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20th out of 32 books
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333 voters
Bagombo Snuff Box
New York, 1950. A young PR man working at General Electric sold his first magazine piece. By the time he'd sold his third, he decided to quit his job and join the likes of Salinger, Hemingway, Fitzgerald and Faulkner, and make a living as a full-time writer. That young man was Kurt Vonnegut.
Bagombo Snuff Box collects Vonnegut's favourite stories from the postwar years that...more
Bagombo Snuff Box collects Vonnegut's favourite stories from the postwar years that...more
Paperback, 295 pages
Published
2000
by Vintage
(first published 1999)
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A collection of Vonnegut's earliest work for '50s/60s periodicals.
As the Master himself points out in the marvellous introduction, these are embryonic stories, stylistically clumsy and written purely for financial gain.
This doesn't make the work any less playful and Vonnegutian, though the bulk of these stories have a more moralistic feel to them, and only shades of the postmodern hilarity he would become known for is evident throughout.
Thanasphere and 2BRO2B are the only sci-fi entries. The r...more
As the Master himself points out in the marvellous introduction, these are embryonic stories, stylistically clumsy and written purely for financial gain.
This doesn't make the work any less playful and Vonnegutian, though the bulk of these stories have a more moralistic feel to them, and only shades of the postmodern hilarity he would become known for is evident throughout.
Thanasphere and 2BRO2B are the only sci-fi entries. The r...more
This book is a collection of some of Vonnegut's earliest short stories, written for weekly and monthly magazines. They're interesting as a perspective on this era, when "serious" literary authors, or at least burgeoning ones, wrote for magazines, as well as writing full-length novels. They're also an interesting look into Vonnegut's earliest writing style (although he admits in a postscript that he could not help editing the ending of many of the chapters). That being said, they're not as enjoya...more
I picked this book up at the beginning of the year. Having read Timequake a while back, I thought it was about time I read some more of Vonneguts work, this seemed to be a good place to start. A great collection of all his early short stories which had been published in various American literary magazines over the years, it's a wonderful insight into his beginnings of a novelist. The detail of emotion and feeling which he puts into the many personalities in the book leaves you with no doubt that...more
Originally published on my blog here in January 2002.
Even relative to the generally cavalier attitude to stories of many short story writers at the time, Vonnegut must have been exceptional in his carelessness. In fact, he lost track of where some of his stories had been published, and the ones collected here were tracked down by Peter Reed. Some of the stories published here have been quite extensively rewritten, apparently, and all of them have been lost for over thirty years.
Vonnegut is gener...more
Even relative to the generally cavalier attitude to stories of many short story writers at the time, Vonnegut must have been exceptional in his carelessness. In fact, he lost track of where some of his stories had been published, and the ones collected here were tracked down by Peter Reed. Some of the stories published here have been quite extensively rewritten, apparently, and all of them have been lost for over thirty years.
Vonnegut is gener...more
Many “old” movies and books are dated by hair, clothes, words. In contrast, Kurt Vonnegut’s Bagombo Snuff Box, short stories published in popular magazines to avoid working for companies such as General Electric, are still current.
“Thanasphere” theorizes on what astronauts will find when they enter space. …”thousands of them, thousands of them, all around me, standing on nothing, shimmering like northern lights…”
“ Mnemonics” is a short report of what happens when Alfred Moorhead takes a memory...more
“Thanasphere” theorizes on what astronauts will find when they enter space. …”thousands of them, thousands of them, all around me, standing on nothing, shimmering like northern lights…”
“ Mnemonics” is a short report of what happens when Alfred Moorhead takes a memory...more
I so loved reading and teaching "Welcome to the Monkey House" and am so glad to find this collection published in 1999 at the behest of Peter Reed, a professor friend of Vonnegut. It's a compilation of stories written for money in the likes of The Saturday Evening Post, Collier's, The Atlantic and Redbook. Note that some were bought and published by the early incarnation of Cosmopolitan - long before it became the soft porn it appears to be today.
Vonnegut was sounding the same themes - dreams go...more
Vonnegut was sounding the same themes - dreams go...more
Again, an audiobook, so I guess you can consider it cheating.
