bradm Posted June 15, 2004 Report Share Posted June 15, 2004 With the recent talk about Vonnegut, does anybody have any recommendations for someone unfamiliar with his work? Based on my current literary likes (see below), he seems one that would resonate with me. I think I tried reading "Breakfast Of Champions" in high school, and wasn't particularly impressed, but I've expanded my reading base a lot since then, to include Harlan Ellison, Samuel R. Delany, Hunter S. Thompson, Thomas Pynchon*, etc., along with a lot of the "classic" SF authors like Robert A. Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, etc. (As can be seen from those authors, my tastes run more towards SF [both as "science fiction" and "speculative fictions" than mainstream literature.) I think I'd like to start with short stories first, to get an across-the-board feel for his writing without having to invest in a full novel, but any opinions would be welcome. Aloha, Brad * Well, some Pynchon: I read "Gravity's Rainbow" and was impressed by it, and "The Crying of Lot #49" was OK, but "V" ranks as one of the worst books I've ever read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guigsy Posted June 15, 2004 Report Share Posted June 15, 2004 slaughter-house five was recommended to me, and i read it, and thought it was absolutely brilliant. he's a funny dude. now i am passing on that recommendation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snarfmaster C Posted June 15, 2004 Report Share Posted June 15, 2004 I read a collection of short stories of his that were great. Called: Welcome to the Monkey House. I'd definitely recommend that one. what's the name of the book about ice-nine and bokononism? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nellie Posted June 15, 2004 Report Share Posted June 15, 2004 anything i've read by Vonnegut has been great, but i recommend Galapogos and Slaughter-house Five... theres also some great short story books hes done nellie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stapes Posted June 15, 2004 Report Share Posted June 15, 2004 THe last one I read was "Sirens of Titan".The Sloth recomended I read this one, as a few later books have reacuring characters/concepts in them.It's exelent by the way. I can lend you my copy if you wand BradM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stapes Posted June 15, 2004 Report Share Posted June 15, 2004 what's the name of the book about ice-nine and bokononism? Cat's Cradle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyRage Posted June 15, 2004 Report Share Posted June 15, 2004 I have read all I can find of Vonnegut. My personal favorite is Slapstick. It is the most mature blend of humour and satire he wrote IMO. Slaughter House 5 is a completely different style from everything else, but a must-read. I also love his early works like Player Piano (fear technology people) and Sirens of Titan. Galapagos is another phenom, up there with Cat's Cradle. Timequake was a very late book, and I do not remember it well, but I do remember loving it.There is the big cosmic joke book too, with the time-travelling dog...I think it was Sirens of Titan....maybe not, but what a fucking well-crafted stiry. Blew my mind when I read it. Maybe it was the drugs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B & Z Posted June 15, 2004 Report Share Posted June 15, 2004 Brad, you want "Galapogos". You will piss your pants laughing about big brains, mandrax and rafts made of vegetable matter. "Bluebeard" pokes fun at the impressionists and is great too. Also you can't go wrong with "Slaughterhouse Five" ... Billy Pilgrim, unstuck in time ... Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groove Fetish Posted June 15, 2004 Report Share Posted June 15, 2004 I agree- slapstick is one of my favs, then sirens of titan, cats' cradle, Galapagos, and well- the rest are all very good but those few are certainly my favs. he is a genius of engaging writing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottieking Posted June 15, 2004 Report Share Posted June 15, 2004 My Favorites in Descending Order Slaughterhouse Five Cat's Cradle Breakfast of Champions Player Piano Bluebeard Galapogas Mother Night Welcome To the MonkeyHouse TimeQuake what am I missing? Oh Deadeye Dick God Bless You Mr Rosewater (actually this one should go further up) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis Posted June 15, 2004 Report Share Posted June 15, 2004 Fates Worse Than Death A piece of non-fiction, and as funny as any of his fiction Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jakis Posted June 16, 2004 Report Share Posted June 16, 2004 I read a collection of short stories of his that were great. Called: Welcome to the Monkey House. Get Welcome to the monkey house..i liked that one alot as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groove Fetish Posted June 16, 2004 Report Share Posted June 16, 2004 oohhh thanks scottie- I agree- and forgot about god bless you mister rosewater!- a great one. and I also recall that Bluebeard was great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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