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Don't Panic
Neil Gaiman

Don't Panic

Quick Answer

Start with "Don't Panic" to begin the Non-Fiction. It is the essential series starter and provides the necessary foundation for the rest of the books.

Quick Verdict

🟡 Optional side story — not required for main plot

❓ Can I skip this book?
✅ Yes — Optional

This is a companion work that enriches the lore but is not strictly necessary to follow the main plot.

Verdict Insight: This is the essential series starter that introduces the Neil Gaiman's core world and character arcs. It is required reading for all new fans.

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1988182 ppNovellaOptional Side StorySeries Starter
'It's all absolutely devastatingly true -- except the bits that are lies' **Douglas Adams** *Don't Panic* celebrates the life of an ape-descended human called Douglas Adams who, in a field in Innsbruck in 1971, had an idea. This is also the story of what that idea became: *The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy* -- the original radio series which started it all, and the five book 'trilogy', the TV series, almost-film, computer game, towel and website that followed. Acclaimed author Neil Gaiman also tells the whole story of Liff, the Universe of Dick Gently, and everything else Douglas ever worked on, including his posthumous collection *The Salmon of Doubt*. As Douglas himself said, it is 'certainly the most outstandingly brilliant book to have been written about *The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy* since this morning.' **Completely updated, with a new foreword by Neil Gaiman** This description comes from the 2003 Titan Books edition.

Series Order Complete! 🎉

You have reached the latest record for this series guide.

Complete Series Reading Order

Publication Order

Preserves character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended.

Chronological Order

May spoil surprises but improves timeline clarity for deep lore fans.

Order Confidence

high Confidence

Why this order?

Our team of curators analyzes publication history, author interviews, and internal narrative continuity to establish the definitive reading sequence. This ensures zero spoilers and maximum narrative impact.

Why This Order Is Confusing

Many reading lists for Non-Fiction conflict because early publishers often labeled short story collections as standalone novels, or rearranged internal chronologies for marketing. This guide follows original author intent and narrative continuity to settle the debate for good.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I skip reading Don't Panic?

This is a companion work that enriches the lore but is not strictly necessary to follow the main plot.

Can I read Don't Panic before other books in the series?

Yes. Don't Panic is an optional side story and can be read at any time without spoiling the main series plot.

Is Don't Panic required reading for the Non-Fiction?

No, it is a companion work that enriches the lore but is not essential to the central storyline.

What comes after Don't Panic in the reading order?

Currently, Don't Panic is the latest entry listed in our database for this series guide.