Rating: Summary: One of the Best Review: This could possible be my favorite novel of all time. Definitley my favorite of Vonnegut thus far. The science fiction elements, the worldly undertones, Vonnegut's trademark style all twist together to form this unmatched work of art. It reads like a movie, so visual it's scary. The characters are unforgettable and the adventure is even more so. A true genius is Vonnegut, and this book proves it again. If I could give it more stars, I would.
Rating: Summary: Listen: more sci-fi, more criticism. Review: More in comparison to his other works, I mean. (Which are still - don't get me wrong - amazing.)About the sci-fi: there are trips to Mercury, Mars, and Titan (one of Saturn's moons). There are plans of an interstellar attack, all run by one man, leading a totalitarian society on Mars by controlling the people who live there with pain-creating antennas implanted in everyone's head. There is time travel, to a certain extent. There are almost-human robots. And this (as mentioned by other critics) is one of the reasons I think this book hasn't been appreciated to its full value. People make a relation between 'extreme sci-fi' and 'lame'. I have made this relation before; this book forced me to bite my tongue. The sci-fi feel of this book only makes it more interesting, in the sense that more becomes possible, and the meaning of life - which is developed often in this book - can be spoken of by many different points of view. Now, about the criticism of humanity: even though Vonnegut is well-known for his criticism and mockery of the human race, NEVER - in any other book - has it been so direct or cruelly honest. You can't help but appreciate the wryness with which he says everything he has to say about us. The banality for reason and meaning of human life in this book is, ironically, depicted in a hiralious and inventive fashion. This book demonstrates - as much as, and maybe more than, his other books - that Vonnegut is the cleverest, most perceptive author out there. Kudos, Kurt, on a book that will never be read for the last time.
Rating: Summary: Not representative of Vonnegut's work, but still worth it. Review: Though I am a fan of Vonnegut, it is still rather obvious that Sirens of Titan is one of his first novels. It is much more science-fiction based than most (all seem to have some science-fiction element, but are not completely relying on the genre), and doesn't possess the usual flippant Vonnegut attitude- this book seems more serious, more dark without giving itself entirely to dark humor. This is certainly not to say that it isn't a great read. Like all Vonnegut books, the characters, if not entirely likeable, are quirky and completely unique, interacting in envirnments that only Vonnegut could envision- The Rumfoord's neglected estate on Earth, Mars, inside the crystal caves of Mercury, and Saturn's moon, Titan. All in all, this is a great read, for Vonnegut fans and newbies to Vonnegut alike- but it should be remembered that this is certainly not as representative of all his work as is the masterpieces Slaughterhouse Five and Cat's Cradle.
Rating: Summary: Much better than Hitchhickers Review: Gags on about everything here, stock picking, the meaning of life - aliens etc. Homourous and unworthly of sci-fi only designation.
Rating: Summary: The Dark Side of Punctuality... Review: I agree with the reviewers who feel that this book should be ranked higher in the Vonnegut canon. It has a lot to say, often having to do with Vonnegut's preoccupations with the nature of time, and class, but you can approach it in a number of ways, all with some benefit. What I mean by the title of this review, is something Vonnegut does often here, which sometimes is reminiscent of his Billy Pilgrim character. He explores the meaning of the word "punctual" in the sense of "existing at a point", as a way of looking at points in time. When someone speaks a truth, Rumfoord will appear, and ruefully observe that this person has indeed uttered a truth, but "oh, what a punctual truth", this meaning that the truth spoken will rarely hold up under the perspective afforded by a long overview of time, or in Rumfoord's case, the perspective of actual eternity. The savage dog Kazak is here, so if you are a fan of his from "Breakfast of Champions" or elsewhere, you will not be disappointed. I am depressed about Vonnegut's rendering of Rumfoord, the quintessential upper-class guy, with a very well-depicted upper-class voice, as such a hero. Speaking as an American, it seems to me that Malachi Constant should be more the hero here, as I suppose he is, but in a very tragicomic way. I guess Rumfoord doesn't exactly end up smelling like roses at the end either, so, hey, who knows. Beatrice is interesting too. I felt sorry for her toward the end, but she seemed sort of happy in some ways... All in all, this book does make you think, and it is characteristically peppered throughout with Vonnegut's random telling observations.
