quick question about 42

[black&white]

"42" is a name on the tracklist so it will be/is one of coldplay's new songs.

but in past threads, it was mentioned that the number 42 is important as described in the hitch hikers guide to the galaxy?

someone please explain this, as i have borrowed the book from someone and still not have read it and wondering what i should be looking for.

ANY help greatly appreciated!!!

[coldpatrix]

42 it seems the answer to the mystery of live and everything on the earth, according to that novel...

That same novel influenced Don't Panic and the robot of Talk video, so this time '42' could be influenced by the same source...

[pyost]

A quote from Wikipedia is just what you need ;)

 

 

In The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (published in 1979), the characters visit the legendary planet Magrathea, home to the now-collapsed planet building industry, and meet Slartibartfast, a planetary coastline designer who was responsible for the fjords of Norway. Through archival recordings, he relates the story of a race of hyper-intelligent pan-dimensional beings who built a computer named Deep Thought to calculate the answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything. When the answer was revealed as 42, Deep Thought predicts that another computer, more powerful than itself would be made and designed by it to calculate the question for the answer.

 

[black&white]

THANKS!

I guess I must read the book then. :)

[Black Rose]

Or watch the 2004 film

 

 

42 is the Answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything, although the computer never knew the ulitmate question to which the answer was 42

[Space Cadet]

It's also one of the evil numbers on Lost (4,8,15,16,23,42) most likely in homage to Douglas Adams.

 

Speaking of who (no pun intended), in one of those weird timing things, I just came across this: :uneasy: :freak: :laugh3:

 

[black&white]

To whom it may concern...

 

As stated above, i read the book. I just the first part: "The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy", not the rest of "the triology in five parts". I jotted down some Coldplay-esque things i picked up on. They may be meaningless, but they nevertheless are coldplay-y. =):

 

1. DON'T PANIC

2. 42

3. The colour yellow (Vorgon ships are huge yellow balls)

4. The word "Technicolor" is mentioned in the book ("Life in Technicolor")

5. The whole deserted planet thing and coldplay stepping out of the spaceship hatchway in the Talk video could relate to the planet of Magrathea in the book? Also, Coldpatrix said the robot in Talk was inspired from the book somehow?

6. The word "Prospect" is mentioned in the book

7. Norway is mentioned in the book (The Norwegian Live EP? lol)

8. It was mentioned in a sentance in the book that "time is not a concern" - Amsterdam style. =)

9. An ODE is featured in the book (Coldplay wanted to make their own strange ode?: Ode to Deoderant?)

10. The word "Parachutes" is in the book as it is mentioned that, I think it was, "500 completely naked women floated down onto the planet by parachutes." lol.

11. Earth being mentioned in the Guide to the Galaxy as "Harmless"

 

The above statements are grasping at straws, but apart from Coldplay-ness, The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a very good novel. It is confusing, somewhat scientific and philosophical, and very funny and entertaining. I usually don't like reading "funny" books, but the story is neat and I can try wrapping my head around the concepts and ideas and secrets of the book for a while. I'm still confused by it even having finished reading it. I reccommend this book! (Like always, Chris Martin proves his good taste! =)

[chuck kottke]

I recall that when the Earth was being made, there were some experts carving the stone cliffs of the Fjords in the area which would become Norway..:laugh3: But yes, Douglas Adams is an excellent author, I would definitely recommend it to anyone who isn't a Vogon.;)

[pyost]

Also, Coldpatrix said the robot in Talk was inspired from the book somehow?

 

Marvin, the paranoid android, from the 1981. TV series:

 

 

Talk robot:

 

 

Could be, could be :)

[Famous Old Painter]

According to the novel Earth was made as a calculator to come up with the question of life the universe and everything to go with 42, so something on Earth would have to come up with it.

 

Perhaps with the new Coldplay single is the question has finally been revealed! :shocked2:

[Batman]

^Who knows, but it would be freakin' awesome!!:lol::o

[RunForTheHills]

According to the novel Earth was made as a calculator to come up with the question of life the universe and everything to go with 42, so something on Earth would have to come up with it.

 

Perhaps with the new Coldplay single is the question has finally been revealed! :shocked2:

I think you might be onto something there, haha!

[ApproximatelyInfinite]

i love that one of my favorite books has such coldplay references! radiohead as well (paranoid android, ok computer).

 

i really hope that the lyrics to 42 have something to do with the meaning of life or whatever. i love connections between things like coldplay and THGTTG!

[Open-Politik]

Now i need to watch the film and read the book. Meh, at least it gives me something to do before Coldplays 4th album will come out.