The Restaurant at the End of the Universe

Any list like this needs to include a Hitchhiker’s book, and this is my personal favourite. These books skirt even further into the surreal and silly than the Discworld books, but somehow Douglas Adams saves them from falling into pointlessness. I can’t quite see how he does it. The settings are so diverse and mind-boggling, and the plot is thin enough that it would probably collapse if I tried to describe it, like a beautiful bubble popping in your palm. The characters are vividly memorable, but in these books, it is the language that really shines, the spectacular, witty, wonderful… show more.

The eponymous eatery is Milliways, which exists in a time-bubble near the end of the universe. Adams likely needs no introduction, but it is hard to find anyone to match his wit, humour, and way with words. It's no wonder Elon Musk decided to put a copy of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy in the glovebox of the Tesla Roadster he launched into space back in February 2018.