Chapter 11 Summary

Ford and Arthur have been picked up by the Heart of Gold; a ship which we remember from Chapter 4 has been stolen by Zaphod Beeblebrox. Zaphod tells his girlfriend, Trillian, that it probably wasn't wise to pick them up since the police are after the ship, but Trillian tells him she didn't pick them up. The ship did it, all by itself while they were in Improbability Drive. She tells Zaphod not to worry and sends the perpetually depressed robot, Marvin, down to the number two entry bay to bring them up. The robot mutters and complains the entire way, and when Ford asks which government owns the ship, he snaps that no one does. It has been stolen. Ford is shocked and amazed when the robot names Zaphod Beeblebrox as the thief.

Chapter 11 Analysis

Marvin's comedic value lies in the fact that...