In the novel The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the Vogons were an extremely bureaucratic and officious race of aliens. They were responsible for the destruction of Earth to make way for a hyperspace bypass. When Ford Prefect and Arthur Dent were captured by the Vogons, Ford attempted to bribe the Vogon guard by humming the "Entry of the Gladiators". The Vogon guard was not impressed and eventually threw Ford and Arthur into the airlock.