I happened to reread it recently and was absolutely blown away by how relevant it is today, and how it is almost certainly more relevant today than when it was written.
Maybe the reason westworld made it such a prominent theme in the show. All of season 3 is essentially that story.
But what vonnegut missed or questioned is what is we aren’t much more either. (Core thesis of the show is that skinner proved we are mostly the same as a player piano anyways)
Gift link: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/19/books/james-baldwin-joan-...
Direct link to the Vonnegut recordings https://www.92ny.org/archives/kurt-vonnegut,-jr
Was just thinking to myself how Player Piano has never been more appropriate than the AI age we’re in such a hurry to usher in.
Agree. It's just not a very good Vonnegut novel though. You can see him without (yet) a voice in the novel.
If "Breakfast of Champions" is a little too nutty though, I think I might like his "Mother Night" best. (But maybe we like nutty Kurt?)
I happened to reread it recently and was absolutely blown away by how relevant it is today, and how it is almost certainly more relevant today than when it was written.
Maybe the reason westworld made it such a prominent theme in the show. All of season 3 is essentially that story.
But what vonnegut missed or questioned is what is we aren’t much more either. (Core thesis of the show is that skinner proved we are mostly the same as a player piano anyways)