2:17 - 2:23 At a Media/SF/Fantasy convention, I've purchased a copy of a screenplay for "Sirens of Titan" written by Jerry Garcia and Tom Davis (of the SNL writing team of Franken and Davis)! It printed the logo for Jerry's company Icenine Productions. It was never filmed and after reading the script I deeply regret that. I thought it was a better adaptation of the original book than George Roy Hill's film adaptation of "Slaughterhouse Five."
An excellent review. You get it. I would seriously question your dislike of sci-fi, it may be a deficit. The key word here is “imagination “ and incredible cleverness and intelligence. I was very fortunate to have worked for KV in the 80’s as a research assistant, for a book that never came to be, but I got to know him fairly well. To me, it is somewhat remarkable that his books are not as popular today. My guess is that his early books were a bit different from his later ones, and if you came into his works later, they might not grab you as much. Read In the order they were written, they have a different hold on you….my favorite is God Bless You Mr. Rosewater, because more than anything, it reveals KVs post war feelings. Kilgore Trout, of course is KVs alter ego. I was the recipient of a couple of his Sunday night intoxicated phone calls, ostensibly about business, but he just needed to talk a-bit and bounce ideas, these calls were fascinating. In these calls he showed his wit, vulnerability, maybe a bit of lonliness, his concern for his family, humor, his very very liberal politics but based in human-ness, he was very proud of his work, always encouraged mine….he had a genuine soft spot in his heart for blue collar people. I really felt privileged to be an acquaintance. The last time we spoke was after 9/11, as I was concerned about his safety…but he was ok. He once told me that life was exactly like a book where you are given all the spoilers on how it will eventually end, in the first chapter.
@@gewamser thank you so much for the comment. Luckily I’m getting into sci-fi now! I just read The Lathe of Heaven this summer. I also just did a review of God Bless, You Mr. Rosewater if you wish to check it out. You are very lucky you had personal experiences with KV. It is unfortunate I meet a lot of young people who don’t read him. But there are still a few who love his work.
One great moment is the explanation of human purpose which is become technology advance to travel in space to deliver the missing part to fix the space machine and that the pyramids, the wall of china etc where simple messages to tell "we r advancing" "we r almost there" etc... All making clear the purpose of life has been to evolve to the technology of being able to deliver the missing part... Since ive read all of voneguts novels i could b confused but sirens has always been my favorite even more than slaughter 5 i believe this to b from Sirens if I'm wrong please set me straight, much love and as voneguts wrote in another book: LOVE MIGHT FAIL BUT COURTESY WILL PREVAIL!!! greetings from a fan!!!
Thanks for your comment! Basically humans were just a cog in the Tralfamadorians machine to get the message out if I am remembering correctly. So yes they thought the pyramids and Great Wall were great human achievements when really they were those simple messages. Pretty funny! I am still looking forward to a re-read of SL5 but Sirens of Titan may be my favorite as well. Usually whatever Vonnegut I read last ends up being my favorite.
@@readtherightthing i didn't know there was a documentary on Vonnegut till I saw your video... I just watched it and I've been crying all day cause it hurts to know there won't ever b a new book by him... To me he is the American master not of science fiction but of magic realism as Garcia Marquez was for the Latin American culture cause it has the same feeling... I dunno if that makes sense but for me an equal fan of both there seems to b a parallel in narrative... Thank u for your channel, your bokoonist friend and member of the same karass! Greetings!
@@lostinoz3198 I'm glad you could find the documentary! I still need to read Garcia Marquez but your comment gives me hope I will like his books. Thanks for the kind comments! I do at least one Vonnegut review a year so hope to hear from you soon my friend!
I find not just dovtoesky but also Garcia Marquez magic realism in a kind of American way and Voltaire and so many other greats of literature not so much as inspiration but as having common themes.
I recently listened to this book and Galapagos. They are both entertaining but Kurt Vonnegut's nihilism is a depressing and dreary world to live in. Albert Camus said we have to learn to live without hope. I feel pity for both men. Believing you are a cosmic accident is a terrible burden.
Yes he can be depressing. I guess I’m drawn to depressing art and entertainment: Vonnegut, Bruce Springsteen, etc. Vonnegut’s sense of humor keeps me coming back though.
![[SFM] Risky Recital](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/RzNkY1_Nk3o/mqdefault.jpg)
2:17 - 2:23 At a Media/SF/Fantasy convention, I've purchased a copy of a screenplay for "Sirens of Titan" written by Jerry Garcia and Tom Davis (of the SNL writing team of Franken and Davis)! It printed the logo for Jerry's company Icenine Productions. It was never filmed and after reading the script I deeply regret that. I thought it was a better adaptation of the original book than George Roy Hill's film adaptation of "Slaughterhouse Five."