First off, I generally give three stars to most story collections that I've enjoyed. Typically in any author's collection there are stories I love and some that don't strike me as being quite as good. For me it's really hard to rate collections unless they are absolutely outstanding from top to bottom (rare) or terrible from top to bottom (also rare).
Second, Vonnegut is one of my favorite writers. As such, this 'lost' collection was gr...more
First off, I generally give three stars to most story collections that I've enjoyed. Typically in any author's collection there are stories I love and some that don't strike me as being quite as good. For me it's really hard to rate collections unless they are absolutely outstanding from top to bottom (rare) or terrible from top to bottom (also rare).
Second, Vonnegut is one of my favorite writers. As such, this 'lost' collection was gr...more
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Creative Writing 101:
1. Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted.
2. Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.
3. Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.
4. Every sentence must do one of two things-reveal character or advance the action.
5. Start as close to the end as possible.
6. Be a sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them-in ord...more
1. Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted.
2. Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.
3. Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.
4. Every sentence must do one of two things-reveal character or advance the action.
5. Start as close to the end as possible.
6. Be a sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them-in ord...more
Vonnegut is the master of short forms. Short stories can have a greatness, if they're short enough and great enough in their shortness.
"Bagombo Snuff Box" is an assortment of short stories written by Kurt Vonnegut. All of them was initially published in the 1950-60s, but they didn't appear in Vonnegut's previous collection, "Welcome to the Monkey House". I was really glad to see this new anthology.
In the foreword, author says: "While I am reading [a short story], my pulse and breathing slow do...more
"Bagombo Snuff Box" is an assortment of short stories written by Kurt Vonnegut. All of them was initially published in the 1950-60s, but they didn't appear in Vonnegut's previous collection, "Welcome to the Monkey House". I was really glad to see this new anthology.
In the foreword, author says: "While I am reading [a short story], my pulse and breathing slow do...more
These short stories, previously published in various magazines, held my attention for the most part. One great passage is from the story Poor Little Rich Town:
"A village isn't like a factory, where you can walk in and see what's being made at a glance, and look at the books and see if it's a good or bad operation. We're not manufacturing or selling anything. We're trying to live together. Every man's got to be his own expert at that, and it takes years."
That's nice - but my favorite part of this...more
"A village isn't like a factory, where you can walk in and see what's being made at a glance, and look at the books and see if it's a good or bad operation. We're not manufacturing or selling anything. We're trying to live together. Every man's got to be his own expert at that, and it takes years."
That's nice - but my favorite part of this...more
This is a short story collection by Kurt Vonnegut. These short stories were written in a time when a writer could make a living selling short stories to commercial magazines, and these were Vonnegut's. Other writers who were cranking out short stories for a regular paycheck included William Faulkner, Ernest Hemingway,and John Steinbeck, so Vonnegut was in good company in this regard.
The stories in this collection are all very entertaining and all have Vonnegut's typical sardonic wit. None of the...more
The stories in this collection are all very entertaining and all have Vonnegut's typical sardonic wit. None of the...more
maybe i'm really not a short story person and then again maybe vonnegut's a better novelist than a short story writer but it took me months to get through this collection and there were few stories that i found myself really wanting to finish except to get on to the next one. i was consistently disappointed and found myself on an 8 hour flight where i'd rather watch something called "wildhogs" than read vonnegut. i didn't even think that was possible.
The first Vonnegut book I read was "Cat's Cradle." I loved it. Since then, I've read a few of his other books, and I'm slowly collecting one of each of his novels to read.
"Bagombo Snuff Box" is a collection of his short stories, originally published in magazines. Each is an interesting study in short fiction--rapidly developed characters, curious circumstances, and a denouement within a short period of time. Some stories are stronger than others, but each has the Vonnegut flavor to it. Since th...more
"Bagombo Snuff Box" is a collection of his short stories, originally published in magazines. Each is an interesting study in short fiction--rapidly developed characters, curious circumstances, and a denouement within a short period of time. Some stories are stronger than others, but each has the Vonnegut flavor to it. Since th...more
This is a collection of short stories that are all kind of... well... boring except for one, which is absolutely incredible. That story is called 2BRO2B. This story is a crazy futuristic dystopian society that turns out so creepy it rocks! You could probably find this story without buying the whole book. It would be worth your time to skip the others. They are okay, but nothing special.
