Kurt Vonnegut (November 11, 1922 – April 11, 2007) was an American writer. He is known for his unique writing style, blending satire, humor, and science fiction. One of his most famous novels, “Galapagos,” published in 1985, is set on the Galapagos Islands (an archipelago that belongs to Ecuador) which explores the evolution of humanity over a million years. Vonnegut was inspired to write about the Galapagos after visiting the islands in 1979. Despite having no direct relationship with Ecuador as a nation, Vonnegut’s novel helped to popularize the Galapagos and draw attention to the unique wildlife found there. Vonnegut’s other famous novels include “Slaughterhouse-Five,” “Cat’s Cradle,” and “Breakfast of Champions,” which often address themes of war, technology, and the human condition.
Selected works
Novels:
- Player Piano (1952)
- The Sirens of Titan (1959)
- Mother Night (1961)
- Cat’s Cradle (1963)
- God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater (1965)
- Slaughterhouse-Five (1969)
- Breakfast of Champions (1973)
- Slapstick (1976)
- Jailbird (1979)
- Deadeye Dick (1982)
- Galapagos (1985)
- Bluebeard (1987)
- Hocus Pocus (1990)
- Timequake (1997)
Short story collections:
- Canary in a Cat House (1961)
- Welcome to the Monkey House (1968)
- Bagombo Snuff Box (1999)
Non-fiction:
- Wampeters, Foma and Granfalloons (1974)
- Palm Sunday (1981)
- Fates Worse Than Death (1991)
- God Bless You, Dr. Kevorkian (1999)
Other:
- Happy Birthday, Wanda June (play, 1970)
- Between Time and Timbuktu (TV script, 1972)
- Sun Moon Star (children’s book, 1980)
- Who Am I This Time? (TV adaptation, 1982)