Villainelle Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 So it goes. I've had a mixed opinion of him over the years, but at least he took chances and adhered more or less to his personal standards, even if they panned out poorly sometimes. Not many writers bother anymore. :\ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Shadow Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 oh fucking son of a bitch :[ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atomic Dog Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 Meh. Vonnegut. Overrated and not too bright - a fan among impressionable young children and left-wingers trying to fellate themselves, but still... sorry to see him go. His writing was mostly tripe, but at least it was fun to read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yoshi3gg Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 Aw man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evilhead Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 Sad to see you go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ffej Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 Eh. I'll continue not caring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PassivePretentiousness Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 He was one of my favorite writers from a stylistic perspective, and he did have something meaningful once every five books or so. Too bad he won't be around to randomly materialize every few years and do something ridiculous like his cold turkey speech. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jam Stunna Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 I didn't really like Slaughterhouse 5, but I did appreciate his talent as a writer. And at least he wasn't a complete nut like J.D. Salinger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mutericator Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 I didn't really like Slaughterhouse 5, but I did appreciate his talent as a writer. And at least he wasn't a complete nut like J.D. Salinger. You, sir, are my new best friend. I didn't like Slaughterhouse 5 either, but I really enjoyed Cat's Cradle. No one can deny that his books certainly had a point to get across. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shonen Samurai Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 To the as-yet-unborn, to all the innocent wisps of undifferentiated nothingness: watch out for life. IMO, if you're not here to pay the man his respects, get out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Introverticon Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 Well...fuck. I can't say that I admired the man, and I certainly didn't agree with his political views, but I got some enjoyment out of his stories nonetheless. Nothing too deep or worthwhile was impressed upon me, especially since he would write such nonsensical ramblings half the time and disregarded so many traditional conventions of literature. But, well, fuck I still wish he would have kept going for a few more years or somethin'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mutericator Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 I heard about this earlier today. It was a big deal at my school because he was born in Indianapolis. I guess my classmates don't remember that he mocks that mentality in Cat's Cradle. Heh, false karass - granfaloons, if I remember correctly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RealFolkBlues Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 To the as-yet-unborn, to all the innocent wisps of undifferentiated nothingness: watch out for life.IMO, if you're not here to pay the man his respects, get out. I think I can agree with that. Criticism (intelligent or otherwise) can wait a little. Ironic that I just got Cat's Cradle out of the library the other day. Vonnegut is definitely one of my favorite authors, for his creativity, humor, and poignant self-criticism. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yoshi3gg Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 ;258143']...especially since he would write such nonsensical ramblings half the time and disregarded so many traditional conventions of literature. His disregard for the traditional was actually the main thing I liked about his writing. Also on the subject of Vonnegut's writing style; from an interview with Douglas Adams from 1979 that I read a few weeks ago: "Sirens of Titan is just one of those books – you read it through the first time and you think it's very loosely, casually written. You think the fact that everything suddenly makes such good sense at the end is almost accidental. And then you read it a few more times, simultaneously finding out more about writing yourself, and you realise what an absolute tour de force it was, making something as beautifully honed as that appear so casual." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fire in the Hole Posted April 14, 2007 Share Posted April 14, 2007 Ironic that I just got Cat's Cradle out of the library the other day. That is not ironic. That is coincidental. Lord. Vonnegut was bloody brilliant, and will live on as a great satirist of the age in his writing. I remember how ecstatic I was to be able to voluntarily read Slaughterhouse-Five for a project last year (along with Heller's Catch-22). I saw Vonnegut's name on the list and immediately knew what I was going to do. Breakfast of Champions was on there too, but the other choices I would have had along with it weren't as appealing. I've since read it and Cat's Cradle, and really want to read some more whenever I get time for voluntary reading again. Anyway: Rest in peace, knowing that it goes so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DukeNukem007 Posted April 15, 2007 Share Posted April 15, 2007 And so it goes. Harrison Bergeron was nice story that hasn't been mentioned yet...really gave meaning to "some are more equal than others." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Effector Posted April 15, 2007 Share Posted April 15, 2007 Just got back into town this morning to find out about this. Terrible way to start the day. And so it goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RealFolkBlues Posted April 16, 2007 Share Posted April 16, 2007 That is not ironic. That is coincidental. Lord. 3. coincidental; unexpected: It was ironic that I was seated next to my ex-husband at the dinner. If I wanted to be silly about it I could say also that all the world's a stage and it's dramatic irony that I checked that book out. Nonetheless, my usage of the word stands as is. Anyways, have you guys read the rest of his short stories? Welcome To The Monkey House is an awesome collection of them, and I was fairly amazed. He was already one of my favorites when I read it, but I had no idea that he had such versatility. Many of the works are much more traditional than was his standard fare, and almost all of them are exceptional examples of the short story genre, one of my favorite types of writing. Also, that picture Effector linked to got me a little misty-eyed despite myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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