Originally Published in 1974.
Wampeters, Foma and Granfallons is a collection of interviews, speeches, nonfiction pieces and one sci-fi play published from 1965-1974. The title comes from terms in Vonnegut's novel Cat's Cradle. In Vonnegut's own words from the preface:
"A wampeter is an object around which the lives of many otherwise unrelated people may revolve. The Holy Grail would be a case in point. Foma are harmless untruths, intended to comfort simple souls. An example: "Prosperity is just around the corner." A granfalloon is a proud and meaningless association of human beings."
So, it's his way of saying that these are harmless little thoughts that people who are interested in what he has to say will gravitate to.
The memorable pieces include the only piece of fiction in the group. This was a play about a woman being kept by extreme artificial means with a theme of loneliness - a common theme from Vonnegut. In another entry, Vonnegut travelled to the short-lived country of Biafra, a breakaway piece of what is now Nigeria as they were losing their short (failed) war of independence. I can't think of a better author to tell of the last days of a dying country.
The last 51 pages of the book is a Playboy interview. Playboy used to be famous for two things - the pictures of the girls and fantastic interviews. This interview was merely adequate. I think the interviewer was fumbling around most of the time, almost like Playboy didn't know what Vonnegut was like as an interview subject.
I rate this collection 4 stars out of 5. It can be found on Amazon.com here: Wampeters, Foma and Granfallons (Opinion) by Kurt Vonnegut.
Wampeters, Foma and Granfallons is a collection of interviews, speeches, nonfiction pieces and one sci-fi play published from 1965-1974. The title comes from terms in Vonnegut's novel Cat's Cradle. In Vonnegut's own words from the preface:
"A wampeter is an object around which the lives of many otherwise unrelated people may revolve. The Holy Grail would be a case in point. Foma are harmless untruths, intended to comfort simple souls. An example: "Prosperity is just around the corner." A granfalloon is a proud and meaningless association of human beings."
So, it's his way of saying that these are harmless little thoughts that people who are interested in what he has to say will gravitate to.
The memorable pieces include the only piece of fiction in the group. This was a play about a woman being kept by extreme artificial means with a theme of loneliness - a common theme from Vonnegut. In another entry, Vonnegut travelled to the short-lived country of Biafra, a breakaway piece of what is now Nigeria as they were losing their short (failed) war of independence. I can't think of a better author to tell of the last days of a dying country.
The last 51 pages of the book is a Playboy interview. Playboy used to be famous for two things - the pictures of the girls and fantastic interviews. This interview was merely adequate. I think the interviewer was fumbling around most of the time, almost like Playboy didn't know what Vonnegut was like as an interview subject.
I rate this collection 4 stars out of 5. It can be found on Amazon.com here: Wampeters, Foma and Granfallons (Opinion) by Kurt Vonnegut.
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