This competition has now been closed and the winners will be notified shortly.

You've seen the film, you've heard the radio series, now...read the book. Well, the books - we've got three sets of the American reissue of Douglas Adams's Hitchhiker's Trilogy (which, of course, comprises five books) to give away.

To be in with a chance of winning one of the sets, we'd like you to show us what you think a babel fish looks like.

It strikes many people as odd that, in science fiction, most aliens speak English. Why would they, when not even most humans do? Douglas Adams got around this issue by creating the babel fish, a small, orange, leechlike being that miraculously translates every language and makes it easy for anyone to understand Vogon, Dentrassi or even Cockney.

Obviously, the radio series and books don't show us what the creatures look like, though the TV series and movie have a go at capturing possible likenesses. Let your imagination run riot!

In order to enter, please send your graphics either via email to h2g2team AT bbc DOT co DOT uk or via snail mail to:

h2g2 Babelfish Competition,

h2g2 Team,

BC4 D4 Broadcast Centre,

White City,
London W12 7TP

If posted, graphics should be no bigger than A5 (half a sheet of A4) and all submissions should be accompanied by the name, age, email and full postal address of the artist. Any that we receive that don't have this information will have to be discounted. Please ensure your entry reaches us by 31 May, 2005.

The first three winners will get all five books from the trilogy: The Hitchhiker'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 and Mostly Harmless. Fourteen runners-up will receive a copy of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy; both versions contain a special 92-page bonus section on the making of the Hitchhiker's film.

Good luck!

h2g2 Competition Rules

• Graphics must be your own work.

• If you are under the age of 16, you must obtain permission from your parent/guardian before entering. Competition is open to UK residents only. You do not have to be a registered member of h2g2 to enter.

• The closing date for this competition is 31 May, 2005. Submissions received after this date will not qualify for the competition.

• You must provide the BBC with your name, age and email address if you wish to enter this competition. The BBC and its agents will only ever use your personal details for the purposes of administering this competition, and will not publish them or provide them to anyone outside of the competition without your permission. Please read the BBC's Privacy Policy if you want to know more.

• By entering the competition, you grant the BBC a non-exclusive licence to use your submission. What that means is that you retain the copyright to your work, but you're giving us permission to publish it. For more information, read our Terms and Conditions.

• Prizes must be taken as stated and cannot be deferred and there will be no cash alternatives.

• The Producers do not accept any responsibility for late or lost entries due to the Internet. Proof of sending is not proof of receipt.

• Entrants must supply full details as required above, and comply with all rules to be eligible for the prizes. No responsibility is accepted for ineligible entries or entries made fraudulently.

• This competition is not open to employees or contractors of the BBC or any person directly or indirectly involved in the organisation or running of the competition, or their direct family members.

• The Producer's decision is final in every situation including any not covered above and no correspondence will be entered into.

• The Producers reserve the right to cancel the competition at any stage, if deemed necessary in their opinion, and if circumstances arise outside of their control.

• Entrants will be deemed to have accepted these rules and to agree to be bound by them when entering this competition.

• This agreement is governed by the laws of England and Wales.