That is really cool! I still haven't watched the movie of "Slaughterhouse Five" but I will after I eventually reread the book.
Good presentation! Try Cat's Cradle and Mother Night, my Vonnegut favorite.
Thanks! I'll get to those books for sure. I think I'm going to read Vonnegut's books in order
An excellent review. You get it. I would seriously question your dislike of sci-fi, it may be a deficit. The key word here is “imagination “ and incredible cleverness and intelligence. I was very fortunate to have worked for KV in the 80’s as a research assistant, for a book that never came to be, but I got to know him fairly well. To me, it is somewhat remarkable that his books are not as popular today. My guess is that his early books were a bit different from his later ones, and if you came into his works later, they might not grab you as much. Read In the order they were written, they have a different hold on you….my favorite is God Bless You Mr. Rosewater, because more than anything, it reveals KVs post war feelings. Kilgore Trout, of course is KVs alter ego. I was the recipient of a couple of his Sunday night intoxicated phone calls, ostensibly about business, but he just needed to talk a-bit and bounce ideas, these calls were fascinating. In these calls he showed his wit, vulnerability, maybe a bit of lonliness, his concern for his family, humor, his very very liberal politics but based in human-ness, he was very proud of his work, always encouraged mine….he had a genuine soft spot in his heart for blue collar people. I really felt privileged to be an acquaintance. The last time we spoke was after 9/11, as I was concerned about his safety…but he was ok. He once told me that life was exactly like a book where you are given all the spoilers on how it will eventually end, in the first chapter.
@@gewamser thank you so much for the comment. Luckily I’m getting into sci-fi now! I just read The Lathe of Heaven this summer.
I also just did a review of God Bless, You Mr. Rosewater if you wish to check it out.
You are very lucky you had personal experiences with KV. It is unfortunate I meet a lot of young people who don’t read him. But there are still a few who love his work.
Your content is great, but I would recommend reviewing your stance on Flannery O'Connor.
Thanks! Not sure if I've done a Flannery O'Connor review. Recently read A Good Man is Hard to Find. Incredible.
One great moment is the explanation of human purpose which is become technology advance to travel in space to deliver the missing part to fix the space machine and that the pyramids, the wall of china etc where simple messages to tell "we r advancing" "we r almost there" etc... All making clear the purpose of life has been to evolve to the technology of being able to deliver the missing part... Since ive read all of voneguts novels i could b confused but sirens has always been my favorite even more than slaughter 5 i believe this to b from Sirens if I'm wrong please set me straight, much love and as voneguts wrote in another book: LOVE MIGHT FAIL BUT COURTESY WILL PREVAIL!!! greetings from a fan!!!
Thanks for your comment! Basically humans were just a cog in the Tralfamadorians machine to get the message out if I am remembering correctly. So yes they thought the pyramids and Great Wall were great human achievements when really they were those simple messages. Pretty funny! I am still looking forward to a re-read of SL5 but Sirens of Titan may be my favorite as well. Usually whatever Vonnegut I read last ends up being my favorite.
@@readtherightthing i didn't know there was a documentary on Vonnegut till I saw your video... I just watched it and I've been crying all day cause it hurts to know there won't ever b a new book by him... To me he is the American master not of science fiction but of magic realism as Garcia Marquez was for the Latin American culture cause it has the same feeling... I dunno if that makes sense but for me an equal fan of both there seems to b a parallel in narrative... Thank u for your channel, your bokoonist friend and member of the same karass! Greetings!
@@lostinoz3198 I'm glad you could find the documentary! I still need to read Garcia Marquez but your comment gives me hope I will like his books. Thanks for the kind comments! I do at least one Vonnegut review a year so hope to hear from you soon my friend!
Its a great book
It feels like KV read Dostoyevski 's Brother Karamazov before writing this one 😅 no spoiler thats why i wont say why
Now I’m curious and will need to read Brother’s Karamazov. Thanks for the suggestion
I find not just dovtoesky but also Garcia Marquez magic realism in a kind of American way and Voltaire and so many other greats of literature not so much as inspiration but as having common themes.
I recently listened to this book and Galapagos. They are both entertaining but Kurt Vonnegut's nihilism is a depressing and dreary world to live in. Albert Camus said we have to learn to live without hope. I feel pity for both men. Believing you are a cosmic accident is a terrible burden.
Yes he can be depressing. I guess I’m drawn to depressing art and entertainment: Vonnegut, Bruce Springsteen, etc.
Vonnegut’s sense of humor keeps me coming back though.