian Astra]] (mentioned)
 *[[Mella]] (mentioned)
-*[[Isleworth]] (mentiioned)
+*[[Isleworth]] (mentioned)
 *[[Richmond]] (mentioned)
 *[[David Bowie]] (mentioned)
@@ Line 80: / Line 82: @@
 ===Places===
-*[[Earth]]
+*'''[[Earth]]'''
 *[[Han Dold City]]
 *[[Old Pink Dog Bar]]
-*[[Horse and Groom]]
+*[[The Horse and Groom]]
 *[[Arthur Dent's House]]
-*[[Sesefras Magna]]
+*'''[[Sesefras Magna]]'''
-*[[Epun]]
+*'''[[Epun]]'''
 *[[Taunton]]
 *[[Los Angeles]]
@@ Line 92: / Line 94: @@
 *[[Islington]]
 *[[Hyde Park]]
-*[[Xaxis]]
+*'''[[Xaxis]]'''
-*[[Preliumtarn]]
+*'''[[Preliumtarn]] '''
 *[[Denmark]] (mentioned)
 *[[Rickmansworth]] (mentioned)
 *[[Bournemouth]] (mentioned)
-*[[Flargathon]] (mentioned)
+*'''[[Flargathon]]''' (mentioned)
-*[[Mars]] (mentioned)
+*'''[[Mars]]''' (mentioned)
-*[[Venus]] (mentioned)
+*'''[[Venus]]''' (mentioned)
-*[[Zirzla]] (mentioned)
+*'''[[Zirzla]]''' (mentioned)
-*[[Kakrafoon Kappa]] (mentioned)
+*'''[[Kakrafoon Kappa]]''' (mentioned)
-*[[Santraginus V]] (mentioned)
+*'''[[Santraginus V]]''' (mentioned)
-*[[Jaglan Beta]] (mentioned)
+*'''[[Jaglan Beta]]''' (mentioned)
 *[[Brequinda on the Foth of Avalars]] (mentioned)
-*[[Sqornshellous Beta]] (mentioned)
+*'''[[Sqornshellous|Sqornshellous Beta]]''' (mentioned)
-*[[Sqornshellous Zeta]] (mentioned)
+*'''[[Sqornshellous Zeta]]''' (mentioned)
-*[[Eroticon VI]] (mentioned)
+*'''[[Eroticon VI]]''' (mentioned)
-*[[Krikkit]] (mentioned)
+*'''[[Krikkit]]''' (mentioned)
-*[[Golgafrincham]] (mentioned)
+*'''[[Golgafrincham]]''' (mentioned)
-*[[Stegbartle Major]] (mentioned)
+*'''[[Stegbartle Major]]''' (mentioned)
 *[[Letchworth]] (mentioned)
-*[[Betelgeuse]] (mentioned)
+*'''[[Betelgeuse]]''' (mentioned)
 ===Races and species===
@@ Line 122: / Line 124: @@
 *[[Xaxisian]] (mentioned)
 *[[Fuolornis Fire Dragon]] (mentioned)
-*[[Mattress]] (mentioned)
+*[[Mattresses]] (mentioned)
 *[[Golgafrinchan (race)|Golgafrinchan]]
 *[[Greater Drubbered Wintwock]] (mentioned)
 ===Publications===
+''(To be added)''
-{{Hitchhikers}}
 [[Category:Series Books]]
 [[Category:Books written by Douglas Adams]]