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The Sirens of Titan the Sirens of Titan
 
 
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The Sirens of Titan the Sirens of Titan (School & Library Binding)

by Kurt, Jr. Vonnegut (Author) "EVERYONE NOW KNOWS how to find the meaning of life within himself ..." (more)
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (114 customer reviews)

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Book Description

Of all of Vonnegut's books, his favorite is THE SIRENS OF TITAN which he admits was "the only book that was pleasant to write." We meet Malachi Constant, "the richest man in America," who feels a calling to probe the depths of space. He leaves a life of unequaled indulgence to voyage through the solar system. He participates in a Martian invasion of Earth, mates with the wife of an astronaut who is adrift on the tides of time, and from start to finish follows the lure of the "Sirens of Titan." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.


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8 1-hour cassettes --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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EVERYONE NOW KNOWS how to find the meaning of life within himself. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews

114 Reviews
5 star:
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4 star:
 (18)
3 star:
 (4)
2 star:
 (2)
1 star:
 (3)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.6 out of 5 stars (114 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The best Vonnegut novel I have read, Jul 17 2004
By J. Barth "fallingupwards84" (Boone, NC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: The Sirens of Titan: A Novel (Paperback)
This is my fifth Vonnegut novel (I have already read Player Piano, Cat's Cradle, Slaughterhouse-Five, and Breakfast of Champions) and I can say with confidence that The Sirens of Titan is the best in this group.

It is neat to see Vonnegut's novels evolve over time: Player Piano, while still a masterpiece, is a very conventional novel without a lot of the craziness that is so evident in his later novels. Breakfast of Champions is the most unconventional novel I have ever read, its like the two books were written by two totally different authors.
The Sirens of Titan, on the other hand, is somewhere in the middle. There is a clear plot in the story, much like Player Piano, but it is not as structured as the former. We begin to see the early beginnings of what would later become one of Vonnegut's trademarks: unrelenting sarcasm and irony.

What makes The Sirens of Titan my favorite Vonnegut novel? Everything comes together at the very end. Throughout the novel, there is a clear question looming over the reader and the characters in the book: the purpose of human life. Vonnegut answers this question (or Malachi Constant, rather) in the last few pages of the story, and it is absolutely brilliant. The fact that the author even dared to ask such a question and then answer it, is extraordinary.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars It has its moments, Sep 11 2008
This review is from: Sirens of Titan (Paperback)
I liked the first few sentences and that's why I bought it. I imagined it would be a reflective read.

The book is very imaginative and at times quite complex in the range of psychological, theological, and political undertones. The author has a caustic sense of humour, the sarcasm is hillarious but at times disturbing. I was in particular moved by the part that describes the violent destruction of the Martian army, which turned out to be ordinary people, including women and children.

The author makes a valid point about the stance we take towards our accomplishments and self-worth, and things we attribute to ourselves such as the will of god and luck. For a related view, read Black Swan by Taleb, as well as other work discussing the role of chance in human life and our perception of chance.

By the end of the book, the author started rambling. It felt as if he was rushing to finish it and there wasn't much left to say. I must admit, I skimmed the last chapter or two. The imaginativeness started to get a bit annoying and repetitive. If you are a fan of Brecht's plays, you may enjoy this style.

I definitely feel I took a lot from this book and enjoyed reading it, but the last 25% put a dent in my experience.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Titanic, Sep 18 2006
By Karnel P. (Ireland) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Sirens of Titan: A Novel (Paperback)
I've read all of Vonnegut's novels and I think they are best categorized under three different kinds. There is the social-satirical like mother night and hocus pocus, boderline science fiction like player piano, and, my favorite, the schizophrenic, science fiction, social-satire all rolled into one like Slaughterhouse-five and Sirens of Titan. Though Sirens of Titan is not as good as Slaughterhouse, it is a great, great book. Would also recommend the Vonnegut-like `Katzenjammer' by Jackson McCrae for equally good fun.
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 		 Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Yes, Excellent!
The Sirens of Titan, by Kurt Vonnegut (Slaughterhouse-Five, Breakfast of Champions), tells the story of how a lucky only son, Malachi Constant, gains extreme wealth, travels to... Read more
Published on Jun 21 2005 by Thomas Kane

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy
Whilst growing up in England you are taught that the best sci-fi book in the world is Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy, and how funny it is etc. Read more
Published on Jul 10 2004 by Mr Stuart A Woolgar

5.0 out of 5 stars I guess that someone up there likes me
This was one of the better books that I have read. Vonnegut is one crazy cat. I loved the whole church of God the utterly indiferent concept, it rocked my world. Read more
Published on May 31 2004 by Clark Bain

5.0 out of 5 stars To love and to be loved...
This is Kurt Vonnegut's second novel, and a sign of things yet to come. Upon first reading, The Sirens of Titan appears as pure science fiction, a tale of Martian invasion and... Read more
Published on May 11 2004 by Taylor Hand

5.0 out of 5 stars More than corn in Indiana,
    Vonnegut's gift of visualization weaves us another reality.  This book is absolutely addictive.  In fact it left me jonesing so bad for more, that I read it in about four or... Read more
Published on April 30 2004 by Jean Doe

5.0 out of 5 stars A Hilarious Satire
Science fiction fans will appreciate this novel filled with Martians and spaceships; and yet readers of other genres will find themselves quickly enchanted by the mystery Vonnegut... Read more
Published on April 29 2004 by K. Bergherm

5.0 out of 5 stars Title
Kurt Vonnegut has always been a writer way beyond his time. When
"The Sirens Of Titan" was published in 1959, its blend of dark
humor, social satire, and science... Read more
Published on April 7 2004 by alex black

1.0 out of 5 stars AAAAgggghhhhh!!
What a piece of junk. I certainly could write better than this. SiFi should not be that difficult to hold a theme for a story, but this book was utter junk. Read more
Published on Feb 29 2004 by Jimmy Porter

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome
The story and the characters sucked me in immediately, but there are some profound lessons to be learned as well.
Published on Jan 12 2004

4.0 out of 5 stars Existentialism in sci-fi form
I like Vonnegut, though sometimes I think I can't really classify him as a science-fiction genre author. Read more
Published on Nov 8 2003 by Joanna Daneman

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