I concur with everyone saying that this puzzle is obtuse and indulgent. I’m going to start with Hitchhiker’s Guide. I had to google this because I haven't had the pleasure of reading Hitchhiker’s Guide (it’s on my list) let alone even knowing that there’s a sequel that starts with r. I just assumed that the answer was I am here and that it was an overlooked error but of course not. Secondly, I assumed that the answer was going to be some form of classic literature because that’s what the rest of the puzzle would suggest but why would it be. Lastly, I am here isn’t the opening line of this book. This book puts such an emphasis on the preamble and instruction pages that came before these pages that saying this is the start of the book is entirely disingenuous.

I like how I could tell the novels simply based off the borders, really helped with not looking up the quotes.

Technically the beginning of the book is training before the ACTUAL beginning, which is this first puzzle where *The Master Theorem* begins -- with "I am here."

:)

Decadent,

indulgent (self referential),

authority undeferential,

resoundingly

confounding,

and deliciously delightful.

Yes, clever.

The answer is actually The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, which I think is unnecessarily obtuse and self-indulgent. It is not a widely-known book unlike its prequel and is out of place in this puzzle.

no help yet

Once I solved each book and had the new first line, I said to my wife what if it is for this book I checked the beginning of the book not paying attention to the official beginning! Got there eventually.

Stumped me for a bit, anyone else start searching for "I am here" opening lines?

What a clever way to start this book

It's not the exact first words of the book, but M does start this first Theorem by saying "I am here" and then says "With these words, the story of The Master Theorem officially begins." So I think that's why it's considered the opening line of The Master Theorem.

This confuses me too. All of the clues involve the opening line of a book. But "I am here" is not the opening line of "The Master Theorem," as far as I can see.

The R is from a different book by the same author called the restaurant at the end of the universe

How was I supposed to get the letter R from the hitchhikers guide to the galaxy ?

I don’t see where it says “I am here” in the book! M! I don’t see it as the first words! Where is it?

I just realized why I couldn’t get it. I mixed up the I and the l in the Iliad I thought it looked and sounded wrong

I don’t think the first clue should count. I’d already figured that out.

It worked!

I was putting in the "I am here" first...I'll try omitting that. Thanks.

What were you typing in that didn’t work? Curious since it seems like lots of people had similar trouble. It works for me when I type in “The Master Theorem”. Note that anything else like “I am here” isn’t the final answer and won’t work.