Vonnegut explains in the introduction to this collection that a botched surgery provided his first near death experience. In a career spanning over 50 years, vonnegut published fourteen novels, three short. Rosewater, some of the best cultural satire of the past century. His armageddon in retrospect is an absolute necessity and his wildly entertaining series of fictional interviews with luminaries, god bless you, dr. A collection of short works 1968 bagombo snuff box. The interviews funny, poignant, illuminating, timeless, profoundly human are collected in god bless you, dr. The difference this time was that instead of the patient pushing a button, kevorkian administered. Kurt vonneguts fictional interviews with luminaries.
This is kurt vonnegut, reporting from the afterlife letters of note. Ulin an odd little volume that gathers 21 koanlike pieces he composed while serving, briefly, as a reporter on the afterlife for wnyc. Kevorkian 2010 and weep like alexander 2011 also appeared as. May 26, 1928 june 3, 2011 was an american pathologist and. Kevorkian, vonnegut skips back and forth between life and the afterlife as if the difference between them were rather slight. Such thoughts are roused by a tiny new little book, a mere slip of a thing, god bless you, dr. From slapsticks turkey farm to slaughterhousefives eternity in a tralfamadorean zoo cage with montana wildhack, the. Kevorkian dr jack abebooks abebooks shop for books. Kevorkian, vonnegut goes to heaven after he is euthanized by dr.
Jack kevorkian and his effect on the debate over physicianassisted suicide, give us a call. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. My first neardeath experience was an accident, a botched anesthesia during a triple bypass. His use of black humour has been studied quite extensively by scholars, in fact, and many folks have been drawn to the sardonic nature of his writing.
Kevorkian best quotations and sayings on such as everything was beautiful and nothing hurt. Uncollected short fiction 1999 player piano 1952 the sirens of titan 1959 mother night 1961 cats cradle 1963 god bless. In fact the idea came to fruition and numerous 90second segments one of which can be heard here were subsequently broadcast, with interviewees ranging from the nonfamous through to names such as isaac asimov and william. Kevorkian, michele kisly fine portraiture, hargraves pharmacy, house, embrace your sisters, steve chirello advertising, libera web design, rick wilson, investigate russia, thank you obama, elizabeth fuller, realtor, occupy democrats, creations of hope gifts. I had listened to several people on tv talk shows who. From slapsticks turkey farm to slaughterhousefives eternity in a tralfamadorean zoo cage with montana wildhack, the question of the afterlife never left kurt vonneguts mind. A just about fine first printing of the first edition in close to fine dustjacket, a few minor dents, signed and inscribed by author dr. In fact the idea came to fruition and numerous 90second segments one of which can be heard here were subsequently broadcast, with interviewees ranging from the nonfamous through to names such as isaac asimov and william shakespeare. Kevorkian includes all of kurt vonneguts intrepid investigative reporting from the afterlife, from when he was sent there in 1998 by local npr affiliate wnyc to interview, among others, sir isaac newton, clarence darrow, james earl ray, eugene debs, john brown, adolf hitler, william shakespeare, and kilgore trout. If you have read any kurt vonnegut, i suggest you try out his collection of short stories the monkey house. I recently picked up a short book titled god bless you, dr. Kurt vonneguts fictional interviews with luminaries brain pickings. Kurt vonnegut interviewed on npr inside second life. Kevorkian is an absolute gem, firmly planted on this years edition of the annual brain pickings summer reading list.
Once in heaven, he interviews 21 deceased celebrities, including isaac asimov, william shakespeare, and kilgore troutthe last a fictional character from several of his novels. From slapsticks turkey farm to slaughterhousefives eternity in a tralfamadorean zoo cage with montana wildhack, the question of the afterlife never left kurt. Why the experts keep getting it wrong by matthew stewart. Kevorkian canary in a cathouse 1961 welcome to the monkey house. Ainsworths extravagantly favorable obituary in the newyork times said she had done more research than anyone on the longterm effects of bonding between a.
