I was disappointed by this book. The previous Hitchhiker's books set a very high bar, and the humor in this one falls flat for me. Additionally, the seemingly constant "guide note" interjections are just plain annoying. Overall, I didn't like this one.
A Von Neumann probe is an automated self replicating machine which is sent into space to map and possibly prepare for human exploration. What would happen if we were the victims of someone else's Von Neumann probes run amuck? This book is typical Ringo in that it is about an apocalyptic invasion from outer space, and you just know that most of the worlds population is going to die. However, the book is also exceptionally detailed in its handling of rocketry, and the science behind finding out more about the incoming threat is very well done. Overall and good book that I enjoyed, although the end is definitely fishing for a sequel. [isbn: 1416555307;9781416555308]