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The Big Trip Up Yonder
The story is set in 2158 A.D., after the invention of a medicine called Anti-Gerasone, which is made from mud and dandelions and is thus inexpensive and widely available. Anti-Gerasone halts the aging process and prevents people from dying of old age as long as they keep taking it; as a result, America now suffers from severe overpopulation and shortages of food and resources. With the exception of the very wealthy, most of the population appears to survive on a diet of foods made from processed seaweed and sawdust. Gramps Ford, his chin resting on his hands, his hands on the crook of his cane, was staring irascibly at the five-foot television screen that dominated the room. On the screen, a news commentator was summarizing the day's happenings. Every thirty seconds or so, Gramps would jab the floor with his cane-tip and shout, "Hell, we did that a hundred years ago!" Emerald and Lou, coming in from the balcony, where they had been seeking that 2185 A.D. rarity--privacy--were obliged to take seats in the back row, behind about a dozen relatives with whom they shared the house. All save Gramps, who was somewhat withered and bent, seemed, by pre-anti-gerasone standards, to be about the same age--somewhere in their late twenties or early thirties. Gramps looked older because he had already reached 70 when anti-gerasone was invented. He had not aged in the 102 years since. "Next one shoots off his big bazoo while the TV's on is gonna find hisself cut off without a dollar--" his voice suddenly softened and sweetened--"when they wave that checkered flag at the Indianapolis Speedway, and old Gramps gets ready for the Big Trip Up Yonder." He sniffed sentimentally, while his heirs concentrated desperately on not making the slightest sound. For them, the poignancy of the prospective Big Trip had been dulled somewhat, through having been mentioned by Gramps about once a day for fifty years.
28 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1954
62 people are currently reading
2466 people want to read
About the author
Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
710 books36.9k followersKurt 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)
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)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews
August 12, 2025
Can you imagine living in a small New York City apartment with all of your extended family (grandparents, parents, kids, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles) for decades? Centuries even? In Vonnegut's 2158 AD, everyone can live for as long as they'd like thanks to a medicine called Anti-Gerasone. Unfortunately, with no one dying and resources (including housing) under strain, well, see above.
I, for one, would choose to take a permanent dirt nap. There are certain relatives I can't stand to be in the same room as for more than twenty minutes, much less hundreds of years. After the 700th conversation about how flying the Confederate flag is about "heritage and not hate,” I'd be yeeting myself off this mortal coil so fast, you guys.
Anyway, this story is fun and very Vonnegut, but there's not really a whole lot to it. 3.49 stars, rounded down.
I, for one, would choose to take a permanent dirt nap. There are certain relatives I can't stand to be in the same room as for more than twenty minutes, much less hundreds of years. After the 700th conversation about how flying the Confederate flag is about "heritage and not hate,” I'd be yeeting myself off this mortal coil so fast, you guys.
Anyway, this story is fun and very Vonnegut, but there's not really a whole lot to it. 3.49 stars, rounded down.
July 24, 2019
“2BR02B” is a Vonnegut sci fi short story that imagines a future where aging has been “cured” and population control is mandated by the government. It could be seen as a kind of prequel to “The Big Trip Yonder,” (original title, “Tomorrow, and Tomorrow and Tomorrow,” also Shakespearean) a couple centuries in the future, after the invention of a medicine called Anti-Gerasone, which halts the aging process and prevents people from dying of old age as long as they keep taking it; everybody takes it, and as a result, America now suffers from severe overpopulation and food shortages.
Grandpa Ford regularly shouts, "Hell, we did that a hundred years ago!" and every day for the last fifty years he has said he is getting ready for “the Big Trip Up Yonder." One of his family plans to kill him, all of his family are greedily fighting.
What a crazy story! Fear death?! Why would anyone want to pretend we can live forever?!
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...
Cher’s take on this issue:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsKbw....
Grandpa Ford regularly shouts, "Hell, we did that a hundred years ago!" and every day for the last fifty years he has said he is getting ready for “the Big Trip Up Yonder." One of his family plans to kill him, all of his family are greedily fighting.
What a crazy story! Fear death?! Why would anyone want to pretend we can live forever?!
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...
Cher’s take on this issue:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsKbw....
May 19, 2015
This is a futuristic novel. Although it does not describe the future in general, it focuses on two themes: how to prolong life by inventing an anti-aging medicine, super anti-Gerasone and the effects of this idyllic concept.
