Chapter 17 Summary

As yet, the characters don't know they are about to be attacked by missiles, so Arthur finds a Nutri-Matic machine where he gets a cup of something that is almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea. Just then a recorded message is broadcast from the planet, politely inviting them to leave. As they continue their approach (since Zaphod doesn't believe anything will happen) the messages become more insistent until the last finally informs the visitors (very politely) that they are about to be killed by missiles. Unable to outmaneuver the missiles, the occupants of the Heart of Gold naturally assume they are about to die. Fortunately, Arthur has the brilliant notion of using the Improbability Drive, and flips it on. The author then tells us that, "The next thing that happened was a mind-mangling explosion of noise and light."

Chapter 17 Analysis

Arthur is...