As many of you may have heard, yesterday, literature lost one of its finest authors – Kurt Vonnegut passed away at the age of 84. Very few authors have had as much of an impact on 20th century literature as Vonnegut. He was known for blending satire, science fiction, and black comedy in such novels as Slaughterhouse Five and Cat’s Cradle, works which defined a generation and raised him to an iconic status shared by few. A renegade and trend-setter, Vonnegut’s influence can be felt in books, film, and even music. Generations from now, he will still inspire young creative minds. So it goes.

His first three novels, Player Piano (1952), The Sirens of Titan (1959), and Mother Night (1961) drew critical acclaim but found little success. 1963’s Cat’s Cradle, a sci-fi satire helped establish Vonnegut’s reputation, but it was in 1969 that Vonnegut changed the literary world forever with his semi-autobiographical novel Slaughterhouse Five. The book drew from science fiction, sentimental family memories and Vonnegut’s own experience in the Bombing of Dresden in World War II to weave one of the greatest works of fiction ever put to print. The book took a hard look at the concepts of logic, free will, time-travel & fate. The brilliant novel made the Time Magazine's list of "100 best English-language novels written since 1923". It set the tone for the rest of Vonnegut’s career.

Since then, Vonnegut has become an American icon on par with the great Mark Twain, whom Vonnegut considered an American saint, and to whom he bears some resemblance, in both style and appearance. In his later years, Vonnegut retired from writing novels but continued to publish short articles. He also began work as a graphic artist which started with Slaughterhouse Five and continued with Breakfast of Champions. Vonnegut will be missed in the literary world but his impact and influence will be felt for many years to come.

FlatSigned Books is proud to have a vast collection of Vonnegut’s greatest works, including a rare SIGNED 1st Printing of his final work, Man Without a Country, a best-selling collection of essays that Vonnegut himself described as "a nice glass of champagne at the end of a life." If you are interested in adding one of Vonnegut’s incredible works to your collection, please visit us at www.FlatSigned.com. Also, you can all us direct at 615.292.3528 or email Tim (timmiller@FlatSigned.com) or Mike (mike@FlatSigned.com) for more information.