Vonnegut goes to heaven and interviews such people as hitler, shakespeare, and of course kilgore trout. In what began as a series of quirkily characteristic ninetysecond interludes for new yorks public radio station, kurt vonnegut asks, on behalf of us all, the big questions. Kevorkian, by kurt vonnegut, is a collection of short interviews written by vonnegut and first broadcast on npr. In 2011, npr wrote, kurt vonneguts blend of antiwar sentiment and satire made. Jack kevorkian to give him neardeath experiences, allowing vonnegut. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 80 pages and is available in paperback format. Kevorkian 1999 3 12 stars a collection of very brief vignettes, originally broadcast as radio pieces on npr. In thirty odd interviews, vonnegut trips down the blue tunnel to. Kevorkian, a fantastic anthology playing on the title of vonneguts 1965 novel, god bless you, mr. Kevorkian, 1999 vonnegut was an atheist and a humanist, serving as the honorary president of the american humanist association.
Vonneguts books from seven stories press include the national hardcover and. It is a collection of what was supposed to be 90second interludes recorded for wnyc public radio, but as the jacket of the work notes, it evolved into a provocative collection of questions about who and what we live for. Kevorkian written by glabwrites the electron pencil the blog has made glab into a hip town crier, commenting on everything from local politics and cultural happenings to national and international events, all rendered in a colorful, intelligent, workingclass vernacular that owes some of its style to glab. Ainsworth, who died last march 21, age eightyfive, in charlottesville, virginia. Kevorkian, from kurt vonnegut, that great and resilient writer who more than any other has labored to pierce the rusty armor of story, coming up with book after book of wit, depth, hilarity, profundity, grace, and sorrow. The first edition of the novel was published in 1999, and was written by kurt vonnegut. These interviews were also compiled in the book, god bless you, dr. After finishing this book, i wasnt sure whether to be happy or mad. Kevorkian, suicide doctor, outlines his startling views on planned death and its potential impact on. Amusing enough, but very slight and not exactly essential to anyone but vonnegut completists.
Kevorkian published on jul 17, 2012 in what began as a series of quirkily characteristic ninetysecond interludes for new yorks public radio station, kurt vonnegut asks, on. Kurt vonnegut is one of my big literary heroes, a keen observer and wry critic of culture and society. That event, coupled with the testimonials on tv of persons going down the tunnel to and beyond the pearly gates, and then returning, were the inspirations for the imagined interviews. What neardeath experiences have to do with shakespeare, jesus and. She was a retired but activetotheend developmental psychologist. Theres a lot of dark humour and introspective whimsy on the go from the start.
Jack kevorkian to kill him, allowing access to heaven and those in it for a limited time, before the good dr. Kevorkian, by kurt vonnegut, is a collection of short fictional interviews written by vonnegut and first broadcast on wnyc. The text of these interviews makes up the content of god bless you the plot of the book, if there is one, is that vonnegut employs dr. Kurt vonneguts mix van antioorlog sentiment en satire.
Provided to youtube by the orchard enterprises dr kevorkian esham i aint cha homey. The title parodies that of vonneguts 1965 novel god bless you, mr. Kevorkian, who claimed to have assisted in at least suicides, was released from prison in. In a 1997 letter to manhattanbased radio station wnyc, author kurt vonnegut pitches his idea for a series of fictional interviews with the deceased. Kevorkian, by kurt vonnegut, is a collection of short fictional interviews written by vonnegut. Kevorkian offers a slight, but interesting and funny, account of experiences with death. This is kurt vonnegut, reporting from the afterlife. Kevorkian, kurt vonnegut skips back and forth between life and the afterlife as if the difference between them were rather slight. Certainly i paid what seemed to be a fortune for the book. The premise of the collection is that vonnegut employs dr. The main characters of this fiction, humor story are kilgore trout, isaac asimov.
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