Eowyn Wenhamir recommends reading the book(s) before watching the upcoming movie and old TV series. I would go one or two steps further. If you can find it, LISTEN to the recording (well, actually the re-recording) of the ORIGINAL RADIO PLAY.
tHHGttG was a BBC radio series first. I believe you can find the recording at one of those "music file sharing websites" - you know what I mean. Or your local library may have an old LP (vinyl) copy. Check with your local college or university radio station - they may have it - ask them to broadcast it - that's how I first heard it.
Failing that, the next best thing is to read
The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy
The Original Radio Scripts
by
DOUGLAS ADAMS
Edited, and with an Introduction
by Geoffrey Perkins
(who produced it)
With another introduction by
Douglas Adams,
Largely contradicting the one
by
GEOFFREY PERKINS.
Published by Pan Books, London & Sydney, 1985
ISBN 0-330-29288-9
My two parodies of tLotR in tHHGttG style can be found on this forum in
Middle-Earth Discussions > Books > If LotR had been written by someone else!? at the top of
page 2 and near the bottom of page 3.
Oh, yeah, it's spelled Slartibartfast.