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.

Zarquon

Zarquon is a legendary prophet. He is apparently worshipped or held in some religious significance by one or more of the Galaxy's major religions. His name, like that of Jesus on Earth, is frequently invoked as an expletive of surprise, anger, or awe. An apparently short form, Zark, and various compounds (What in the name of zarking fardwarks...) is also frequently used in the books.

Related Topics:
Prophet - Jesus - Earth

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Exactly what Zarquon taught is unclear; most of the Zarquon mythos centres around a prophesied Second Coming of the Great Prophet Zarquon, although this is often invoked in the sense of "never" (like, "when hell freezes over"). Zarquon's second coming does actually occur—at The Restaurant at the End of the Universe. Since the said restaurant occurs an infinite number of times at the end of the universe, due to a specially created time-loop, Zarquon's impossible appearance at the restaurant became finitely improbable, and therefore happens just before the universe ends.

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The second coming is not particularly spectacular, and Zarquon turns out to be a bit distracted and hurried when he arrives. He had a lot of things to do, and apologizes for being late, but disappears before he can say much because the Universe ends.

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"Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish" is an expletive phrase used, but not explained, by Zaphod Beeblebrox when he faces extreme danger.

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He appears in the radio series in Fit the Fifth, where he is voiced by Anthony Sharp, and in the book The Restaurant at the End of the Universe. In the television series he appears in Episode Five, and is played by Colin Bennett.

Related Topics:
Fit the Fifth - Anthony Sharp - The Restaurant at the End of the Universe - Episode Five - Colin Bennett

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He returns in the adaptation of Mostly Harmless to radio, The Quintessential Phase, despite not appearing in that book. This happens along with two other characters who originally appeared in the Milliways scene, Max Quordlepleen, and Thor. He was played by William Franklyn, the new voice of the Book.

Related Topics:
Mostly Harmless - The Quintessential Phase - Max Quordlepleen - Thor - William Franklyn

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