Hey Dopers!
I’ve recently been on a Kurt Vonnegut kick and have read Galapagos, Slaughterhouse Five, and am finishing up Breakfast of Champions. It’s pretty cool that the latter two books share the characters of Kilgore Trout and Eliot Rosewater. Do any of the other books share characters in common? Is there any order in which I should read them? Does he maintain a good continuity? Please, no spoilers as I plan to be doing some more Vonnegut reading.
Kilgore Trout is in many many books, Eliot Rosewater has his own book. The order really isn’t important. I would recommend chronologically just to watch KV’s talent develop over time. No real continuity to speak of. Just enjoy them as you find them.
There is a planet that comes up in a few of the books, but I can’t remember exactly how it is spelled. It starts with a “T” and it is pretty long…something like “Tranformidilon” or something. Anybody know? Anyway, I recommend “Cat’s Craddle” and “Sirens of Titan”. I think the planet is both of those actually…Its been a while since I have read either of them.
I’d second Why A Duck’s recommendation that you read them in chronological order, except I’d save Sirens of Titan and Player Piano for later, as they are pretty dissimilar to the rest of his work… or maybe I only feel that way because that’s the way I did it. At any rate, read Cat’s Cradle first (or next, since you’ve started already.)
Continuity: very low. Kilgore Trout is a recurring character, although he doesn’t enjoy the spotlight elsewhere as he does in Breakfast of Champions. Bokononism is a recurring theme, although I’m not sure if Bokonon himself appears anywhere outside of Cat’s Cradle. Tralfamador. Trafalmadore? One of those two.
At any rate, fabulous reading. I wish I could read them all again for the first time. Cheers pezwookiee.
Tralfamadore (or whatever the planet’s name is) plays an important role in Slaughterhouse Five, and I think Kilgore Trout is mentioned there too.
I’ll second (third?) the suggestion that you read them in the order they were written, but I don’t think it will make a lot of difference if you don’t.
Kilgore Trout also makes an appearance in Timequake. He might even be the main character (but not the narrator), but I can’t recall off the top of my head. Eliot Rosewater’s book is called God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater. But I guess that’s kind of obvious? For the record, my favorite novel of Vonnegut’s (and also the first I had read), is Galapagos. Thank you 11th grade english class!
Trout is the central character in Timequake, but I’m certain Vonnegut is the narrator. Beautiful novel…it’s a bunch of essays strung together into a story. I loved it.
Slight spoiler, but not for the OP
The man who comes into where Billy Pilgram is being held prisoner (in WWII) and trys to get Americans to sign onto the German army is Howard W. Campbell, Jr., the main character of Mother Night.
And yes, I should have reviewed the OP before I posted. :o