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.

Random Dent

A disillusioned teenager and the in-vitro progeny of Arthur Dent and Tricia McMillan, Random Frequent Flyer Dent is left in her father's care by her mother during the narrative of Mostly Harmless. She befriends the new, extremely sinister version of the Hitchhiker's Guide, in its guise as a Poe-reminiscent black bird. Apparently inheriting her father's chaotic influence on the universe, she becomes indirectly responsible for the destruction of all possible Earths.

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Early in Mostly Harmless, Random's father, Arthur, travels from planet to planet by donating to "DNA banks". At first he donates hair, nail clippings, and the like, but he finds that for semen, he can travel first class. This is both Random's origin (Trillian originally thought the donor was anonymous before realizing who the only other remaining human in the Universe was) and most likely the reason for her middle names.

Related Topics:
Mostly Harmless - Arthur - Trillian

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Appears in:

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• Mostly Harmless

In the final radio series, The Quintessential Phase adapted from Mostly Harmless, she is played by Samantha Béart (formerly known as Sam Burke).

Related Topics:
The Quintessential Phase - Mostly Harmless - Samantha Béart - Sam Burke

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