"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," originally a radio comedy broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1978 and subsequently adapted into various formats including novels, a TV series, a computer game, and a feature film, features a rich cast of characters whose quirky adventures contribute to the story's enduring popularity. Here are brief overviews of the main characters from the series: 1. **Arthur Dent**: He is the story's protagonist, an unwittingly ordinary Earthman who becomes a hitchhiker through the galaxy when Earth is unexpectedly destroyed to make way for a hyperspace bypass. His everyman quality and reactions to the absurdity around him offer a relatable perspective for the audience. 2. **Ford Prefect**: Ford is Arthur's best friend and a researcher for the titular guidebook, "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy." Although Ford appears human, he's actually an alien from Betelgeuse who saves Arthur during Earth's demolition, setting them both off on their interstellar travels. 3. **Zaphod Beeblebrox**: The two-headed, three-armed ex-President of the Galaxy is a flamboyant and egocentric character whose reckless antics often drive the plot. He's responsible for stealing the spaceship Heart of Gold, which has an Infinite Improbability Drive that propels the characters into strange situations. 4. **Trillian (Tricia McMillan)**: Trillian is the only other human survivor of Earth's destruction, having left the planet with Zaphod before it was destroyed. Intelligent and resourceful, she often plays the straight woman to the eccentric males of the group. 5. **Marvin the Paranoid Android**: Marvin is a prototype robot aboard the Heart of Gold endowed with genuine people personalities, which turns out to be a depressingly morose and manically depressed character. His pessimistic outlook and deadpan humor provide a stark contrast to the bizarrely optimistic or indifferent universe around him. 6. **Slartibartfast**: A planetary coastline designer, Slartibartfast is best known for his award-winning work on the fjords of Norway. He introduces Arthur to the history of the galaxy and the true origin of Earth. These characters are embroiled in a series of absurdist, satirical misadventures that satirize various aspects of life, technology, and the conception of space travel and life outside Earth. Their interactions, combined with the unique sci-fi setting and wit of Douglas Adams, have cemented "The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy" as a classic of science fiction comedy.