Study Guide

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Chapter 21

By Douglas Adams

Chapter 21

Meanwhile, Arthur wastes time by reading the Hitchhiker's Guide. There's a crazy story about a young genius who got obsessed—after a night of drinking with Zaphod—with the question of where lost ballpoint pens go. If you have a British version of this book, they use the term "biro." Why? That's one of the mysteries of the universe—and they say the same thing about us.
So this genius, Veet Voojagig, comes up a theory about a planet where ballpoint pens live. He claims that he lived and worked there for a while, which no one believes.
But (ba-dum-dum) Zaphod does have a used ballpoint pen business…
Arthur tries to talk to Marvin, but that's even more a waste of time, since Marvin only has depressing things to say.
So Arthur goes on a walk and almost bumps into an old man.