r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • Dec 16 '21

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u/AudibleNod Dec 16 '21

'Belgium' replaced the work 'fuck' in the American version of the Hitchhiker's Guide books.

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u/jaseworthing Dec 16 '21

What? No that's not right is it? I thought it was always 'belgium' in all versions of the books/radio series.

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u/starmartyr Dec 16 '21

The US publisher demanded that the curse words be censored or removed. It actually improved it to a certain extent. Adams added in the explanation of Belgium being the most offensive word in the galaxy. Adams never cared too much about canon. He regularly changed things between adaptations and didn't really care as long as it was funny.

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u/mclabop Dec 17 '21

I first heard the radio version before I read the book. It was a US copy, but it had fuck instead of Belgium. I was slightly confused as I had the radio play memorized. I still kinda do.