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Summary: Eisenhower, television and dystopia
Review: Player Piano, by Kurt Vonnegut, is an interesting novel, especially considering it was published in 1952. The basic plot centering around Dr. Paul Proteus, the flawed City of Illium and his struggles with the dominant machine-centered lifestyle is solid enough to hold someone's attention, and the humor peppered through the dialogue is a welcome compliment to the traditional science fiction theme. Paul's casual "To hell with you" remark to his colleague Doctor Kroner showed his cynicism but was still humorous nonetheless. There's some interesting exchanges as well, notably the encounter between the Shar of Bratpuhr and the super-machine EPICAC XIV. One of the reviews I read mentioned loneliness as the central theme of the book and that the science fiction surrounding played a secondary role. I wouldn't go that far, but there is a certain amount of validity in that theory. Vonnegut himself, being so anti-technological, might agree with this as well. Obviously, he wanted to show the destructive and negative affect mechanization will have on society as a whole. But the ill effects of a machine-dominated society come at a personal level just as much as they do on a grand scale. Toward the end of the novel, Proteus comes to the conclusion that he is alone in his grasp of reality (the true evils of Illium) as the revolution ends. From his hatred and struggle against the machine-dominated society to his "automatic" relationship with his wife, Doctor Proteus was emotionally isolated. He doesn't want people to perceive him as a "stuffed shirt", and he struggles with this throughout the book. Vonnegut wants people to see how excess technology can harm and potentially destroy both the fabric of society and the inner-person as well.
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Summary: Great analysis of American Society
Review: Kurt Vonnegut does an amazing job of integrating his vast knowledge of science and technology with the harsh realities of society. While his work is science fiction, it is truly believable as it speaks of many of the problems which plague American today. When the novel was first published in 1952, Vonnegut cleverly predicted a society, which would be led by technology, and would one day devalue all human thought. The amazing thing about this is that this concept may seem even a bit outdated today. Not only does he deal with issues of technology, he also incorporates ideas of female roles through the inception of Anita into the plot and the restraints she feels as a result of being a woman. Most importantly, however, Vonnegut is very "Thoreauesque" throughout his novel. He is quite successful at leading the reader to realize how important a simple, individualist life is away from many of the confines which society tries to place on people. In this way, I would highly recommend the novel to anyone interested in the culture studies or society as it was in the 1950's.
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Summary: Review of Player Piano
Review: Player Piano is an excellent example of the relationship between the organic and technological. Humans are being replaced by machines left and right and across the river in Ilium, New York. The characters of Player Piano live in a time when there is no more war, and where machines can do their jobs much better than they will ever be able to. Doctor Paul Proteus, the pride and major symbol of wealth in Ilium, is the main character. He has the most interesting perspective on machinery and it's beauty in the novel. He finds machines not only to be entertaining, but a way of life as well. Man made and man operated objects are quite rare in this time period. Instruments are even mechanized as machines are considered musical with their buzzes and zips. A perfect example of an organic instrument being mechanized is the piano. It is mechanized by making the piano play itself with the push of a pedal: the player piano. Paul even admits that his own marriage has taken n a mechanical, technological form. His wife Anita has a very systematic approach to their marriage and courtship conventions. Even the government is described in a very mechanized way. A man called the Shah is shown throughout the novel in his observations of American society. He sees the citizens and army soldiers as slaves, because only slaves would do as they are told. Machines are viewed as being as way of American life. One of Paul's main examples of America being industrialized was his theory of the third Industrial Revolution. Perhaps indicating that one day humans will be slaves to machines instead of machines being slaves to humans.
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Summary: A good read for Vonnegut fans
Review: An interesting early novel by Vonnegut. Not as fun-filled or imaginative as later works, but contains the seeds of later themes. The main character, Paul Proteus, manages the Ilium Works. He has doubts about the technological advance that seems to value output and efficiency above people. In the story there is a writer, husband of a woman who turns to prostitution rather than have her husband compromise his artistic integrity by writing a book that will sell. The writer's first book was rejected because it was "27 pages too long", and had an anti-machine theme. The wife remarks, "cmy husband says somebody's just got to be maladjusted; that somebody's got to be uncomfortable enough to wonder where people are, where they're going, and why they're going there." An insight into Vonnegut's views, perhaps. Although the book is more about ideas than character or dialogue, yet both character and dialogue are competently handled. Paul questions the absolute value and benefice of technology, because of what he feels within himself as well as what he sees happening to people around him. Yet Paul never fully joins the revolutionaries either, whose fanaticism and amateurism lead to their downfall. His difficulties are compounded by the fact that he has no-one in whom he can confide, and in addition, he is being considered for promotion, and his wife is very ambitious. There is quite a lot of symbolism: Paul frequently crosses the river into Homestead where the "workers" live. This is seen as a socially downward move. Paul comes into contact with an underground movement, "The Ghost Shirt Society", and later actually joins them in an underground bunker where he is hailed as a messiah. The alert reader will recognize echoes of Huxley's "Brave New World", HG Wells' "The Time Machine" (with its division into 2 races), and George Orwell's "1984", a world where machines and technology rule. Not as much fun as Vonnegut's later works, but solid fare, and food for thought: although the descriptions of Ilium seem dated, the theme of a technological "utopia" gone wrong is one that continually crops up in the popular culture, cf movies such as "The Matrix", "Fifth Element" and "Blade Runner", or even "Terminator".
