50 pages 1 hour read

Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

Galapagos

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1985

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

In Galapagos, Leon Trout narrates the evolution of humanity over a million years after fleeing to Sweden due to trauma from the Vietnam War and dying while working on a ship named Bahia de Darwin. A group of people isolated on the Galapagos Islands begins the transformation into a new form of humans, turning from modern beings into furry, aquatic mammals. The narrative touches on themes of pacifism, nature versus nurture, and regret, while depicting acts of violence and addressing death by suicide.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Kurt Vonnegut Jr.'s Galapagos brilliantly weaves satire and science fiction, exploring human evolution with wit and originality. Critics appreciate its imaginative narrative and humor, although some find the plot meandering and the characters underdeveloped. Overall, it's celebrated for its thought-provoking themes but may not suit readers seeking conventional storytelling.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Galapagos?

A reader who enjoys dark humor, social satire, and philosophical musings about human evolution will relish Vonnegut's Galapagos. Fans of Slaughterhouse-Five by Vonnegut himself or Catch-22 by Joseph Heller will appreciate its wit and thought-provoking narrative. Suitable for those who enjoy blending science fiction with deep existential questions.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Book Details

Genre

Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction

Humor

Period

Post Modernism

Themes

Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos

Values/Ideas: Equality

Topics

Trauma / Abuse / Violence

Finance / Money / Wealth

Anthropology