I almost gave this book four stars, just for the history lesson it gives of a great writer. But I'm kind of a hard critic, and this isn't better than Kurt's real novels, but very different. Vonnegut shows his roots, free of sci-fi, free of crazy twists and ultra intelligent banter. Instead, we get characters who are real, with real problems, and it's interesting to read these very normal short stories by an author who later wrote very stylized books. Not all of them are great. A few are close to...more
Лёгкое разочарование. По-настоящему сильное, весомое впечатление оставили лишь последние три рассказа (надо отдать должное: прекрасны). Мне, честно говоря, даже и написать по этому поводу больше нечего.
Creative Writing 16:
1. Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted.
2. Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.
3. Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.
4. Every sentence must do one of...more
Creative Writing 16:
1. Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted.
2. Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.
3. Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.
4. Every sentence must do one of...more
I guess Vonnegut is known mostly for his novels, but I've always been a big fan of his short fiction. No one else seems to pack such vitality into so few pages, and this collection really highlights his versatility.
Some of the stories are humorous - a realtor learns a thing or two from some prospective buyers, a town comes to regret embracing an efficiency expert, and a mob Santa Claus receives a special present.
And some are bittersweet - a man attempts to pawn a wartime souvenir, a school ba...more
Some of the stories are humorous - a realtor learns a thing or two from some prospective buyers, a town comes to regret embracing an efficiency expert, and a mob Santa Claus receives a special present.
And some are bittersweet - a man attempts to pawn a wartime souvenir, a school ba...more
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تو دهه پنجاه و اوایل دهه شصت میلادی، وونهگات برای مجلات و روزنامهها داستان کوتاه مینوشته. بعد از شهرتی که به واسطه رمانهاش به دست میاره، سراغ داستانهای اون دورهش میرند و یه منتخبی از اون داستانها رو تو کتاب به خانه میمون خوش آمدید چاپ میکنند. داستانهایی که تو این کتاب اومده، باقی داستان کوتاههای وونهگاته که تو به خانه میمون خوش آمدید چاپ نشدند. داستانهایی که به قول خود وونهگات اگه شهرت رمانهاش نبود، هیچوقت کسی سراغشون نمیرفت.
داستانها در کل ضعیفند. خیلی از داستانها رسما رو پای...more
داستانها در کل ضعیفند. خیلی از داستانها رسما رو پای...more
These stories by Kurt Vonnegut were produced in his early days as a writer, as he was learning his craft. Though, as you would expect from tyro work, the quality is variable, generally they demonstrate a deftness of characterisation and tight narrative structure. Written during the 1950s and early ‘60s, mostly for wide-circulation magazines, they were not included in the earlier collection Welcome to the Monkey House, but have lain neglected in the publications’ files since their first appearanc...more
This is another Vonnegut short story collection. My guess is that these are the Welcome to the Monkey House rejects. There are a couple of good stories (Thanosphere, 2BR02B) and a few that are decent, but most of them are just "meh".
"Bagombo Snuff Box' is a collection of previously uncollected short stories. Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. got his start in the days of popular magazines: "Life," "Look," "The Saturday Evening Post," "Redbook,"
"Argosy," "The Atlantic Monthly," and others. Now with the popoularity of t.v., the internet, tweeting and texting, the market for short stories has evaporated. What a pity. Each of these stories was a treat, a kind of literary snack.
Being a Vonnegut fan, I very much enjoyed reading some of his earl...more
"Argosy," "The Atlantic Monthly," and others. Now with the popoularity of t.v., the internet, tweeting and texting, the market for short stories has evaporated. What a pity. Each of these stories was a treat, a kind of literary snack.
Being a Vonnegut fan, I very much enjoyed reading some of his earl...more
While in LA and the first part of San Francisco
I finally read my copy of Kurt
Vonnegut's "Bagombo Snuff Box" collection of 24
of his short stories.
The stories were almost all written before he
was famous for periodicals and in some ways
sketch out much of the themes he would return to
in his novels.
My favourites were The No Talent Kid about an
obssessive School bandmaster and his least
talented kid.
A Present For Big Saint Nick, that reads like
the outline for two dozen different mafia type
movi...more
I finally read my copy of Kurt
Vonnegut's "Bagombo Snuff Box" collection of 24
of his short stories.
The stories were almost all written before he
was famous for periodicals and in some ways
sketch out much of the themes he would return to
in his novels.
