Kurt Vonnegut’s absurdist time-travel classic Slaughterhouse-Five introduces us to Billy Pilgrim, a man who becomes unstuck in time after he is abducted by aliens from the planet Tralfamadore. In a plot-scrambling display of virtuosity, we follow Pilgrim simultaneously through all phases of his life, concentrating on his (and Vonnegut’s) shattering experience as an American prisoner of war who witnesses the firebombing of Dresden.
It took Vonnegut more than 20 years to put his Dresden experiences into words. He explained, ‘there is nothing intelligent to say about a massacre. Everybody is supposed to be dead, to never say anything or want anything ever again.’ Slaughterhouse Five is a powerful novel incorporating a number of genres. Only those who have fought in wars can say whether it represents the experience well. However, what the novel does do is invite the reader to look at the absurdity of war. Human versus human, hedonist politicians pressing buttons and ordering millions to their deaths all for ideologies many cannot even comprehend. Flicking between the US, 1940’s Germany and Tralfamadore, Vonnegut’s semi- autobiographical protagonist Billy Pilgrim finds himself very lost. One minute he is being viewed as a specimen in a Tralfamadorian Zoo, the next he is wandering a post-apocalyptic city looking for corpses. Slaughterhouse Five-Or The Children’s Crusade A Duty-Dance with Death is a remarkable blend of black humour, irony, the truth and the absurd. The author regards his work a ‘failure’, millions of readers do not. Released the same time bombs were falling on South East Asia, this title caused controversy and awakening. Essential reading for all. So it goes.
–Jon Smith
Awards for Slaughterhouse 5
APRIL FOOL!!!!!
Anyone who seriously thought we were actually going to read a “Slip in Time” should restart their medication & take themselves out behind the gas sheds.
Apologies to the two poor souls who actually bought a copy of this through Amazon.co.uk. You are sad brave wonderful trusting fools who made my evening by seeing that. Bring it along and I’ll refund you in drinks. 🙂
Gerard
Your Glorious Leader ®