I was sorry to hear that Kurt Vonnegut had died as he was one of my favourite authors.
For no good reason at all Vonnegut's passing brought to mind (and brought a smile) "the Dancing Fool", the Kilgore Trout story outlined in Breakfast of Champions:
A flying saucer creature named Zog arrives on Earth to explain how wars could be prevented and how cancer could be cured. Zog brings the information from his home planet, Margo, where the natives converse by means of farts and tap dancing.
Zog lands at night in Connecticut. He no sooner touches down than he sees a brush-fire spreading toward a house. He rushes into the house -- farting and tap dancing -- warning the people about the terrible danger they're in. And the head of the house brains Zog with a golfclub.
We shall not see his like again
click here for the Guardian report of his passing
11 comments:
He was also fired in Back to School
by Rodney Dangerfield. He got an F on an English paper written by Vonegut on Vonegut. Vonegut was in the film for abot 30 seconds.
I didn't realise he'd died. Sad news indeed.
I must re-read 'Slaughterhouse-Five'.
I had no idea he was in Back to School.. but then again I know that the film starred Rodney Dangerfield and little else! THe most dangerdfield I ahve ever encountered was when he was in the Simpsons
It is sad news Roger. A book well worth another read
"So it goes."
Of course I devoured his novels when I was young, and I still remember them fondly. But most of all I shall remember an interview broadcast on NPR a few years ago, in which the ancient Vonnegut dismantled the Bush administration's rationalizations for its war in Iraq. Vonnegut displayed a verbal skill that took my breath away, a virtuosity intact despite his age. If I am cursed with living that long... unlikely... I want to live as fully as he did, to the end.
Rented a tent... a tent... a tent...
I never heard this NPR broadcast. I was aware that he had lets say "critiqued" Bush and his administration. He was a great author who obviously kept his sharpness to teh end.
So it goes.
Hi ho
Beakerkin stole my thunder. As a public school, Valley girl wannabe, child of the 80's, "Back To School," was the only thing I really knew about Kurt Vonnegut. My mom has a huge obsession with Sally Kellerman(I know. Weird, huh?) and I was reminding her about that movie when we heard the news.
I had never seen the film but it shows that Vonnegut had no problem with sending himself up. Now that can't be a bad thing.
Sally Kellerman... ah she was hotlips in the original MASH film oh and an odd character in Brewster McCloud
The excerpt posted by the blogger is easily one of the best Vonnegut moments ever. Still miss him today.
He was one of the greats Pete, Thanks for your comment
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