While Mortals Sleep (Vintage Classics)
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Review
"Immensely readable and thoroughly entertaining.""--The Washington Post"
"Taut, concise . . . The stories set themselves up with neat swiftness, proceed at a clip, and shut down with equal speed, [showing Vonnegut] honing his skills in structure and satire.""--Los Angeles Times"
" "
"A lovely reminder of the mischievous moral voice we lost when we lost Kurt Vonnegut.""--San Francisco Chronicle "
" "
"These stories were all good when they were written decades ago, but many strike me as great now. Never has the voice of Kurt Vonnegut, humanist and humorist, been more relevant."--"The Seattle Times"
"There's something distinctly timeless about Vonnegut's vision.""--"Minneapolis" Star-Tribune"
"Taut, concise . . . The stories set themselves up with neat swiftness, proceed at a clip, and shut down with equal speed, [showing Vonnegut] honing his skills in structure and satire.""--Los Angeles Times"
" "
"A lovely reminder of the mischievous moral voice we lost when we lost Kurt Vonnegut.""--San Francisco Chronicle "
" "
"These stories were all good when they were written decades ago, but many strike me as great now. Never has the voice of Kurt Vonnegut, humanist and humorist, been more relevant."--"The Seattle Times"
"There's something distinctly timeless about Vonnegut's vision.""--"Minneapolis" Star-Tribune"
Book Description
A collection of sixteen previously unpublished stories by the twentieth century master
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16 reviews
26 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Mark Twain of the Twentieth Century
26 Jan 2011
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Kurt Vonnegut died in the early part of the twenty-first century, but he belonged to the twentieth century. He could have easily died in that conflict that split the century in two; he could have perished in the flames and rubble of Dresden. He didn't, and American culture is better for it. It is better in the same way that American culture of the nineteenth century is better because a young Confederate soldier lived through that conflict that split the country in two - young Samuel Clemens.
I have always maintained the parallel between the two men. They were writers, yes. But they were more than writers. They represented the slanted moral voice that could laugh at itself and the culture. These voices were in earnest though; they lacked the facile surface-grazing of the postmodern condition. They speak a truth where writers are afraid to talk about whether you can even capitalize that `t' now.
Kurt Vonnegut died, and his was the only celebrity death I have mourned in a long time. I had long been meaning to make a pilgrimage to his neighborhood. I wanted to intercept him on the street as he walked to the post office or the local bodega to buy his cigarettes. I wanted to stop him and just say "Thank you".
Vonnegut died and left a hole in the soul of America, but he lives on. Thankfully he was prolific and lived long. There have now been three books published since his death. These books are different, but they all show why I love Kurt Vonnegut.
First published was a book of the older stuff, work for websites and highlights of his art. We were able to see the full fruit and flower of a life that spanned an eventful century. Then they put out a collection of his earlier work, including the germ of the story that became _Slaughterhouse-V_.
Now we have this collection, _While Mortals Sleep_. Eggers, in the introduction, points out that these stories are somewhat formulaic and emblematic of the middle-brow conventions of a time where middle-brow magazines published fiction. This collection is not _Dubliners_, but it doesn't need to be. We see the human, antic voice develop in this somewhat uneven batch of stories. I am glad I read it, but I am biased. I would read this man's old grocery lists - and if we wait long enough, they just might be released in hardback.
I have always maintained the parallel between the two men. They were writers, yes. But they were more than writers. They represented the slanted moral voice that could laugh at itself and the culture. These voices were in earnest though; they lacked the facile surface-grazing of the postmodern condition. They speak a truth where writers are afraid to talk about whether you can even capitalize that `t' now.
Kurt Vonnegut died, and his was the only celebrity death I have mourned in a long time. I had long been meaning to make a pilgrimage to his neighborhood. I wanted to intercept him on the street as he walked to the post office or the local bodega to buy his cigarettes. I wanted to stop him and just say "Thank you".
Vonnegut died and left a hole in the soul of America, but he lives on. Thankfully he was prolific and lived long. There have now been three books published since his death. These books are different, but they all show why I love Kurt Vonnegut.
First published was a book of the older stuff, work for websites and highlights of his art. We were able to see the full fruit and flower of a life that spanned an eventful century. Then they put out a collection of his earlier work, including the germ of the story that became _Slaughterhouse-V_.
Now we have this collection, _While Mortals Sleep_. Eggers, in the introduction, points out that these stories are somewhat formulaic and emblematic of the middle-brow conventions of a time where middle-brow magazines published fiction. This collection is not _Dubliners_, but it doesn't need to be. We see the human, antic voice develop in this somewhat uneven batch of stories. I am glad I read it, but I am biased. I would read this man's old grocery lists - and if we wait long enough, they just might be released in hardback.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Unpublished For A Reason
21 Sep 2011
Format:Hardcover
These stories are recognisably Vonnegut, but they are not equal to the short stories he did sell, let alone his more mature novels. You can see the same themes and style, but also that he hasn't quite perfected his art yet. Charming, in a way, like footage of a great athlete or musician when they were just starting out.
For dedicated fans or scholars only.
For dedicated fans or scholars only.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
A Masterful Collection of Short Stories
9 Feb 2011
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
As a lover of short stories, I am always on the lookout for new collections that I haven't read. I was surprised to see that Vonnegut was an author of short stories, but also that a good number existed at his death that had never been published. I had never read Vonnegut, although I was supposed to in high school, but they changed books in that class and so we missed out on his writing. I have meant to read one of his works, but have just never gotten around to it. For those who haven't, you are missing the work of a wonderful author and I would recommend getting some of his writing.
This short story collection covers a wide range of stories. All were told with great skill and honed to be finely crafted stories. From the robot in the beginning to the money that talks near the end, these stories are carefully written to draw you in and then surprise you at the end. I would recommend this collection of stories to all, especially those that have never experienced Vonnegut's work!
This short story collection covers a wide range of stories. All were told with great skill and honed to be finely crafted stories. From the robot in the beginning to the money that talks near the end, these stories are carefully written to draw you in and then surprise you at the end. I would recommend this collection of stories to all, especially those that have never experienced Vonnegut's work!
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