Chapter 28 Summary

Arthur is still in the Sens-O-Tape record, and he notices the crowd does not like the answer at all. The computer realizes this as well, and justifies itself by saying the problem isn't with the answer, it's the question. He says once they figure out what the question actually is, they'll know what the answer means. Unfortunately, Deep Thought – though he is a very advanced computer – is not advanced enough to work the question out for them. But he offers to design a greater computer than himself. "A computer of such infinite and subtle complexity that organic life itself shall form part of its operational matrix." The computer, he tells them, will be called "The Earth," and they themselves will take on new forms and go down to navigate the ten-million-year program.

Chapter 28 Analysis

Now Arthur gets it, and so do we. Earth...