2 reviews for So It Goes: A Tribute to Kurt Vonnegut

1. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   J. Worthen – April 9, 2013

   5.0 out of 5 starsFitting Tribute. Kurt would have liked it.
   Format: Paperback

   If you read Kurt Vonnegut and hated him, you’re not reading this now and I don’t want to know you anyway. If you read Vonnegut and he moved you, changed you, inspired you and made you a better person, how could you ever express the appreciation? If you’re a fiction writer, you’d use the tools of your craft. That’s what this collection is all about: young talented writers singing the praises of a great man in fiction inspired by him.

   As with any anthology of varied authors, some stories are better than others, some styles and themes will resonate longer and deeper than others, but on the whole this is a great anthology of young writing talent collected and shared in homage the late Kurt Vonnegut.

   I recommend SO IT GOES for the commute to work when you want more meat than sweets, at night before bed when you wish to wake up improved, and whenever you want well a written thought-provoking story.

2. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Eric J. Guignard – April 21, 2013

   collection of Vonnegut-inspired stories with a twist of horror
   Format: Paperback

   This anthology is a collection of stories that pay tribute to the applauded–if not cherished–author, Kurt Vonnegut. As a matter of full confidentiality, and though I recognize Vonnegut’s name and the subject matter he stood for, I am not intimately familiar with his writing. However, taking each of the stories in this anthology on face value provides a refreshing array of thoughtful philosophies regarding life, religion, and the human condition, all with a dark, playful, or cynical bent.

   Some of my favorites included:

   • “Saving God,” by Jay Wilburn is a delightfully savage piece observing the exploits of those who follow God’s bidding while He lies on His deathbed, including Lucifer and the author himself, a self-depreciating Mr. Wilburn, who is cleverly a character in his own story.
   • “The Unhappy Accident or Feelin’ Fine” by T. Fox Dunham is a trippy, psychoactive jaunt over time and personal discovery. Strong opening and great voice in the character. The protagonist follows an immense arc over a short story that is tragic, whimsical, and just plain wild.
   • “The Truth” by Jonathan Balog is not quite a hard-boiled detective story (over-easy, maybe), but well-written and engaging. One of the longer pieces in the book, it examines the power – and the consequences – of positive thinking.
   • “You’re Toast” by E. E. King is a quick-paced and acerbic conflict between a therapist and his toaster, who also happens to be his own therapist.
   • “The Joke’s On You” by Philip Simondet doesn’t have much of a plot, and the ending was somewhat expected, but it was funny. Full of snappy one-liners and just felt like a Vonnegut-vignette slice of life.
   • “Dead Girls, Dying Girls” by James Dorr is a bit absurd, but that is to be expected by the very theme of the book. It’s also clever and engaging, exploring the manipulations of a young girl who learns by experience how to get what she wants.
   • “The Fountain of Relative Youth” by Christian A. Larsen is one of the darker pieces in this book, following the sadistic irony of such stories as “The Monkey’s Paw”. It made me squirm and had an awesome ending.

   Overall, great collection of stories. As with all anthologies, there will be tales you naturally are drawn to, and others you may ho-hum at. But such is the nature of personal opinion; everyone’s different and everyone’s going to walk away with their own favorite from this book. And you WILL have a favorite, if not two or three or more. This book’s filled with them.

   Five out of Five stars