Why 42? (Spoiler Alert)!

[PreLynMax]

Earlier this evening, I have sucessfully made my first interstellar flight to the galactic core. There I received the covert Staff of Life with 42 charges on it. Then I started pondering: Why 42? Why is the number important? Why not 43 or 54 or 1?

Edit: I noticed that the current outdoor temprature is also 42 degrees (F).

 

[JtheJackal]

Its a reference to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

 

[Rub'Rum]

And if you've never read the books (and you really should), you can see the reference in the not-so-good-but-still-alright-I-guess film adaptation... Here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aboZctrHfK8

 

[DroopyTofu]

I haven't seen the movie in a long time. Any one care to elaberate on what the reference is?

 

[Lord_Iggy]

The Ultimate Answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything is... 42.

The books revolve around the hunt for what the heck the ultimate question is.

What is 6 times 7?

 

[salty mud]

42! Hence the number on the staff!

 

[DroopyTofu]

Aah. Thank you. I think I remember that now.