If "the answer to everything is 42", the author refuses to further explain his reason for choosing such a number.
It was for comedic effect, and given that he is dead, he is not really refusing to explain anything.
He had the chance to do it in his book, but he didn't. And it wasn't for "comedic effect". He choose that exact number for a reason, and that particular reason can be found in a certain book written some 2000 years ago. These people know what they are doing.
I, myself, wanted to be a science-fiction writer at a certain point, and I understand pretty well the reason behind these seemingly random symbols.
He had the chance to do it in his book, but he didn't. And it wasn't for "comedic effect". He choose that exact number for a reason, and that particular reason can be found in a certain book written some 2000 years ago. These people know what they are doing.
I, myself, wanted to be a science-fiction writer at a certain point, and I understand pretty well the reason behind these seemingly random symbols.