Arthur is an ordinary Englishman who survived the destruction of Earth and now travels the galaxy with his alien friend Ford Prefect. He frequently finds himself marginalized in a confusing, highly complex universe that he struggles to understand. Despite his lack of cosmic knowledge, his perspective often provides a grounding contrast to the absurdity around him.

Zaphod is the former President of the Galaxy, a notorious thief, and an egotistical adventurer. He deliberately lobotomized part of his own brain to hide his true plans from himself and figures of authority. He operates on instinctive suggestions from this locked-away mind, propelling him toward a mysterious goal involving the true Ruler of the Universe.

Ford is a galactic hitchhiker and researcher for *The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy*. He serves as Arthur's essential guide through the strange and hostile universe. He possesses superior knowledge of cosmic workings compared to his human friend but is prone to feelings of helplessness when galactic events spiral out of his control.

Marvin is a highly intelligent robot built with Genuine People Personalities technology, which gives him severe depression and existential dread. He possesses an immense intellect but is constantly ignored, abandoned, or assigned menial tasks by his companions. His cynical view of the universe often proves correct.

Zarniwoop is the editor of *The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy*, working at the Megadodo Publications headquarters on Ursa Minor Beta. He insulates himself from the complaints of disgruntled hitchhikers by working from within a virtual universe in his office. He represents institutional knowledge and the corporate capitalization of the Guide.

Gargravarr is the custodian of the Total Perspective Vortex, tasked with subjecting victims to a machine that annihilates their minds. He approaches his grim duties with bureaucratic resignation and politeness. He is currently a disembodied mind undergoing a legal trial separation from his own physical body, which causes him significant personal distress.

Trillian is a human who left Earth with Zaphod Beeblebrox six months before the planet's destruction. She travels aboard the Heart of Gold and often finds herself caught between Arthur's complete lack of cosmic knowledge and Zaphod and Ford's reckless alien behavior. She frequently waits in the dark for her companions to formulate a plan.

Gag Halfrunt is a prominent psychiatrist representing a consortium of his colleagues. He bribes the Vogons to destroy Earth and its survivors to protect the lucrative psychiatric profession, fearing that the discovery of the Ultimate Answer would eliminate the need for his services.

Captain Jeltz is the leader of the Vogon fleet. He is heavily bureaucratic, simple-minded, and easily corrupted. He happily takes bribes from Gag Halfrunt to eliminate the last surviving humans without questioning the morality of his actions.

The spirit of Zaphod's great-grandfather, he is summoned to help the crew escape the Vogons. He is highly critical of his great-grandson's lifestyle and forces him to pursue the search for the true Ruler of the Universe.

Roosta is a hitchhiker who carries a nasty old flowery towel and assists Zaphod at Megadodo Publications. He is part of a complex conspiracy that Zaphod helped organize but has since forgotten.

Hotblack is a member of the loudest rock band in the universe, Disaster Area. He ignores his old acquaintance Ford at the restaurant because he is spending a year legally dead for tax reasons.

The Captain of the Golgafrinchan Ark Fleet Ship B spends years luxuriating in a bath instead of governing his vessel. He commands a ship filled with middle managers, hairdressers, and telephone sanitizers who were tricked into leaving their home planet.

An officer aboard Ark Fleet Ship B who takes his military duties seriously. He is frustrated by his Captain's relaxed demeanor and eager to interrogate prisoners.

The true ruler of the Universe is a tall, shambling man living in a small house with his cat. He possesses no ego, does not believe in anything he cannot immediately see, and has no idea of his cosmic importance, making him the exact opposite of the Galactic President.