Review of 'The Sirens of Titan'
The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut
A very odd book and certainly of the generation in which it was written.
Winston Niles Rumford is a hero who just so happens to stray into a “chrono-synclastic infundibulum” (an area where different perspectives on the universe are all true, evidently) while on a trip in a spaceship with his dog. This causes him to reappear once every 59 days at his home in England during which time he establishes a religion and can see into the future – Particularly the future of Malachi Constant, a millionaire who he tells will travel the solar system and tell him he will fall in love with Rumford's wife – All unbelievable stuff. Rumford is also busy encouraging the people living on Mars to take up arms against the overwhelming forces of Earth as part of his founding of a religion. Unk is a simple fighter in the army of Mars whose memory has been wiped…but who is he, really?
A critique of warfare and, seemingly, the insanity of existence Sirens of Titan reminded me a great deal of the writings of Heinlein and Moorcock (both of the same period). I found this book quite difficult to read and get into but interesting nonetheless.
Rating: “Average, but who wants to be average?”
Review Date: 2007-10-08
Genre: Science Fiction
Publisher: Gollancz
Publication Date: 1959