Rating: Summary: A Beautiful Book Review: Perhaps one of Kurt Vonnegut's best Novels. Deep, Entertaining, Funny, Sad- simply put , wonderful. The book's revelation of the purpose[lessness] of Humankind , and the overall underlying beauty of life itself is testiment to Mr. Vonnegut's genious. Marvelous plot, great characters, and Magnificent tone. I highly reccomend it.
Rating: Summary: Listen To The "Sirens" And Read This Book Review: "Sirens of Titan," by Kurt Vonnegut, is about a man and his life in the future. Malachi Constant is one of the richest men in the world. He is invited to see the materialization of William Niles Rumford and his dog Kazak. This man and his dog flew a space ship into a chrono-synclastic infundibula, scattering him throughout the galaxy. Rumford tells Constant of his future. Constant, not wanting to believe that he has a set future, does everything he can to make it not come true. Despite his efforts he soon finds himself living it out: first by being a part of the Martian army, then by going to Mercury, then coming back to Earth, finally ending on a moon of Saturn called Titan. "Sirens of Titan's" theme would be that it doesn't matter how much one tries to escape it, there is a set plan for his or her life. Malachi Constant tries as hard as he can to escape his future given to him by William Niles Rumford. In every scene that occurs in the book we see Rumford's prophecy come true. Despite all that Constant does he still ends up doing the exact things that Rumford told him he was going to do. There is also something else in the book that is very significant. We find out that the setting for our whole existence is based around getting massages to an alien which is waiting on Titan for a replacement part for his space ship. Here Vonnegut is trying to say that maybe there is some purpose to life, but when we find out what it is we are not necessarily going to be happy with it. This is a very great book for someone who likes science fiction. However even people who don't care for science fiction can be greatly pleased by the story line. I would recommend that this be one of those books you just have to read in your lifetime. I also want to say that if you like this book you should read Slaughterhouse Five also by Kurt Vonnegut.
Rating: Summary: A Fun Book Review: Vonnegut is amazing. He wrote a novel about such a serious subjects as religion and the purpose of all humanity and makes it so every page is more fun, more enjoyable, and more intreguing then the last. The language and style of the book was so Vonnegutishly colorful and his imagery so wild, imaginative and vivid, I felt at many points throughout the book that I was actually reading a comic book, only the cartoons were created entirely with words. It was a terrific book, packed with surprizes. I thought, however, that the references to flying saucers and Martians gave the book a little of a dated flavor, but it didn't harm the book at all. A good book for teenagers who like to read or for adults who have a sense or humor and/or an imagination.
Rating: Summary: Lyrical and haunting. A triumph of the human spirit. Review: What a beautiful book! I almost cried when Salo disembodied himself to prove his love and loyalty to Skip. Before reading this book, I thought myself a reductionist. It turned me around. Everyone should read this masterpiece. To paraphrase the author, "I guess somebody up there likes me."
Rating: Summary: Underrated is an understatement for Sirens... Review: When people hear the name Kurt Vonnegut, they think of Slaughterhouse 5, or Cat's Cradle, or perhaps even that his books are often burned in high schools around the country for their dim look at human existence. Not to, in any way, down play the importance or greatness of his more famous works, as I love them all, but I must say that Sirens of Titan is superior to his other works. For some reason, perhaps the science fiction aspects of the novel, this book has not received its deserved recognition. I read approximately the first fifty pages thinking that this book would be about the same as his other novels. I almost put it away to start a different one. Thankfully, I pressed on. Literally, a few pages later, I was entranced by the language, the structure, the revealed surprises, and the humanity of The Sirens of Titan. Every time you think he has revealed the best secret of the book, another one reveals itself. This story is wonderfully intertwined between a set of characters, and the meaning of life. I have since read this book three more times, enjoying it more each time through. If you only read another book in your entire life, please let it be this one. Open your heart and your mind, and let Vonnegut pour into them his wisdom and hope for a better tomorrow.
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