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Cat's Breakfast: Kurt Vonnegut Tribute
Third Flatiron Anthologies presents "Cat's Breakfast," a double issue containing 30 new science fiction and fantasy short stories inspired by the wit and wisdom of Kurt Vonnegut.
While satire and humor have long been standard tools of the trade for fiction writers, our authors have channeled the uniquely Vonnegutian attitude into all-original stories that probe and instruct us on themes such as free will, mental illness, social cruelty, loneliness, and family. As usual, the book contains a flash humor section.
An international group of new and established contributors to "Cat's Breakfast" makes this a remarkable and varied collection that is sure to please fans of science fiction/fantasy, humor, and horror. Edited by Juliana Rew
While satire and humor have long been standard tools of the trade for fiction writers, our authors have channeled the uniquely Vonnegutian attitude into all-original stories that probe and instruct us on themes such as free will, mental illness, social cruelty, loneliness, and family. As usual, the book contains a flash humor section.
An international group of new and established contributors to "Cat's Breakfast" makes this a remarkable and varied collection that is sure to please fans of science fiction/fantasy, humor, and horror. Edited by Juliana Rew
272 pages, Paperback
First published June 15, 2017
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About the author
Juliana Rew
58 books45 followersJuliana Rew was an NCAR science and technical writer in Boulder, Colorado, and is editor at Third Flatiron Publishing, publishing SF and fantasy anthologies.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 17, 2017
A wonderful salute to Kurt Vonnegut. At times it feels like the writers are channeling Vonnegut as they present story after story in his wry, humorous voice. From intelligent life accidently spawned in the vat of a restaurant's synthetic meat generator, to the formica table tops in a diner, that turn out to be a trans-dimensional trap the action is wide ranging and Vonnegut-ian. Especially liked Spooky Action by David A. Kilman and Talk to the Animals by Jill Hand. Finally I got a good laugh from the Grins and Gurgles section with it's flash funnies.
August 4, 2017
As one only vaguely familiar with Vonnegut, I was uncertain as to how much I could appreciate this anthology. Now, after reading, I intend to fully investigate the writer and his work. Though the premise maybe self-consciously derivative, this is certainly not mere fan-fiction.
Unlike many anthologies, there is not a single duff story, though some are inevitably stronger than others. Each contains a healthy balance between the extraordinary or absurd and the disturbingly plausible. While sardonic dark humour is consistently evident, there are also many genuine “laugh out loud” moments.
Cat’s Breakfast is an interesting compendium of stories by an intriguing array of authors, covering a broad range of ideas; some philosophical (Spooky Action, The Jim-Aaargh School of Philosophy, Emergent Grammar, The Loser’s Crusade), some political and satirical (Picnic with Xels, Scenes from a Post-Scarcity, Post-Death Society, Drop Dead Date, The Bringers, The Confrontation Station, Violaders on the Run), many on our relationship with technology (Command Decision, One is one, Quality Testing) and others that I can only describe as outlandish fairy-tales (The Pigeon Drop, Dead Girls, Dying Girls, The Edge of Toska). This is perhaps an over-simplification on my part, since there is more than one theme within every story. The anthology concludes with four shorter and more obviously humorous tales that embody the spirit of rest. A personal favourite is Strange Stars which caused me to imagine how Olaf Stapleton’s Star Maker might have been if it were written as a comedy.
For those less familiar with Vonnegut and/or do not consider themselves fans of science fiction, many of the stories here could be comfortably adapted as episodes of Charlie Brooker’s “Black Mirror”. If, like me, you have less prior knowledge of Vonnegut but more of Philip K. Dick, there is also a lot here to satisfy you.
Highly recommended.
Unlike many anthologies, there is not a single duff story, though some are inevitably stronger than others. Each contains a healthy balance between the extraordinary or absurd and the disturbingly plausible. While sardonic dark humour is consistently evident, there are also many genuine “laugh out loud” moments.
Cat’s Breakfast is an interesting compendium of stories by an intriguing array of authors, covering a broad range of ideas; some philosophical (Spooky Action, The Jim-Aaargh School of Philosophy, Emergent Grammar, The Loser’s Crusade), some political and satirical (Picnic with Xels, Scenes from a Post-Scarcity, Post-Death Society, Drop Dead Date, The Bringers, The Confrontation Station, Violaders on the Run), many on our relationship with technology (Command Decision, One is one, Quality Testing) and others that I can only describe as outlandish fairy-tales (The Pigeon Drop, Dead Girls, Dying Girls, The Edge of Toska). This is perhaps an over-simplification on my part, since there is more than one theme within every story. The anthology concludes with four shorter and more obviously humorous tales that embody the spirit of rest. A personal favourite is Strange Stars which caused me to imagine how Olaf Stapleton’s Star Maker might have been if it were written as a comedy.
For those less familiar with Vonnegut and/or do not consider themselves fans of science fiction, many of the stories here could be comfortably adapted as episodes of Charlie Brooker’s “Black Mirror”. If, like me, you have less prior knowledge of Vonnegut but more of Philip K. Dick, there is also a lot here to satisfy you.
Highly recommended.
August 21, 2017
Tribute anthologies can be disappointing: either the link between the stories and the work that inspired them is so tenuous that the spirit of the original is totally lacking, or they are rehashes with nothing new to offer. Thank goodness Cat's Breakfast is not like that!
The stories display a very Vonnegut-like sardonic humour and attitude to humanity's foibles and self-deceptions. Popular culture plays a large part, especially the gap between how society likes to portray itself and the realities, and how all our plans and best-intentions get stymied. Some of the most humorous stories were also the most moving.
Usually, when I read an anthology as soon as I've finished one story, I cannot resist starting the next, but the tales in Cat's Breakfast gave me too much to think about to race through them. Stories like Christopher Mark Rose's 'Emerging Grammars', 'The Confrontation Station' by Ryan Dull and '37' by Dan Koboldt demanded a closer look at accepted opinion and the unexpected consequences that the things we automatically think would be good might have.
My favourites out of the whole anthology are 'They Grow up So Fast' by Konstantine Paradias, and Vaughan Stanger's 'One Is One', although there is not one story that is not worth reading again.
Cat's Breakfast is a great read–pass it on!
The stories display a very Vonnegut-like sardonic humour and attitude to humanity's foibles and self-deceptions. Popular culture plays a large part, especially the gap between how society likes to portray itself and the realities, and how all our plans and best-intentions get stymied. Some of the most humorous stories were also the most moving.
Usually, when I read an anthology as soon as I've finished one story, I cannot resist starting the next, but the tales in Cat's Breakfast gave me too much to think about to race through them. Stories like Christopher Mark Rose's 'Emerging Grammars', 'The Confrontation Station' by Ryan Dull and '37' by Dan Koboldt demanded a closer look at accepted opinion and the unexpected consequences that the things we automatically think would be good might have.
My favourites out of the whole anthology are 'They Grow up So Fast' by Konstantine Paradias, and Vaughan Stanger's 'One Is One', although there is not one story that is not worth reading again.
Cat's Breakfast is a great read–pass it on!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews