Chapter 25 Summary

As Slartibartfast relates the story of Earth to Arthur, we learn that it all began "many many millions of years ago" when a particular race of hyper-intelligent pan-dimensional beings became determined to discover the meaning of life. They built a huge, amazingly intelligent computer called "Deep Thought," and when it was finished, its two programmers, Lunkwill and Fook sat themselves "deferentially" before it, saying: "O Deep Thought Computer….We want you to tell us the Answer." When the computer asked them to elaborate, they added, "To Life! The Universe! Everything!"

The computer admitted this would be tricky, but agreed to do it, despite the protests of two philosophers (Vroomfondel and Majikthise) who complained that if the Answer to Life were known, it would put them out of a job. Nevertheless, the computer told them its circuits were already working on it, and it...