The best book I have ever read, was Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams! I was 13 years old, it opened my mind to a whole new level of narrative description. I was already a sc-fi fan and something of a science nerd, but the story as unfolded, the humor mixed with huge philosophical and quantum physics was mind blowing, and inspired a lifelong study. Harvey dent was a shlub in the suburbs of england whose house was scheduled for demolition to place a highway bypass. In an unexpected turn of events the earth was also scheduled for demolition to build a galactic bypass! Aurthur is saved by his drinking buddy who also happens to be an alien and they go on a fantastic journey through the galaxy with a guide containing all the information collected in the universe, The Hitchhikers guide... to help them on there way.

It became a series including, "Restaurant at the End of the Universe" and "So Long and Thanks for all the Fish." It has been made into two movies neither of which were able to capture the dry wit and tone of the book. If you have never read this book I can't recommend it enough.