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Summary: For die-hard fans
Review: I have been a big fan of Kurt Vonnegut for many years, and I've enjoyed several of his books immensely. This one got lost on my overstuffed bookshelves for many years until I recently found it. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to the many other books I've enjoyed by this author. That's not to say it wasn't good; this man vs. machine story set in the future is dated and relevant at the same time. The description of "future" machines is unintentionally amusing, considering our computerized world, yet the theme of man being displaced by machines is still timely. The books starts off slowly; if you can make it through the first third, you'll do OK. It never really builds beyond that point, but it's never boring, either. Still, fans should take a look at this one, because it's early Vonnegut, and he's beginning to show the style and humor that have made him so popular.
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Summary: A great Vonnegut book, that doesn't feel Vonnegut
Review: As I said in my heading, this is probably the greatest Vonnegut book, but it doesn't have the odd and recognizable prose that most of all of his other books have. This was his first book, a satire on society, technology and the future. I wouldn't call it science fiction, I would just call this book 'true'. It has some very interesting and provokative points and really makes you think about where you stand in this world. This is the story of a man named Paul who is very high in a society where it's all based on social skills and your IQ, who is influence by an old friend and breaks away from society loosing everything. It's an amazing book, the only down fall is the length, but I'm not complaining. It's one of those books that when you are done you feel compassion for literature, life, what you have and the fact that Kurt Vonnegut is one of the greatest writers ever. God Bless you Kurt Vonnegut...that's all I have to say.
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Summary: Hard to get into.
Review: I have read three Vonnegut books. I loved Cat's Cradle and Slaughterhouse Five, so I decided to read his first book, and was disapointed. It was good, but it took me many tries before I could really sit down and get into it, and that doesn't happen to me very often. It has a really slow start, and I can't decide whether it ends up being worth the trouble.
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Summary: Vonnegut's First and Best
Review: This was the first Kurt Vonnegut book that I have ever had the pleasure of reading. It was also his first book, since I was reading them chronologically. At first, it was a bit slow-going and a little confusing. But after the first 20 pages or so, you're taken into this world that is completely believable and utterly fascinating. This book was ahead of its time; describing the life of one man living in an age of machines. It's funny and poignant and absolutely wonderful. If you've never read anything by Vonnegut, I recommend starting here; it's a great way to see how his writing style has developed over the years. If you have read some of his stuff before and just haven't read this, READ IT. I tell you, it'll suck you in and you won't be able to put it down. I know that's an annoying cliche, but it's true. Kurt knows what he's doing. :)
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Summary: Good because it's different
Review: Vonnegut's first novel is an excellent piece of writing that represents the author's fabulous potential. Do not, however, read this book simply because you enjoyed Slaughterhous 5. While the most famous of Vonnegut novels deserves every word of praise it has recieved, it does not, in my opinion represent the gist of his work. Player Piano does. It includes all the classic elements--vivid and fresh characters, clever and careful plot, and, most importantly, the satirical wit. Vonnegut's style changed substantially throughout his career, and this is a shining example of the first phase.
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Summary: Doesn't nearly aproach Vonnegut's potential
Review: Although I consider myself an avid reader of Vonnegut, I was surprised to find that I couldn't help finding this book kind of childish in the simplicity of it and its message. Don't get me wrong! I love Vonnegut. I'm just saying that this book happens to be an exception to his great work, possibly because it was his first and his style hadn't fully matured then. The true Vonnegut books that I recommend reading, are 'Slaughter-House-five' and 'Mother Night.' Please don't dissmiss Vonnegut as a bad writer if you don't like this book or hear that it isn't good. It is not in any way representational of what Vonnegut can do. Go read 'Slaughter-House-Five' and you'll witness the true power of Vonnegut's art.
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