The original title of the book was TOMORROW and TOMORROW and TOMORROW and it was published in 1983. The author himself, Kurt Vonnegut, predicted by writing a story what it is like in the future when there is such an anti-aging medicine. In the story, the clan of the Schwartz family headed by 172-year-old Harold, along with his 22 descendants, lives together in the same house since the population of the world is no longer “genocidal”. In other world, clans of families are soaring in great number. Harold , also known as Gramps , relies heavily on the said medicine to live longer. However, one of his grandchildren plans to kill him. Consequently, all the members of the clan tend to be at odd against one another in the name of inheritance. So the fight for the wealth centers around the story.
I was somehow groping a little. May be I was not used to the story bringing myself in the future which things like how to prolong life are unimaginable. Besides, Vonnegut used futuristic words. So reading such genre appeared different to me.
To understand the essence of the story, Vonnegut just wanted to discuss the probable effect s of super anti-Gerasone. So let me draw the conclusions. If there is such anti-aging, automatically, the world population will increase in great size and number. And one of the effects is drastic urbanization and industrialization just like the example in the story wherein the clan clammed together in the same house. So I was convulsed with laughter upon reading one of my GR friends’ question how the members of the clan are able to jerk off . ^^ In addition, another sad effect is the disappearance of people’s morality. People might learn to be barbarian by virtue of social classification.
We are now in the modern era. I would consider that this era is now ultramodern, for peoples can invent something new, which can simplify our lives. Unfortunately, increasing life expectancy, which has been the primary target ever since the time immemorial, is still a big, big failure.
On the other hand, for me the real crux of the book is about DEATH. The book may indicate that many of us , especially adults in midlife, are still afraid of death. So we expect that scientists will invent such “Elysiac” elixir in the future. I may not have been around by the time when that ground has been broken.
So , are you afraid to die? How about me? I guess so. Not that I cannot find the so-called geographical place, Hell or Heaven, but I want to enjoy my life more as the Gramps Harold put it at the end of the story,” Life is so good. “
The original title of the book was TOMORROW and TOMORROW and TOMORROW and it was published in 1983. The author himself, Kurt Vonnegut, predicted by writing a story what it is like in the future when there is such an anti-aging medicine. In the story, the clan of the Schwartz family headed by 172-year-old Harold, along with his 22 descendants, lives together in the same house since the population of the world is no longer “genocidal”. In other world, clans of families are soaring in great number. Harold , also known as Gramps , relies heavily on the said medicine to live longer. However, one of his grandchildren plans to kill him. Consequently, all the members of the clan tend to be at odd against one another in the name of inheritance. So the fight for the wealth centers around the story.
I was somehow groping a little. May be I was not used to the story bringing myself in the future which things like how to prolong life are unimaginable. Besides, Vonnegut used futuristic words. So reading such genre appeared different to me.
To understand the essence of the story, Vonnegut just wanted to discuss the probable effect s of super anti-Gerasone. So let me draw the conclusions. If there is such anti-aging, automatically, the world population will increase in great size and number. And one of the effects is drastic urbanization and industrialization just like the example in the story wherein the clan clammed together in the same house. So I was convulsed with laughter upon reading one of my GR friends’ question how the members of the clan are able to jerk off . ^^ In addition, another sad effect is the disappearance of people’s morality. People might learn to be barbarian by virtue of social classification.
We are now in the modern era. I would consider that this era is now ultramodern, for peoples can invent something new, which can simplify our lives. Unfortunately, increasing life expectancy, which has been the primary target ever since the time immemorial, is still a big, big failure.
On the other hand, for me the real crux of the book is about DEATH. The book may indicate that many of us , especially adults in midlife, are still afraid of death. So we expect that scientists will invent such “Elysiac” elixir in the future. I may not have been around by the time when that ground has been broken.
So , are you afraid to die? How about me? I guess so. Not that I cannot find the so-called geographical place, Hell or Heaven, but I want to enjoy my life more as the Gramps Harold put it at the end of the story,” Life is so good. “
April 21, 2013
Ugh, can't imagine being stuck in the same room as my immediate family, never mind my extended one.
Question: Do these people not masturbate? How do they have sex? Do they have sex in front of their family? Or does the daybed have a schedule for that?
*shudder*
Question: Do these people not masturbate? How do they have sex? Do they have sex in front of their family? Or does the daybed have a schedule for that?
*shudder*
April 25, 2024
I considered writing a review of one word à la Douglas Adam’s’ entry for the Earth in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy: ‘Harmless’, except my word for this would be ‘short’.
Again, I’d consider expanding the review in much the same way that Adam’s’ was lengthened from ‘Harmless’ to ‘Mostly harmless’. So here it is:
Very short.
