Cat's Cradle

Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut

Cat's Cradle is one of Vonnegut's better books. The audiobook also includes a brief interview with the author, though that does not add much to the book. 

The story centers around an author who is trying to write a book about the experience of the nuclear bomb. He contacts the children of the scientist behind the bomb and asks what their experience was when the bomb went off. He received responses and got to know the family better. We learn that the scientist was a rather peculiar man. His wife and children also had their strange traits. The scientist had also been asked by the marines to invent something so they would not have to fight in mud. He had actually done it, though he had not widely shared it. This was "ice-9" a substance that is a "seed" that changes the crystallization and melting point of water, and can pretty much caused instantaneous freezing. Each of his children had a small amount. This would lead to the end of the world. 

The novel also ventures off to a nation where all religion is banned, especially the "national" religion. This religion is quite quirky and extremely contradictory. The leader of the company is on his death bed and a seemingly random outsider is asked to be leader. Leadership pays well and comes with dictatorial responsibilities, but nobody wants it. However, the old leader dies with ice-9 and most of the world gets iced over. The few survivors can survive by melting off ice.

There is some crazy science here (which is not fully explained) as well as plenty of social commentary, and just plaine zaniness.

Welcome to the Monkey House

Welcome to the Monkey House by Kurt Vonnegut (Wikipedia)

This collection of Vonnegut short stories expressed many of the concerns of the day. The "modernization" of society and sexual revolution are key concerns. The titular story deals with a means of birth control that "numbs" people from the waist down to prevent excess reproduction (as an alternative to birth control.) 

Other ones that stuck was a story about a man with a lot of inherited wealth that lived as a pauper. He didn't want to use his wealth because working as a jazz pianist at a dive club provided him great joy. Another was about an anti-agining serum and a family that fought against each other in regards to the constantly changing will of grandpa.

There are a number of interesting stories in the collection. Vonnegut was a great short story writing.

Breakfast of Champions

Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut

This book takes a few moments to acknowledge that Breakfast of Champions is a trademark of the cereal company. It them spends a lot of time on the ruminations of a dirty old mind. Kilgore Trout appears as do aliens. The idiosyncrasies of what people think is important or offensive all come in to play as Vonnegut tries to push people's buttons. There is a plot here about a car dealer that believes Trout's science fiction is true. However, it feels like the plot is just a vehicle for different bits of satire and observations. 

The Kurt Vonnegut Jr. Audio Collection

The Kurt Vonnegut Jr. Audio Collection by Kurt Vonnegut

This audio collection has a few short selections from Vonnegut's popular books read by Vonnegut himself. He does a good job of reading the books and gives you a feel for the books. However, other than the Welcome to the Monkey House stories, these are just excerpts. 

TimeQuake

Timequake by Kurt Vonnegut

TimeQuake is a combination of a science fiction short story and autobiographical memories. It sort of fits together. A timequake itself is some weird time behavior, something like an earthquake. Planes fall from the sky. You may need to repeat something that happened previous. It is like Groundhog Day, except freewill dissapears. It feels like an interesting concept, but it didn't seem fully fleshed out. (I didn't quite get why there would be death and catastrophe.) Vonnegut also plays with his "alter ego" as well as his real life and family. After reading other books by and about him, the autobiographical parts made a lot of sense and it was fairly easy to tease those apart from the pure fiction. The book feels like it was fun to write. It is quite interesting, but didn't quite cohere into a complete work. 

Player Piano: A Novel

Player Piano: A Novel by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

This is a "futuristic" story written 70 years ago. Machines have taken over much of society. People have many creature comforts, but life is fairly regulated. 

I got pretty lost in the plot, but found many of the random bits to be amusing. In one discussion, we learn that authors have to get their works adopted by the appropriate book clubs with their many members. An author that didn't do what he was supposed to failed to achieve the appropriate position and thus left his family on the lurch. Seems prescient as to mass media today.

In another bit, the Cornel football team is discussed in depth. The team has been providing huge amounts of revenue for the school and wants to have more money to invest in itself.  As for football players going to school? Well, there just isn't time for that anymore. Maybe in past days it would be possible. Vonnegut would not be surprised at all with what college football has become today.

Armageddon in Retrospect

Armageddon in Retrospect by Kurt Vonnegut

This is a collection of short writings by Vonnegut. There are speeches he gave, short essays and a few works of fiction. There are bits about Germany, including activities done by the soldiers there. In one story, there is a soldier that always seems to get more than others. He goes and tries to take the dog tags of the narrator to not be charged as a collaborator. Eventually, it becomes clear that he is likely to shoot the narrator. Next thing you know it, he ends up dead. And then we learn that he was likely a spy after all. There titular story is the longest. The entire world gets caught up in an exercise to capture the devil. Then some countries start blaming others, leading to the dissolution of the effort. The scientist behind it is the one "caught" in an area separated from the devil. All the writings show his characteristic wit and are easily accessible and well narrated.

Pity the Reader: On Writing with Style

Pity the Reader: On Writing with Style by Suzanne McConnell and Kurt Vonnegut

While Vonnegut is given a credit on this book on writing, it is more of a hagiography written by one of his followers. Suzanne McConnell took a class from him while he was teaching in Iowa. She loved his style and instruction. This book provides tidbits of Vonnegut's writing advice interspersed with writings.  The advice seems to be filled with as many "rules" as it is with breaking those rules. Writing is hard work. Especially today, there are few chances of monetary rewards. Writing can be a great source of personal joy, even if it never produces riches.