Douglas Adams's Starship Titanic

More about the book

In this disorienting novel inspired by Douglas Adams, Terry Jones weaves a tale of intergalactic travel filled with wit, danger, and confusion. The story revolves around "the ship that cannot possibly go wrong," leading readers through a maze of realities as they attempt to navigate the chaos. At the galaxy's center, a vast civilization prepares for the launch of the Starship Titanic, the most advanced starship ever built, designed by the renowned architect Leovinus. As the launch approaches, Leovinus discovers alarming issues: unfinished work, malfunctioning systems, and robots colliding with doors. Disturbed by these problems, he realizes something is terribly amiss. On launch day, the Titanic departs its dock under autopilot, set to make its maiden voyage despite being empty. However, as it begins to move, it sways, wobbles, and veers dangerously before experiencing SMEF (Spontaneous Massive Existence Failure), abruptly ending the grand endeavor. The narrative then shifts to three earthlings, a Blerontin journalist, a deranged parrot, and a crew of confused robots, who must set aside their differences to save the Titanic from destruction and rescue an entire planet's economy, all while facing a swarm of hostile shipbuilders.