From my favourite author, Douglas Adams:
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''Beeblebrox,'' he said, sticking his hands behind his head, ''have
you any idea what's going to happen to you on the Frogstar?''
''They're going to feed me?'' hazarded Zaphod hopefully.
''They're going to feed you,'' said Roosta, ''into the Total
Perspective Vortex!''
Zaphod had never heard of this. He believed that he had heard of
all the fun things in the Galaxy, so he assumed that the Total
Perspective Vortex was not fun. He asked what it was.
''Only,'' said Roosta, ''the most savage psychic torture a sentinent
being can undergo.''
Zaphod nodded a resigned nod.
''So,'' he said, ''no food, huh?''
''Listen!'' said Roosta urgently, ''you can kill a man, destroy his
body, break his spirit, but only the Total Perspective Vortex can
annihilate a man's soul! The treatment lasts seconds, but the
effect lasts the rest of your life!''
''You ever had a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster?'' asked Zaphod
sharply.
''This is worse.''
''Phreeow!'' admitted Zaphod, much impressed.
''Any idea why these guys might want to do this to me?'' he added a
moment later.
''They believe it will be the best way of destroying you for ever.
They know what you're after.''
''Could they drop me a note and let me know as well?''
''You know,'' said Roosta, ''you know, Beeblebrox. You want to meet
the man who rules the Universe.''
''Can he cook?'' said Zaphod. On reflection he added:
''I doubt if he can. If he could cook a good meal he wouldn't
worry about the rest of the Universe. I want to meet a cook.''
Roosta sighed heavily.
''What are you doing here anyway?'' demanded Zaphod, ''what's all
this got to so with you?''
''I'm just one of those who planned this thing, along with
Zarniwoop, along with Yooden Vranx, along with your great
grandfather, along with you, Beeblebrox.''
''Me?''
''Yes, you. I was told you had changed, I didn't realize how
much.''
''But ...''
''I am here to do one job. I will do it before I leave you.''
''What job, man, what are you talking about?''
''I will do it before I leave you.''
Roosta lapsed into an impenetrable silence.
Zaphod was terribly glad.
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Exotic though this behaviour may seem, there is no life form in
the Galaxy which is not in some way guilty of the same thing,
which is why the Total Perspective Vortex is as horrific as it
is.
For when you are put into the Vortex you are given just one
momentary glimpse of the entire unimaginable infinity of
creation, and somewhere in it a tiny little marker, a microscopic
dot on a microscopic dot, which says ''You are here.''
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''It ... er ... it doesn't look like any kind of Vortex to me,''
said Zaphod.
''It isn't,'' said Gargravarr, ''it's just the elevator. Enter.''
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The door of the Vortex swung open.
From his disembodied mind Gargravarr watched dejectedly. He had
rather liked Zaphod Beeblebrox in a strange sort of way. He was
clearly a man of many qualities, even if they were mostly bad
ones.
He waited for him to flop forwards out of the box, as they all
did.
Instead, he stepped out.
''Hi!'' he said.
''Beeblebrox ...'' gasped Gargravarr's mind in amazement.
''Could I have a drink please?'' said Zaphod.
''You ... you ... have been in the Vortex?'' stammered Gargravarr.
''You saw me, kid.''
''And it was working?''
''Sure was.''
''And you saw the whole infinity of creation?''
''Sure. Really neat place, you know that?''
Gargravarr's mind was reeling in astonishment. Had his body been
with him it would have sat down heavily with its mouth hanging
open.
''And you saw yourself,'' said Gargravarr, ''in relation to it all?''
''Oh, yeah, yeah.''
''But ... what did you experience?''
Zaphod shrugged smugly.
''It just told me what I knew all the time. I'm a really terrific
and great guy. Didn't I tell you, baby, I'm Zaphod Beeblebrox!''
His gaze passed over the machinery which powered the vortex and
suddenly stopped, startled.
He breathed heavily.
''Hey,'' he said, ''is that really a piece of fairy cake?''
He ripped the small piece of confectionery from the sensors with
which it was surrounded.
''If I told you how much I needed this,'' he said ravenously, ''I
wouldn't have time to eat it.''
He ate it.
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that's from his trilogy, er, his 5 books:
The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy
The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
Life, the Universe, and Everything
So long, and thanks for all the fish
Mostly harmless
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He was good with this people:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdFOgLyk6Qs 
