Bagombo Snuff Box, Uncollected Short Fiction [Paperback]

Kurt Vonnegut (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Putnam; 2nd edition (1999)
• ASIN: B000NDBAOE
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,869,045 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Kurt Vonnegut was born in Indianapolis in 1922. He studied at the universities of Chicago and Tennessee and later began to write short stories for magazines. His first novel, Player Piano, was published in 1951 and since then he has written many novels, among them: The Sirens of Titan (1959), Mother Night (1961), Cat's Cradle (1963), God Bless You Mr Rosewater (1964), Welcome to the Monkey House; a collection of short stories (1968), Breakfast of Champions (1973), Slapstick, or Lonesome No More (1976), Jailbird (1979), Deadeye Dick (1982), Galapagos (1985), Bluebeard (1988) and Hocus Pocus (1990). During the Second World War he was held prisoner in Germany and was present at the bombing of Dresden, an experience which provided the setting for his most famous work to date, Slaughterhouse Five (1969). He has also published a volume of autobiography entitled Palm Sunday (1981) and a collection of essays and speeches, Fates Worse Than Death (1991).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A welcome addition to the Vonnegut canon, October 3, 1999

By 

Chuck Augello ([e-mail]) (Oxford, New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bagombo Snuff Box: Uncollected Short Fiction (Hardcover)

Since most of the stories in "Bagombo Snuff Box" were previously uncollected in book form, the arrival of this collection is a treat for all Vonnegut fans. As a writer of "slick fiction" for the magazine market of the 1950's and early 1960's, Vonnegut tailored his stories for a general readership; while the experimentalism of novels like "Slaughterhouse-Five" and "Breakfast of Champions" is nowhere on display, Vonnegut's craftsmanship is well-documented by these stories. "Bagombo Snuff Box" should be treated much like The Beatles Anthology collections; neither is for the casual fan, but both are indispensable for completists. The stories included in this collection are a cut below the stories in "Welcome To the Monkey House" (it's easy to see why they were left out of Vonnegut's first collection), but each is an enjoyable read, with several stories ("Thanosphere", "Custom-Made Bride" and "Souvenir") standing out for their voice and originality. This is also required reading for any serious students of Vonnegut, as many of the themes explored in his major works are given an early run-through in these stories. "2BRO2B" reads almost like a first draft of "Welcome to the Monkey House" and "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow" from the Monkey House collection. The stories are also interesting as snapshots from a by-gone era, particularly in their treatment of women. One of the strongest characters in the collection is Sheila White, of "Lovers Anonymous," a talented, ambitious woman whose sublimated talents places a strain on her marriage. While the impact of the story is lessened by a careless final sentence, Vonnegut should be credited for sneaking a potentially subversive theme into a mainstream publication. A reader's reaction to "Bagombo Snuff Box" will probably mirror his or her expectations. Anyone expecting cutting-edge Vonnegut will be disappointed. Fans who like to read everything a favorite author has written will be thrilled to add this to the collection. Since I put myself into the latter category, the arrival of "Bagombo Snuff Box" is like a Christmas present in July. Thoroughly unexpected, and completely enjoyable.

16 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Angels protect the innocent as a matter of Heavenly routine., December 9, 1999

By 

taking a rest - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Bagombo Snuff Box: Uncollected Short Fiction (Hardcover)

Title of this review is a quote from Mr. Vonnegut in this book. The ONLY reason I stopped at 4 stars is that any author who writes with this much skill at the start of his career, must become better and better as his skills mature, and his experience increases. This is the first time I have read Mr. Vonnegut's work, and this collection of short stories has made me a fan that looks forward to the Author's work as it developed. Before you even reach the first story, Mr. Vonnegut provides a biography which is worth the cost of the book if you place a high value on humor, and regardless of whether you agree, social commentary wrapped in a wickedly subtle, and occasionally not so subtle manner. His definition of reading is the best I have ever read, and his description of his time as a salesman for Saab is priceless. Developing so much interest for a reader in the span of a short story is a remarkable feat for any author. Mr. Vonnegut together with John Steinbeck, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and William Faulkner, to name a few literary masters, brought these stories to life when magazines ruled and TV was a nightmare (for the most part) yet to come. Together with artistic legends like Norman Rockwell and N.C. Wyeth, these stories were entertainment for much of America. In spite of all the advances in communications, picking up a book with talent like this, will always endure. Thanks Mr. Vonnegut!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not genius, the making of one, December 22, 2001

By 

Bill R. Moore (New York, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bagombo Snuff Box: Uncollected Short Fiction (Mass Market Paperback)

Kurt Vonnegut fans will want to read this, but... if you're new to the man, start elsewhere. Diehard Vonneguttians will enjoy this collection as it contains some worthwhile stories, but, mostly, it shows how his trademark caustically witty style developed. These stories aren't great in themselves, but they point the way. Certainly his literary merit based on his novels alone is beyond question - one of the 20th century's greatest and most important authors, Vonnegut helped shape the way many people, including myself, think. However, these stories are not great in themselves, certainly not compared to the high standard Vonnegut has since set for himself. Still, fans will want to read this book, as it contains some interesting stories, lays the foundation for his later masterpieces, and, indeed, completes their collection. New readers should start elsewhere.