Sunday, March 25, 2012

Previously Unpublished Kurt Vonnegut Novella to be Released Exclusively on Kindle


A 22,000 word novella called 'Basic Training' is set to be released for the Amazon Kindle by RosettaBooks.  It was written over 60 years ago while Kurt Vonnegut was working in the publicity department for GE, and predates his first published novel 'Player Piano', released in 1952.

A statement by RosettaBooks described the novella as a book that demonstrates Vonnegut’s “trademark grand themes: the lunacy of kings, the improbability of existence, the yearling hero’s struggle with duty and love and the meaning of heroism.”


The release will cost $1.99.


I'm a big fan of Vonnegut, and have read over 10 of his books.  If I absolutely had to pick a favorite, it would probably be 'Cat's Cradle', which is also the first Vonnegut I read.  I know that he has countless unpublished works kicking around, and I'm glad that some of the are starting to se the light of day.  I'm also glad that the stuff getting released seems to be some of his earlier writing, which I prefer to the material he released later in his career.  I've also always enjoyed his short stories, so I'm really looking forward to this novella.


I've you've never read Vonnegut, I'd highly recommend that you do.


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8 comments:

  1. cheers for the info, i'd not heard of him before but for $1.99 I think I'll take up your recomendation

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  2. It's a great news. I love Vonnegut, one of my first experiences with 'serious' reading, but releasing it on Kindle only is not a good thing. I don't think that Kurt would like it either.

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  3. I haven't read him but it's good when unpublished work gets released.

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  4. Sounds.. too cheap to pass up really

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  5. I have never read anything done by him, but I always appreciate a good suggestion. I'll add Cat's Cradle to my list. :)

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  6. Never heard of Vonnegut, but now I do.

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  7. Interesting man. I'll try to read this xD

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