Minor characters from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

There are many minor characters in the various versions of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams. In fact, defining a major character is rather difficult. If the major characters are those the plot focuses on, they are Arthur Dent, Ford Prefect, Zaphod Beeblebrox, Marvin and Trillian, with the possible inclusion of Slartibartfast, Prostentic Vogon Jeltz, Random Dent and Fenchurch. If they are defined as characters appearing in all the books, they are only Ford Prefect and Arthur Dent. In this case, the definition of major characters will be those in the series with major plot significance not appearing on this list.

Hactar

Hactar was the first computer in which its individual parts reflected the pattern of the whole, much like an organic brain, allowing it to be much more flexible and imaginative. Hactar is first mentioned in connection with the Silastic Armorfiends, a violent and warlike race. At one point, the Silastic Armorfiends ask Hactar to design the "Ultimate Weapon", which resulted in a bomb that would connect every major sun in the universe through a hyperspace junction, causing every star to go supernova. Hactar is shocked – thereby becoming the first computer ever to be shocked. Hactar builds the supernova bomb, but deliberately includes a small defect in it. When the Armorfiends find out, they are so incensed that they pulverize Hactar (then go on to find new ways to pulverize each other).

Related Topics:
Computer - Brain - Silastic Armorfiends - Sun - Universe - Star - Supernova

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However, because each pulverized bit of Hactar contains the pattern of the whole, he is eventually able to pull himself together in the form of a debris cloud surrounding Krikkit. Hactar eventually decides to use what little influence he has, over æons, to make up for his insubordination. He creates a new client by isolating the inhabitants of Krikkit, making them think they are the only living creatures in the universe. Upon discovering the rest of the universe, they cannot comprehend it, and their view of the world demands that they destroy it. Hactar slips them the design for his ultimate weapon, but they build it incorrectly. After an incredibly long and bloody galactic war, Judiciary Pag banishes Krikkit to an envelope of "Slo-Time" to be released after the rest of the universe ends. But Hactar has managed to build a presumably functional bomb (in the shape of a cricket ball), and slips it to Arthur before being dissipated when our heroes follow the sole surviving Krikkit warship and fail to prevent it from releasing the lock on the Slo-Time envelope. Arthur accidentally saves the Universe again by being an abysmally poor cricket bowler.

Related Topics:
Krikkit

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Appears in:

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• Life, the Universe, and Everything

He is played on radio first by Geoffrey McGivern, in a flashback for which McGivern is not credited during Fit the Seventeenth. He is then voiced by Leslie Phillips, appearing again in Fit the Eighteenth.

Related Topics:
Geoffrey McGivern - Fit the Seventeenth - Leslie Phillips - Fit the Eighteenth

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