jak722 Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 After suffering from a severe head injury that he sustained when he accidentally fell at his Manhattan home, Kurt Vonnegut, aged 84, has passed away near midnight, April 11, 2007. The renowned satirical novelist and author of at least 19 best selling books, decribed himself as social critic, religious skeptic, free-thinking humanist, and of course, as a satirist. His unique works of literature were first ignored by his fellow collegues, partly because during the time, literary realism was the prefered means of telling stories. And certainly, Vonnegut's absurb and bizarre stories were ridiculed for a time. There was even intances where his novels were banned and mocked for having such pronounced obcinities. However, several of his works eventually became classics like Cat's craddle, Slaughter house five, and God bkess you, Mr. Rosewater. He himself wondered why he had lived so long even when he was a lifelong smoker. He even often joked about his old age. Vonnegut once said that of all the ways to die, he'd prefer to go out in an airplane crash on the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro. Personally, I found that his works made my English classes very memorable. Of course, sometimes I didn't understand what messages he was trying to say. However, his unique kind of story telling gave me a new perspective to look at. A sense of humour even at the darkest of situations. Hats off to you Kurt. You will be missed. :cry: The Enrichment Center reminds you that the weighted companion cube will never threaten to stab you and, in fact, cannot speak. In the event that the weighted companion cube does speak, the Enrichment Center urges you to disregard its advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mad4u689 Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 :( You were a great author and a fascinating man, Mr. Vonnegut. Everybody hug and spread the love :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsavi Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 Rest in peace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Necromagus Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 No need to be sad. He had a good run, accomplished his goals, said what he had to say. My Tip.It Times Articles (10 and counting) || The Varrock Library Author Index projectDo you dare to dream? - Part 19 added. || The Hospital (WIP) - New story!Necromagus looks like a viking ... with glasses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pault Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 Thanks for everything Kurt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indy500fan Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 I've read 12 of his books, and loved almost everyone of them. Some were mediocre, but for the most part they were awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rushrock Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 R.I.P. My English teacher was pretty taken aback, too. I haven't read much about him, but I recently read a great short story by him. It was called Harrison Bergeron. I imagine that most of you have read it, but nevertheless, it's a great story. Dystopias always interest me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indy500fan Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 R.I.P. My English teacher was pretty taken aback, too. I haven't read much about him, but I recently read a great short story by him. It was called Harrison Bergeron. I imagine that most of you have read it, but nevertheless, it's a great story. Dystopias always interest me. Yep, that is a pretty good one. I think Welcome to the Monkey House is the one that is a collection of short stories, and that was one of them. Or maybe it was in one of the opinion novels (not autobiographies supposedly, even though he gives his life story in them :P ). I haven't read Man Without a Country yet, which is his autobiography. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rushrock Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 Yep, that is a pretty good one. I think Welcome to the Monkey House is the one that is a collection of short stories, and that was one of them. Or maybe it was in one of the opinion novels (not autobiographies supposedly, even though he gives his life story in them :P ). I haven't read Man Without a Country yet, which is his autobiography. I read Harrison Bergeron in another book, but I'll have to get that collection. He was really a fascinating man when it came to social issues and science fiction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
splatmster24 Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 He himself wondered why he had lived so long even when he was a lifelong smoker. He even often joked about his old age. Vonnegut once said that of all the ways to die, he'd prefer to go out in an airplane crash on the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro. amen, i could think of worse. Say what you mean and mean what you say because those that matter don't mind, and those that mind don't matter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indy500fan Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 He was really a fascinating man when it came to social issues and science fiction. Have you read Player Piano? That was his first novel, and probably the most straight forward socio-political book. One of my favourites of his :D . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rushrock Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 He was really a fascinating man when it came to social issues and science fiction. Have you read Player Piano? That was his first novel, and probably the most straight forward socio-political book. One of my favourites of his :D . Well, reading the short intro on Wikipedia, it sounds like my kind of book. Sociology and utopias! Sounds like an interesting read! :) Have you read Cat's Cradle? I'm almost certain my English teacher has, and I heard it was pretty provocative, dealing with science fiction, politics, and modern affairs and such. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runesmithie Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 Well, he's happy in Heaven now :) I'm so horribly sorry, I couldn't resist ... I just posted something! ^_^ to the terrorist...er... kirbybeam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indy500fan Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 Well, he's happy in Heaven now :) I'm so horribly sorry, I couldn't resist ... He said something similar at Asimov's funeral, and hoped someone would say it at his. He said it was his favourite joke :P . Have you read Cat's Cradle? I'm almost certain my English teacher has, and I heard it was pretty provocative, dealing with science fiction, politics, and modern affairs and such. Cat's Cradle was the first one I read, and the one I have read the most (5 times) :P . Normally either Cat's Cradle and Slaughterhouse Five are considered his best, they are at least the ones I see most people read. But yeah, it got me hooked on Vonnegut right away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runesmithie Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 Well, he's happy in Heaven now :) I'm so horribly sorry, I couldn't resist ... He said something similar at Asimov's funeral, and hoped someone would say it at his. He said it was his favourite joke :P . Can't remember the source where I saw that at, but yeah, that was where I got it from :P I just posted something! ^_^ to the terrorist...er... kirbybeam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rushrock Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 Cat's Cradle was the first one I read, and the one I have read the most (5 times) :P . Normally either Cat's Cradle and Slaughterhouse Five are considered his best, they are at least the ones I see most people read. But yeah, it got me hooked on Vonnegut right away. My teacher loves Slaughterhouse Five. It was the first example she gave us when we were discussing his death and his works. I don't know if I'm allowed to stray so off-topic like this, but has anyone ever read The Outsiders? What a brilliant novel. It's one of my favorites, and I just recently read it. It's a bit straight forward, but it's still an amazing book. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indy500fan Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 Also forgot to mention he is a Hoosier (born/raised in Indiana) so I can say he is from around here :P . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unkn0wnwarrior Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 He was one of my favorites... May he Rest In Peace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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