Slice of Life

by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

The corridor of the Fine Arts Building was deserted, save for two figures at the far end, two men approaching slowly. Rose was about to go into the classroom, where she’d left her purse, when she saw a sign on the door—a crude sign in pencil, on a ragged sheet of paper. “Collapse of Western Civilization — Dr. Norbert Beilstein,” it said. “Visitors welcome.”Previously unpublished, Slice of Life—about a college coed’s winter-induced dream—is an early testament to Kurt Vonnegut’s original voice and curious imagination. Cover design by Adil Dara.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Science Fiction, Audiobook, Classics, 21st Century, Literature

32 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 18, 2016

About the author

Kurt Vonnegut, Junior was an American novelist, satirist, and most recently, graphic artist. He was recognized as New York State Author for 2001-2003.

He was born in Indianapolis, later the setting for many of his novels. He attended Cornell University from 1941 to 1943, where he wrote a column for the student newspaper, the Cornell Daily Sun. Vonnegut trained as a chemist and worked as a journalist before joining the U.S. Army and serving in World War II.

After the war, he attended University of Chicago as a graduate student in anthropology and also worked as a police reporter at the City News Bureau of Chicago. He left Chicago to work in Schenectady, New York in public relations for General Electric. He attributed his unadorned writing style to his reporting work.

His experiences as an advance scout in the Battle of the Bulge, and in particular his witnessing of the bombing of Dresden, Germany whilst a prisoner of war, would inform much of his work. This event would also form the core of his most famous work, Slaughterhouse-Five, the book which would make him a millionaire. This acerbic 200-page book is what most people mean when they describe a work as "Vonnegutian" in scope.

Vonnegut was a self-proclaimed humanist and socialist (influenced by the style of Indiana's own Eugene V. Debs) and a lifelong supporter of the American Civil Liberties Union.

The novelist is known for works blending satire, black comedy and science fiction, such as Slaughterhouse-Five (1969), Cat's Cradle (1963), and Breakfast of Champions (1973)

Reviews

[Tatevik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vonnegut has this lecture where he explains the shape of stories. He draws a graph where the typical story has the picture of sinus or cosinus graph (if you remember from school).

Boy meets girl. Somebody on a day like any other day comes across something perfectly wonderful.
-Oh boy, this is my lucky day (up). Shit (down). And gets it back again(up).

After that he explains that some of the stories are different from the sinus shape on the graph, like Kafka’s. But that’s not the point here.

This love story typically goes with his drawn graph, but if he wrote it he doesn’t mind I guess.

With some of the authors you love the man more than his writing. And that’s my case with Vonnegut. If you’re not convinced yet go watch his lectures on youtube. Most of us don’t have the privilege to see those authors in person.

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Every time I read something by Vonnegut, I'm left with the feeling of, "huh."

[Tim Goldsmith · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's funny to have read this short novella having just finished C.S. Lewis' "Space Trilogy". Here we find another vision, and a different angle on the dangers of scientists who have a desire to "save" the world.
In this short story, Rose, while looking for her purse enters a lecture room with "Collapse of Western Civilization - Dr. Norbert Beilstein" written on the door. This innocent moment drags her into Beilstein's vision to perfect humanity and to save the world through genetic manipulation.
I've always been a Vonnegut fan, and this small work is a classic example of why. In such a short space, this novel traverses a bunch of big philosophical questions. Can a science disconnected from a moral core really deliver? What is the value of intellect if there is no love or compassion? What relationship is there between the desires of an individual (on this occasion, Rose's going to a special ceremony declaring where she can declare her betrothal to her boyfriend) and the perceived future of humanity? Ought one cede to the other?

A quick read, and delightful

[michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

maybe it translated better on screen

[RatGrrrl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this short send up of 'Great Man Theory'.

My only complaint is that I don't believe kids need mothers or fathers. It is a far too simplistic and bioessentialist concept that is, frankly, misogynistic. Children simply need guardians, whether that being one or more persons identifying as mother, father, or anything else, including those raised by community.

I understand the story is old and the point is to satirise and demonstrate the monstrousness of 'Great Man Theory' and patriarchal, misogynistic notions.

[Virginia Wages · Rating 4 out of 5]

super quick 1 hr audiobook. vonnegut is always delightful but this story definitely took a turn at the end that i wasn’t expecting. 4 stars because it isn’t his best.

[X · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vonnegut never failed to impress me till now.

He has such a unique way of writing, that I find very appealing.

This short story was an Editors Pick from Kindle and I read it in less than hour. I liked that idea that while stuck on a no so interesting book, I can dive a bit in Kurt's jewels, refresh & reload myself.

The message was indirectly written, that love is one of the most essential spice to make the life plate edible and favorable. Without it it's like missing the main ingredient.

I also sensed a salute to womankind and their important role in nurturing future generations.

[Tennille Biggers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh boy is this a wild ride! I didn't realize what I was getting into, but it was a perfect story for Halloween. The creepy factor is so fun and the characters are so wildly imaginative that the silliness of it all seems beside the point. The author makes it clear that Rose is dreaming, but I kept forgetting and really wanted her to just get to the ridiculous ivy ceremony. The anticipation! Read it and enjoy this snack of a story.

