I awoke this morning to the sad news that groundbreaking novelist Kurt Vonnegut died Wednesday at age 84. As reported by the AP, Vonnegut's wife, photographer Jill Krementz, said the writer suffered brain injuries following a recent fall at his home in Manhattan.
Probably best-known for his books Slaughterhouse Five and Cat's Cradle, Vonnegut was truly one of the most important American writers of the 20th century, lending his distinct voice to everything from historical satire to non-traditional sci-fi and laugh-out-loud humor. In fact, I think Vonnegut's stylistic legacy is one of the most powerful influences on many of today's modern novelists.
Throughout my adult life, Vonnegut has been one of my favorite authors, and having the opportunity to hear him speak during my college years only heightened my respect for this sharp and endlessly clever man. Though I would highly recommend the more classic Vonnegut novels, my favorite books of his might be the slightly more obscure Galapagos, which tackles the theory of evolution in a thoroughly absurd way, and the darkly futuristic novel The Sirens of Titan. Any other Vonnegut fans out there? If so, tell me which of his books is your favorite.
Lanvin
Paul & Joe
Bric's
This is devastating news. Vonnegut was an insanely intelligent, relevant, and hilarious author.
1Nice tribute Buzz.
2Thanks for posting this Buzz...He is someone who dearly needs to be remembered, whiplash put it nicely....
3So it goes.
4I bet that's what they put on his tombstone.
5Whip, they'd better put "so it goes" on his tombstone. I was going to write it in the post but I couldn't figure out how to work it in.
6This makes me sad, I remember reading Breakfast of Champions in college.
Style Before Comfort!
7Kurt Vonnegut has been my hero since I first read Sirens of Titan over ten years ago. It remains not only my favorite Vonnegut novel, but my favorite novel of all time. Losing him is like losing an old friend. I have to say, though, we are lucky to have had him and his work on this earth.
8Harrison Bergeron is one of my all time favorite short stories. A must read. Cat's Cradle is an awesome book.
9Thank you Mr Vonnegut!
10Wonderful tribute, Buzz. Thanks for posting this.
11I concur, a very nice tribute, thanks. I've been sad all day since hearing the news, and I'm touched to see that he was important and influential to many others as well. (He was such a huge figure to my generation back in high school/college but I wasn't sure if people really remembered him nowadays. Glad I was wrong.)
12Buzz, Galapagos is my favorite Vonnegut novel, too. I've read it dozens of times. It's so funny, and bitingly SMART.
13wow buzzsugar and whiplash, galapagos is my fav one of his too. it was actually the first one I read of his, got me hooked ever since! I just love the concepts. And sirens of titan as well, thats my 2nd fav. I love the message he gives us about the meaning of life in it and the need for purpose the vonnegut feels humans have. What a great man. Im truely sad today.
14I love Kurt Vonnegut. At least he has left behind so many works that mark his signature quirks, smarts, and humor. He will be greatly missed.
15I picked up Cat's Cradle when I was 16 and it blew my mind. I meet members of my karass daily.
I gasped out loud when I read the headline today. How can we be shocked an 84 year old man died some say... it's just sad that such a brilliant man is gone, that is shocking. First Hunter and now Kurt...I feel like I was born into the wrong generation. My heros are slipping away.
My favorite book is Timequake. It's hilarious and I love Kilgore Trout.
RIP Kurt. Ting-a-ling!
16I love Kurt Vonnegut.. I am so happy that I have come across a terrifyingly brilliant author in my lifetime. It is one of my deep regrets that I wasn't able shake his hand. I loved the tragic tales of Slaughter House 5, the humor of God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater and the strangeness of Slapstick. I haven't even read all his books, and the ones I have aren't even the popular titles, but he sucks you into a reality that uncomfortably lies between humor, morals and science fiction. I don't know, I just love his works. I even use the name Kilgore Trout when I play video games.
LONG LIVE KURT VONNEGUT.
17An article for your reading pleasure.
18RIP.
19I loved him RIP
20Kurt is up in heaven now.
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