Want an interesting sci-fi read with many twists and turns? Look no further than The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut. It follows the journey of Malachi Constant, the son of rich businessman Elijah Constant. He squanders away his father’s money in fruitless enterprises such as nightlong parties. Invariably, he loses all of his money. Now homeless, Constant enlists in the Army of Mars, and his journey after that is filled with twists and turns through time and space, including visits to Mercury, back to Earth, and finally to Titan where the entire purpose of this journey is revealed. The entire narrative is propelled by the actions of a mysterious Dr. Rumfoord, who became entangled in a “chrono-synclastic infundibulum” while traveling as a private astronaut from Earth to Mars, and subsequently materializes on Earth once every two months. Rumfoord’s actions, however, are themselves caused by a mysterious force; you’ll need to read the book to find out what it is, though!
The Sirens of Titan is an excellent, yet strange book, with loops upon loops of time travel thrown at you. If you’re familiar with Vonnegut’s works, you’ll know that he tends to repeat characters throughout books. For example, Rumfoord appears in both this and Slaughterhouse-Five, though he’s the antihero here but a Harvard professor and Air Force historian there. Also, the Tralfamadorians, who are responsible for abducting Billy Pilgrim in Slaughterhouse-Five, appear in this book as well (though I won’t reveal in what capacity). Considering that this is Vonnegut’s second book, one can really get a unique perspective on the creation of these recurring characters. Without a doubt, this book was gripping all the way through. I highly recommend it. Whether you’re a sci-fi fan or not, you’ll enjoy The Sirens of Titan.
Reviewed by Nitin S., Gr 11