[Kristen Pesta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really thought-provoking, creepy story from Vonnegut. I really enjoyed it!

[aether · Rating 1 out of 5]

Normally enjoy Vonnegut, but this read as grossly sexist and was extremely predictable.

[Vansh · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s the superman debate all over again; won’t spoil it but what do you do when someone you know has or will have great power is raised in a bad environment? How important is love and (good) parental figures and what kind of ones specifically? What defines ‘good’ here even? Sacrifice of one person so that everyone else can go on well? One person losing their empathy so that they can rule effectively?

Vonnegut’s asked this question in this book in a good enough manner however much like Orwell- I’d just prefer him/them sometimes writing essays to express their ideas rather than stories (then again that’s one of their charms ey?).
I have no answer right now. Might be a cop out but I want to do what John and Martha Kent did with the addition of some thoughts on power and how to get it efficiently and ethically. Thankfully I’ve got time-limited though it may be.
If you’re having children please read this atleast once or atleast when your child comes to an age of 2-4 y/o. Cheers!

[Andy Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second Vonnegut short I have read and I think the format suits his wit and helps him to deliver an idea a bit more coherently than in some of his novels. Here a young female student stumbles on a plot by a mad geneticist to recreate the great men of the era. She decides, subconsciously perhaps, that the one thing the children need is a mother. I say "subconsciously perhaps" though the whole thing is subconscious as it is cast as a dream. I think that's a bit unfortunate and he should have had more faith in just going with a madcap idea and seeing it through as he would no doubt have done later in his career.

[cypher · Rating 1 out of 5]

a rip off H G Wells and Mary Shelley, sprinkle some things from pop culture back then and add some sexism, make it a coherent enough story: typical Vonnegut.
men are not needed around for the special ceremony, the rings need to speak to the women, and women are pretty in "spring" (when the "flowers" bloom, as in, open their legs) when they cry...i really can't see this guy for anything more than a sexist man who happened to make it as a writer.

[Ian · Rating 1 out of 5]

Previously unpublished until 2016, maybe should have stayed that way. Has some funny moments and a premise with potential, but overall it goes in a boring direction. Very a heavy-handed, corny message.

I think this is unluckily a poor first impression for a great writer and from what I’ve heard Vonnegut sounds right up my alley (ironic like Twain with a dash of Huxley speculative sci-fi humour). I have a copy of Slaughterhouse 5, I’ll give it a go someday soon.

[Josetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite an interesting story and makes me want to read more Vonnegut. Not sure when the story was written, but I think some time around 1951. That is the only date reference I remember. It feels like an early work and was previously unpublished as far as I can tell.

While set as a dream, it is clear that Vonnegut thinks this might be where we are headed -- a loveless society of science. Must've been quite forward-thinking when he wrote it. Likely unheard of and considered "science fiction" at the time, we now know it is possible.

Clearly, though, Vonnegut is a good writer, even early on. I am anxious to read something else and soon!

[Marianne Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the reason I loved this short story is because it's so much like my weird dreams. Sometimes I must wake myself up if it gets too be much by asking other dream characters to tell me "Wake up Marianne!" It works. My favorite good weird dream was "Betty White On an Ironing Board" Zoom Zoom she went.

[Joey Bishop · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another short story from Vonnegut. Definitely a few interesting ideas in here. Vonnegut has a very particular writing style which generally paints a good mental image. This isn't Vonnegut's best work but it's worth a read.

[Jake Lewsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is one is so fucking funny???? i cant tell if thats a product of the writing style if its on purpose.

"you've told, eh?"
"but i didnt tell them about your experiments. i didn't tell them you were making baby geniuses by the dump!"
"hush!"

[Lyndsey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Awful!! Waste of time

[Eric Thomas Templeton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Vonney's Slice of Life

Easy read. Not much happened and did seem like the story was going anywhere. Gave rating as I I'd because at points I got very bored.

[Harry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A college girl stumbles on a hideous experiment in a dream. Very short but worth the time, as are all Kurt Vonnegut's books.

[Melanti · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh.

I'm not a big fan of Vonnegut's short fiction, nor am I a big fan of "it's all just a dream" stories.

[Melodie Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating story, well written

Never read Vonnegut before today. A dark mind, but a brilliant story teller, exploring a typical distopian future in a novel way.

[Terri Norton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome

I love Kurt Vonnegut books. Highly recommend. They are other wordly at times and other times they just make sense. Enjoy.

[Deb Holden · Rating 4 out of 5]

A novella. A strange story but enjoyable.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting plot line and story twist.

[James Winduss · Rating 4 out of 5]

I seem to like most Vonnegut that isn't slaughter house 5

[Shrutu1vibhor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Glimpse of Kurt s imagination with good building of characters. But appears Incomplete

[Mahayana Dugast · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original

[Saravanan Mani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short funny and straightforward tale with a classic twist