The number 42 in the “Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy” books (and movies), was just a joke. The Author Douglas Adams answered this in a netmeeting with Norwegian daily newspaper Dagbladet in 1999.
“I have officially retired from the business of explaining what I meant by 42. It was just a joke. End of story.”, says Douglas in the netmeeting. Douglas also answers why he has a “thing” for Norway: “You live here. You tell me.”.