Slartibartfasts

Slartibartfast is a fictional character from Douglas Adams's science fiction comedy series, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. He is a Magrathean planet designer, notable for his work on creating coastlines. His most famous creation is the coastline of Norway, for which he won an award. Slartibartfast is portrayed as a somewhat eccentric but ultimately genial individual.

He encounters the series' protagonists, Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect, on the planet Magrathea. Magrathea is a planet that was once a major industry for luxury custom-built planets. Slartibartfast explains the history of Magrathea and its role in the galaxy, particularly its involvement in the construction of Earth as a supercomputer. He reveals that Earth was commissioned by hyper-intelligent, pan-dimensional beings to determine the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything, to which the answer had already been calculated as 42.

Slartibartfast's demeanor is often characterized by a relaxed and somewhat philosophical approach to his work. He expresses a particular fondness for his Norwegian coastline designs, finding immense satisfaction in the aesthetic and practical challenges of creating such features. His character serves to further elaborate on the quirky and imaginative universe Adams created, highlighting the absurdity and grandeur of cosmic endeavors. He is a recurring figure in the series, offering insights into the galaxy's past and the nature of its inhabitants.