Armageddon in Retrospect (utgåvan 2008)

He's a writer who combines writing beautifully with actually having something to say. This is a great farewell. ( )

This was a solid assembly of short works by Kurt Vonnegut. Some of them are really good and others fall by the wayside. Nevertheless, it is an important collection and, for those who enjoy the man's works, it should be read. The introduction is also highly illuminating, written by his son, about the famed writer.

4 stars. ( )

In a letter, Vonnegut argues that reading a short story every day is a much an act of daily meditation as - well - daily meditation. I’ve just read ‘Happy Birthday,1951’ and he’s right. ( )

Armageddon in Retrospect and Other New and Unpublished Writings on War and Peace was published exactly one year after Kurt Junior Vonnegut’s death on April 11, 2007. It’s a diverse collection: a moving 10 page introduction by his son Mark, a horrifically blunt 3 page letter from Kurt to his family, dated May 29, 1945 – written in Germany right after the war, a speech he was supposed to deliver on April 27, 2007 in Indianapolis, and – the bulk of the book – 11 short stories, undated, ranging from 4 pages to 26 pages each. Armageddon In Retrospect is also illustrated by Vonnegut’s characteristic drawings, often including text.

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The real value of this book aren’t really the stories. They’re good, don’t get me wrong, and some are even excellent – Spoils is haunting in its short, brutal simplicity. But the real value is (...)

Please read the full review on Weighing A Pig ( )

There's a great introduction by Vonnegut's son & the book is read by Rip Torn, a favorite actor of mine.

It's pretty interesting. The point of 'Sirens', as put forth by David in #18, seems to have been echoed by Vonnegut's son in a completely unrelated chat between the two shortly before Kurt's death. It's worth reading, if only for the intro.

The first story was a speech he gave in 2007 & that seems to have set the tone. The stories so far are OK, but Vonnegut's Dresden horror stories made up most & got a bit old. He's very anti-war & continually points out it's stupid & horrible. There were a few 5 star stories that really put a face on the horrors of war perfectly, but most wandered about in a rather long-winded manner which didn't do the point any favors. The title story came last & had a couple of good or amusing points, but was a disappointment overall.

Overall, typical Vonnegut & worth reading especially if you've liked his other works. ( )