Slaughterhouse-Five Book Review

by The Wanderer

Author: Kurt Vonnegut
Publisher: Delacorte
Genre: Literary Science Fiction, Humor
Series: Standalone
Pages: 215

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Slaughterhouse-Five has spawned a number of classic phrases and expressions such as “poo-tee-weet,” an expression said by birds in the novel that has come to represent the lack of intelligent dialogue that could ever be said about war.   “So it goes,” is another Vonnegut phrase that is associated with this book, as that expression is used after every single death, whether it be physical or metaphorical, in the novel.

Besides its cultural impact, Slaughterhouse-Five contains profound wisdom and haunting real-life experiences that give readers insight to the horrors of war.  The book also combines two genres that seemingly have nothing to do with one another (science fiction and autobiography) in a way that has a profound emotional impact on readers.  Slaughterhouse-Five is not just a great science fiction book, it is one of the greatest books ever written.

The Sirens of Titan Book Review

by The Wanderer

Author: Kurt Vonnegut
Publisher: Delacorte
Genre: Literary Science Fiction, Humor
Series: Standalone
Pages: 336

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The book that first garnered Kurt Vonnegut literary fame, The Sirens of Titan is a satirical science fiction novel that explores the meaning (or meaninglessness) of life. Vonnegut’s story is heavy on the science fiction element, but it’s primarily used to advances his beliefs about the world and humanity, rather than make predictions about the future.

This is a fast moving book with a lot of changes that are often abrupt, but not disruptive. The setting shifts frequently from Earth, Mars, Mercury, and Titan, a moon that is orbiting Saturn, all in a book that is under 400 pages.  The characters often change as frequently as the setting does, making the novel difficult to follow at times.

Vonnegut’s trademark satire is on point and it is horribly hilarious while he lampoons humanities beliefs in existence, religion, and wealth.  A classic in both literary and science fiction, The Sirens of Titan is a punch to the gut that you can laugh about.