My favourites were The No Talent Kid about an
obssessive School bandmaster and his least
talented kid.
A Present For Big Saint Nick, that reads like
the outline for two dozen different mafia type
movi...more
I found the stories dated and very much in the blithe and shallow style of magazine stories from the 1950s --which is basically what they are. Some of the stories have a dash of SF in them, others a small town, very american, folksy humor derived from Mark Twain via Ring Lardner. The stories are peopled with overzealous high school band directors, boasting salesmen, hungry and morose real estate agents, couples lost in their gadgety, new-fangled houses, all of whom have very little depth to them...more
I first read Vonnegut through his book of short stories 'Welcome to the Monkey House' and was hooked.
'Bagombo Snuff Box' is no Monkey House! The subtitle tells it accurately, Uncollected Short Fiction- emphasis on 'uncollected'...and with good reason.
I realize that because Vonnegut was such a influential author, some publisher was bound to find old stuff just to put out a book with his name on it. But this is a collection of such unpolished and uninspired work that only the really huge Vonnegut...more
'Bagombo Snuff Box' is no Monkey House! The subtitle tells it accurately, Uncollected Short Fiction- emphasis on 'uncollected'...and with good reason.
I realize that because Vonnegut was such a influential author, some publisher was bound to find old stuff just to put out a book with his name on it. But this is a collection of such unpolished and uninspired work that only the really huge Vonnegut...more
I enjoyed this book of short stories by Vonnegut. It was fun to become reacquainted with him, and short stories were the perfect way to do it--not too much to invest on my part. They are previously unpublished stories and I wondered sometimes if that was because they just weren't good enough to publish when he originally wrote them. Some stories were great, but some I just skimmed through. He kind of gets hung up on this high school music teacher and keeps trying out the character in different s...more
This was my first venture into Kurt Vonnegut and I am incredibly disappointed that I didn't read his books years ago. Vonnegut has a great writing style and interesting subjects. I am usually not a fan of the short story collection - even my favorite authors like Stephen King and Barbara Kingsolver bore me with short stories - Vonnegut's collection was delightful and intriguing and held my attention throughout. Interestingly, this collection was compiled with stories that didn't make the cut on...more
This about what I expected. I'm turning (actually, I don't know why I used the present tense - I HAVE turned) into a Vonnegut completionist. Not too much longer to go until I've finished all of his books.
Ta da!
Anyway, this is a nice little collection of short stories written before KV started working on novels. This was before he really developed his distinct style, and these stories, though neat, are rather plain. It is interesting, though, to read a stories of his that are not in the least bit...more
Ta da!
Anyway, this is a nice little collection of short stories written before KV started working on novels. This was before he really developed his distinct style, and these stories, though neat, are rather plain. It is interesting, though, to read a stories of his that are not in the least bit...more
A collection of short stories by Kurt Vonnegut. These were first printed in the early 1950's, before TV was widespread. Many popular periodicals would regularly print short stories by young authors. Most of these stories were written before Vonnegut's well - known novels, such as Breakfast of Champions and Slaughterhouse Five. Any fan of Kurt Vonnegut will enjoy this book. In addition to being entertaining, the stories within have a lot to say about society and our pursuit of the American dream....more
This collection of early Vonnegut short stories proves its worth prior to the beginning of the actual text. The author's introduction focuses on the significance of the short fiction story in early 20th Century America while raising several persuasive points about the value of reading such works. The collection of short stories is also captivating. Vonnegut utilizes a fact-forward method that presents the reader with a wealth of information throughout each of the pieces while still allowing the...more
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Kurt Vonnegut, Junior was an American novelist, satirist, and most recently, graphic artist. He was recognized as New York State Author for 2001-2003.
He was born in Indianapolis, later the setting for many of his novels. He attended Cornell University from 1941 to 1943, where he wrote a column for the student newspaper, the Cornell Daily Sun. Vonnegut trained as a chemist and worked as a journali...more
More about Kurt Vonnegut...
He was born in Indianapolis, later the setting for many of his novels. He attended Cornell University from 1941 to 1943, where he wrote a column for the student newspaper, the Cornell Daily Sun. Vonnegut trained as a chemist and worked as a journali...more
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“Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.”
—
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“Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.”
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