I find it difficult to classify Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse Five. At times it feels like old school science fiction, and at other times an historical account. The structure of Slaughterhouse Five is so unique I have a hard time considering it a book rather than a collection of scenes pasted together. While this book may be confusing to many, there is one fact I do know; Billy Pilgrim has become unstuck in time.
The book begins with the actual author of the book commenting on the book’s construction. A majority of the book tells a tale of Billy Pilgrim, an clumsy American soldier in World War II. Billy becomes captured by Nazi Germany and is placed in a prisoner of war camp with Russians, English and other Americans. During this period he describes the horrible conditions and sights of the Second World War, as he and his follow prisoners heard towards the book’s main destination of Dresden. Taking place near the end of the war, Billy survives the firebombing of Dresden by the Allies resulting in the deaths of thousands of civilians.
From this description, it appears that this book is an historical fiction of the horrors of war. However, the reader does not experience the events in a straight line. The books jumps to multiple places in time, as Billy himself is time traveling to different periods of his life. In one scene he is in a hospital in Germany; next he is in bed with his newly married wife many years later. For Billy, time travel is a fact of life, has he to his knowledge has been time traveling sense he was a teenager. He has always known the events of his life, even up to his own murder years later. Billy has no intention of changing history; as to him, his life always has been this way, and always will. It is a very strange read, as we with Billy travel throughout time to see the end of World War II, Vietnam, and even a alternative world balkanized United States.
How Billy travels in time is not fully explained. He encounters the Tralfamadorians, aliens from another world who teach Billy the nature of time as he is placed in a zoo for study. To the, time is not linear, and one can visit any time at any point. The point is one can visit happy periods of time, no matter when they occur. Death, life, and everything occurs, and cannot be stopped. One can run from unpleasant events and focus on the positive. This is how Billy realizes he has no need to change events in his life, as they have already happened, and always will. It is a strange concept, but one that makes a sort of sense.
Many will find the novel difficult to understand. Those who are unfamiliar with time travel, or with stores displayed in an non-linear fashion will most likely not enjoy this book. The book is often crass, which has lead to controversy throughout the years. At times it is a dark, depressing read that may leave people feeling dirty. Did I like the book? To be honest, I am not sure. It was so strange I find it difficult to classify it. It was interesting, but at times schizophrenic. If you like time travel, and historical accounts, you will most likely enjoy this book.
Pros:
Very unique.
Interesting time travel take.
Cons:
Confusing, especially the beginning.
Crass at points, dark and depressing at others.
No real ending.
Rating: 5.0 out of 10
Buy Slaughterhouse Five from Here.
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Tags: Historical, Science Fiction
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