Again, I’d consider expanding the review in much the same way that Adam’s’ was lengthened from ‘Harmless’ to ‘Mostly harmless’. So here it is:
Very short.
May 4, 2015
"Most of the world's ills can be traced to the fact that Man's knowledge of himself has not kept pace with his knowledge of the physical world."
"Hell" snorted Gramps. "We said that a hundred years ago!"
Set in a world which has created an anti-ageing potion and has resulted in too many people, this rib tickling piece has brought my so much joy. The quote must have made it clear that this isn't just a story meant to make one laugh. There is an intense profundity in this dystopian story. It made me wonder, why is death considered a grave subject? Why is philosophy often read in a serious manner?
Here, I read what I have known for many years. Yet, unlike those times it didn't feel as heavy. I laughed at myself. Like the Ford family, I have been a prisoner in my own house, in my own mind.
A truly delightful read! I'd recommend reading it twice, once for the humour and again for its layers.
November 23, 2020
This story had an interesting premise, however I feel that it could have been executed a bit better. I liked the advertisement towards the end about the anti-aging solution, but for most of the story I was just a little confused on what was going on and I don't think I would have grasped the point of the story if I hadn't read the description.
However once you understand the point, it really hits home about what the future may look like with an ever increasing population!
However once you understand the point, it really hits home about what the future may look like with an ever increasing population!
March 29, 2020
The future Vonnegut depicted is, strangely, no different from the present reality. Just look at how these family members fight for ownership while unbeknownst to them, somebody -- Gramps -- is really just pulling all the strings and planning to privately own everything. (Such unequal distribution of wealth! Such illusion of possession!)
...And all of these done under a unique tale of a never-aging and ever-expanding Fords family which, if viewed merely as it is, seems to live in the worst kind of family reality show -- with not enough space and not enough privacy from the overpopulated house. Yet, the way Vonnegut weaves all the subtle meanings with this extraordinary sci-fi story is just creative and effectively brilliant in portraying the silliness and seriousness of its intentions.
...And all of these done under a unique tale of a never-aging and ever-expanding Fords family which, if viewed merely as it is, seems to live in the worst kind of family reality show -- with not enough space and not enough privacy from the overpopulated house. Yet, the way Vonnegut weaves all the subtle meanings with this extraordinary sci-fi story is just creative and effectively brilliant in portraying the silliness and seriousness of its intentions.
November 19, 2020
This is a companion story to one I read earlier in the month, 2BRO2B, and it kinda missed the mark for me. I didn't love its companion either, but I felt it was more successful than this one.
The Big Trip Up Yonder takes place in the same future as 2BRO2B but is set earlier. Technology and Big Pharma have come up with a way to stop the aging process. Where 2BRO2B dealt with the dark side of the utopia in the way of voluntary population control, The Big Trip Up Yonder is set before those measures have taken place, where the population is so huge due to nobody dying of old age that whole families (some 4 or 5 generations thick) are living together in tiny one bedroom apartments and fighting over everything from bathroom space to TV channels. Lou lives with his wife Em and several more generations of their family members who are all living in Lou's grandfather's apartment. Lou's grandfather is the only member of the family who was well into his seventies when the anti-aging serum was put on the market and therefore is the only one in the family who does not look like he is in his mid to late 30s. Gramps is now 172 years young, and knows that he will be the first to go on "the big trip up yonder" and uses his position as owner of the house as a way to manipulate his family using his will. When someone pisses him off, they get disinherited for about 6 months, and when a private bedroom in a one bedroom apartment is at stake, everyone is all too willing to bend to Gramps' will.
A misunderstanding ensues one night which leads to chaos and fighting and every single one of Gramps' family members to end up in jail. A jail that is more and more enticing since private rooms and commodes are offered. Jail is much more favorable than a cramped apartment with 22 other people.
There is a bit of a twist to the end, but when I got there I realized I just didn't care. This was a satire of population control and society's obsession with getting older and feeling younger. I understood the point, but it just wasn't my cuppa. Where 2BRO2B was dark and unsettling, this one just came off as silly and didn't create any kind of lasting impression.
2 stars.
Day thirteen of my November challenge where I try to read one science fiction or fantasy short story a day.
