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Title: Vonnegut at his cynical best
Review: Over the years I've been fascinated to see how people interpret and misinterpret this famous work, which I first read while studying abroad in 1989.Some people think it is a absurd comedy, others a quirky science fiction novel, others simply don't know what to make of it. But for those of us "lucky" enough to be keyed into Vonnegut's cynicism, the book is a powerful anti-war statement; nothing more, nothing less.In his amusing, rambling, self-reflexive introduction, Vonnegut seems to concede that the only way to write a great anti-war novel is not to write a great anti-war novel. After all, as he says, "...there is nothing intelligent to say about a massacre."Thus I'm inclined to say; this is one of the best anti-war books never written. I'm glad I never read it three or four times cover to cover.
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