Tim's review
The Sirens of Titan
by Kurt Vonnegut
Tim's review
The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut
Tim's review
rating:
In his early career, Vonnegut was billed as a Science Fiction writer, a title that often annoyed and amused him. Of course, it was books like The Sirens of Titan that gave him this reputation.
Even though the novel deals with a greater diversity of themes than a simple space opera romp, the story is still largely pinned to the imaginative world of speculative fantasy. In fact, Vonnegut frequently approached the science fiction elements of his books with an obvious sense of its utter implausibility.
That sense is particularly keen in Sirens of Titan, as Vonnegut’s characters spend their time hopped up on “goofballs” in order to survive in environments that would otherwise be deadly, are recruited into fake armies that are designed to stir the souls of man, and are coerced into activities that any of us would find laughable. Of course, laughing is the point, as satire is the motivating force behind the novel.
As I reread his novels in their original order, I can’t hel...more
Even though the novel deals with a greater diversity of themes than a simple space opera romp, the story is still largely pinned to the imaginative world of speculative fantasy. In fact, Vonnegut frequently approached the science fiction elements of his books with an obvious sense of its utter implausibility.
That sense is particularly keen in Sirens of Titan, as Vonnegut’s characters spend their time hopped up on “goofballs” in order to survive in environments that would otherwise be deadly, are recruited into fake armies that are designed to stir the souls of man, and are coerced into activities that any of us would find laughable. Of course, laughing is the point, as satire is the motivating force behind the novel.
As I reread his novels in their original order, I can’t hel...more
