On Vonnegut

Modern globalization,
Coupled with condemnations,
Unnecessary death,
Matador corporations,
Puppeting your frustrations,
With the blinded flag,
Manufacturing consent,
Is the name of the game,
The bottom line is money,
Nobody gives a fuck.
4000 hungry children leave us per hour,
From starvation,
While billions are spent on bombs,
Creating death showers

System of a Down - Boom!

Kurt Vonnegut passed away yesterday, April 11th, 2007. Needless to say, it's a sad day as the world has lost one of its greatest living literary figures. I do not think it would be hyperbole to say that Vonnegut is one of the most important fiction writers of the moder era. Any literature fan has no doubt come across one of Vonnegut's books, most likely Slaughtehouse-Five or Cat's Cradle. I'm sorry to say that though I've read several of his short stories, the only novel of his that I've read was Slaughterhouse-Five. Vonnegut was as unique an author as we will ever see. He was a science-fiction author that was able to breach mainstream readership. Not many other authors have been able achieve this (maybe Isaac Asimov, Douglas Adams, and Bruce Coville would also be on this short list), and they had a very different writing style than Vonnegut's. Vonnegut's works were always powerful, always passionate, and, perhaps most importantly, they always had a message. Vonnegut was well-known for his ambivalence towards religion and his hatred of war, and these two concepts are constantly displayed in his works. He was never one to shy away from pointing out the folly's of man. If Vonnegut saw something wrong with the world, he was not afraid to point it out. This continued even in his later age as he criticized president Bush and his war in Iraq.
Vonnegut's works did that rare thing that one rarely finds in a book anymore, they made you think. They made you contemplate life, death, the world, humanity, and other 'not so pleasant' topics. He forced us to face that which we'd rather ignore. Try getting that from a John Grisham novel. Vonnegut wrote with a purpose that was above mere entertainment. He made us care. And ultimately, that will be his contribution to literature. He was not 'just another writer' of fantasy. He will be remembered as one of the most thoughtful, influential authors, be it science fiction or otherwise, of the twentieth century. His spirit will live on through the countless number of would-be writers that he has inspired. Hopefully, someone will be able to pick up the torch and carry-on Vonnegut's legacy. But even then, there will never be another Vonnegut. The world mourns a true icon today. Kurt, you will be missed.