This was a nice collection of short stories dwelling on a lot of different themes added with Vonnegut's personal view which is evident in them. Although most of the stories were quite good, I found myself enjoying those who were practically SF the most, which is were at least by my opinion Vonnegut is in his best.

I heard once from an old English teacher that the hardest pieces to write are short stories and short films. To develop a plot and characters in a short and constricted time frame requires no small amount of skill. There's no room to waste words and phrases; to do so would turn your short story into a novella. Poe was great at it. And I feel Vonnegut was great at it too.

Welcome to the Monkey House has been a favorite book of mine for a long time. I may have inadvertently acquired this copy from an old girlfriend; in which case I would have to apologize to her for my theft. But I'm calling grandfather clause, and there's no way I'd give it back.

Some of these stories are fairly well known. "Harrison Bergeron," for example, is a story that gets taught in school occasionally. And it's a great short story; a better defense of individualism than any drivel Ayn Rand ever spewed out.

"Who Am I This Time?," "Thomas Edison's Shaggy Dog," "Welcome to the Monkey House," and "All the King's Horses" are fantastic stories as well. I picked this collection up again earlier this morning, and have already devoured the first four stories. I wouldn't be surprised if I finish another one or two before I leave for work in an hour.

So in case it was not already abundantly clear; I really like this book. And I tend to think other people will as well.

I remember reading the title story in Playboy but I don't remember any others. I'm sure I read 'em all though. A long time ago... Date read is approximate. I'm verging on Foxy Grandpa territory now.