20 works of upbeat science fiction to brighten your day

1. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

It seems to be a theme here that many of the pieces mentioned, no matter how optimistic or upbeat or cheerful, include some pretty traumatic events. People’s bodies don’t work, they’re captured by aliens, or they might be part of a galaxy-wide colonialist force. But what if your entire planet blows up?

That’s what happens to Arthur Dent, an unassuming British man at the center of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. It’s worth noting that The Hitchhiker’s Guide has existed in many forms. First, it was a radio broadcast on BBC4 in 1978. It’s since been adapted into novels, comics, a TV series, a video game, a stage show, and a 2005 film.

However, the plot remains basically the same throughout all versions, though author Douglas Adams was fond of rewriting sections as he saw fit. Generally speaking, Arthur Dent is a hapless man who has either the good luck or ill fortune to befriend an alien. That alien, who has named himself Ford Prefect after the car, is a writer for the eponymous Hitchhiker’s Guide.

Ford was writing an entry on Earth and its backwards inhabitants. However, the bureaucratic Vogons suddenly appear, ruining everyone’s plans. See, they’re building a new intergalactic bypass and Earth happens to be in the way. There’s nothing to do but blow up the whole planet.

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At least Ford gets his friend Arthur away before the destruction, leading to a series of strange and highly funny adventures throughout the galaxy. The pair eventually joins up with Zaphod Beeblebrox, Ford’s semi-cousin and also President of the Galaxy. Zaphod’s ship also eventually is home to Marvin the Paranoid Android (voiced by Alan Rickman in the movie) and Trillian, the only other human survivor. They are delightfully, thoroughly silly.

Here’s hoping that at least one of these upbeat sci-fi stories strikes your fancy.