The Big Trip Up Yonder takes place in the same future as 2BRO2B but is set earlier. Technology and Big Pharma have come up with a way to stop the aging process. Where 2BRO2B dealt with the dark side of the utopia in the way of voluntary population control, The Big Trip Up Yonder is set before those measures have taken place, where the population is so huge due to nobody dying of old age that whole families (some 4 or 5 generations thick) are living together in tiny one bedroom apartments and fighting over everything from bathroom space to TV channels. Lou lives with his wife Em and several more generations of their family members who are all living in Lou's grandfather's apartment. Lou's grandfather is the only member of the family who was well into his seventies when the anti-aging serum was put on the market and therefore is the only one in the family who does not look like he is in his mid to late 30s. Gramps is now 172 years young, and knows that he will be the first to go on "the big trip up yonder" and uses his position as owner of the house as a way to manipulate his family using his will. When someone pisses him off, they get disinherited for about 6 months, and when a private bedroom in a one bedroom apartment is at stake, everyone is all too willing to bend to Gramps' will.
A misunderstanding ensues one night which leads to chaos and fighting and every single one of Gramps' family members to end up in jail. A jail that is more and more enticing since private rooms and commodes are offered. Jail is much more favorable than a cramped apartment with 22 other people.
There is a bit of a twist to the end, but when I got there I realized I just didn't care. This was a satire of population control and society's obsession with getting older and feeling younger. I understood the point, but it just wasn't my cuppa. Where 2BRO2B was dark and unsettling, this one just came off as silly and didn't create any kind of lasting impression.
2 stars.
Day thirteen of my November challenge where I try to read one science fiction or fantasy short story a day.
November 15, 2017
Humorous, futurist suspense.
July 22, 2025
Ask for more and ye shall receive. A 20 minute read instead of the 15 minutes for 2BR02B and also less gripping but still fun & interesting and very much worth your (limited) time.
May 10, 2020
I was disappointed, since it was written by Vonnegut I was expecting better. I guess a good author can't hit a homerun every time.
July 5, 2023
It was quite fun and interesting. I didn't love it but I enjoyed the experience.
March 26, 2016
Kurt Vonnegut's creativity is great as usual. Imagining the future in a believable way, without any cliche, is quite hard and he does it extremely well.
However, I didn't enjoy it as much as 2BR02B, which I read a long time back. I guess it's because I've already experienced the overpopulation theme, and hence this book didn't affect me so much now.
I'd recommend this book to be read along with 2BR02B.
However, I didn't enjoy it as much as 2BR02B, which I read a long time back. I guess it's because I've already experienced the overpopulation theme, and hence this book didn't affect me so much now.
I'd recommend this book to be read along with 2BR02B.
October 30, 2018
Funny short piece from Vonnegut about a "generational" apartment in an overpopulated, resource poor future where people have unlocked the secret of immortality. Like The Journey of Joenes
by Robert Sheckley, people actually try to either break into jail or get convicted of a crime, because life there is better than on the outside :)
by Robert Sheckley, people actually try to either break into jail or get convicted of a crime, because life there is better than on the outside :)
January 16, 2021
Interesting short story about a future world (one where New York is in, or combined with, Connecticut?) In which people no longer age and the over-populated world deals with a general lack of privacy combined with the now-meaningless practice of keeping a will. Family hierarchies take on new meaning and the temptation to kill grandpa is a sympathetic one.
It’s really short. You could read it in not much more time than it took to read this review.
It’s really short. You could read it in not much more time than it took to read this review.
April 30, 2023
An interesting science fiction type of novel. It was a cute short story and seemed quite original. You were able to easily follow the story. Perhaps a little to easily.
I chose this short story to listen to and I enjoyed the story but felt it dragged on sometimes and just wish it would stop at parts. I never heard of it so I went in blind so I was mildly surprised by its originality which pushed it to the 3 star mark for me. Otherwise 2 at best.
I chose this short story to listen to and I enjoyed the story but felt it dragged on sometimes and just wish it would stop at parts. I never heard of it so I went in blind so I was mildly surprised by its originality which pushed it to the 3 star mark for me. Otherwise 2 at best.
February 10, 2021
I just started reading Vonnegut’s work about 5 months ago. I saw his stuff all the time but I didn’t feel ready. I’ll be honest with you guys because we are all buddies. I was not 😂. I started with slaughterhouse 5 and I’ve been hooked since. I am trying to purchase a copy of Hocus Pocus but it has such mixed reviews.
This was a solid 5 star read and it was hilarious. Could you imagine a world like that ? I know I can’t and I pray I never have to. Happy reading everyone 😻
This was a solid 5 star read and it was hilarious. Could you imagine a world like that ? I know I can’t and I pray I never have to. Happy reading everyone 😻
April 14, 2021
Life can be very hard on the family when you cannot die. Especially when the slightest offence leads to a re-writing of the will.
Vonnegut pitches another SF curve ball in this outwardly silly short story which on deeper inspection shows the problems of getting older in a young person's world.
Vonnegut pitches another SF curve ball in this outwardly silly short story which on deeper inspection shows the problems of getting older in a young person's world.
September 30, 2024
It was so good! Kurt is my new fav author!!
September 28, 2025
Kurt Vonnegut is very funny lol
Got pesky relatives just waiting for you to die? Here’s one way to get rid of them lol
Got pesky relatives just waiting for you to die? Here’s one way to get rid of them lol
January 6, 2025
crazy life
November 12, 2022
Vonnegut loves a good soap opera.
January 17, 2014
I read the Big Trip Up Yonder because I had enjoyed the concept of 2BR02B (which I had read first, although it takes place later) so much and I had heard that this particular short story also focused on the concept of the cure to aging leading to severe population control problems.
I have no regrets in reading this story. It is much lighter than 2BR02B, although this would be expected considering this story focuses on a crowded house compared to 2B's focus on the solution to the population problem and the associated problems for the individuals. That said, the lightness of the story didn't detract from it at any point. This was a story that made me chuckle and smile, as well as feel mildly horrified at the thought of being crammed into a house with several generations of my own relatives.
The Big Trip Up Yonder is worth a read for its interesting sci-fi concept, its tie in with 2BR02B (also worht a read), and its enjoyable lightheartedness. I recommend it for fans of sci-fi looking for a quick light read.
I have no regrets in reading this story. It is much lighter than 2BR02B, although this would be expected considering this story focuses on a crowded house compared to 2B's focus on the solution to the population problem and the associated problems for the individuals. That said, the lightness of the story didn't detract from it at any point. This was a story that made me chuckle and smile, as well as feel mildly horrified at the thought of being crammed into a house with several generations of my own relatives.
The Big Trip Up Yonder is worth a read for its interesting sci-fi concept, its tie in with 2BR02B (also worht a read), and its enjoyable lightheartedness. I recommend it for fans of sci-fi looking for a quick light read.
March 26, 2012
Years of life left before us and lot of things to see and do.
What if we all get the chance to see our great grand children?
More specifically what if we have to live with our children and grand children and great grand children under the same roof?
Well, even for an Indian for whom living in a joint family is a blasé phenomenon, this idea strikes queer.
Vonnegut takes the same road as in 2BR02B and gives a family with the eldest member of the age 172.
Gramps, as he is called lives with his complete family and with his senility and grumpiness, keeps all of them on their toes.
The little transgressions of the family members can lead to amendment of the will which has the most important clause as who is going to get the most comfortable bed in the house and who will end up sleeping near the toilet.
When our Gramps finds out that someone tried to play a little trick with his anti-aging medicine, the senility is promptly replaced by foxy conniving.
A fun one time read !
What if we all get the chance to see our great grand children?
More specifically what if we have to live with our children and grand children and great grand children under the same roof?
Well, even for an Indian for whom living in a joint family is a blasé phenomenon, this idea strikes queer.
Vonnegut takes the same road as in 2BR02B and gives a family with the eldest member of the age 172.
Gramps, as he is called lives with his complete family and with his senility and grumpiness, keeps all of them on their toes.
The little transgressions of the family members can lead to amendment of the will which has the most important clause as who is going to get the most comfortable bed in the house and who will end up sleeping near the toilet.
When our Gramps finds out that someone tried to play a little trick with his anti-aging medicine, the senility is promptly replaced by foxy conniving.
A fun one time read !
August 1, 2018
Lol this is a short witty read I never knew I needed. It feels weird that I randomly chose this, a satire about death and aging, after I just finished The Subtle Art of Not Giving A Fuck, which its latest chapter is also about death.
My first Kurt Vonnegut! Lighter than Philip K. Dick, but still makes me think nonetheless.
My first Kurt Vonnegut! Lighter than Philip K. Dick, but still makes me think nonetheless.
March 26, 2016
In a world where nobody dies, nobody leaves home, because it's so crowded there's no place to move to.
A short story and companion piece to "2BR02B" about the sci fi implications of solving aging and death.
A short story and companion piece to "2BR02B" about the sci fi implications of solving aging and death.
November 9, 2011
Short story about an overcrowded planet where aging has been stopped, all generations look the same, and jail has luxurious privacy and facilities.
December 31, 2015
Unsettling story and to be honest, i had to wiki to get the premise n plot. Not proud :P
Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews