HomeGroupsTalkMoreZeitgeist
Search Site
This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and (if not signed in) for advertising. By using LibraryThing you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Your use of the site and services is subject to these policies and terms.

Results from Google Books

Click on a thumbnail to go to Google Books.

Loading...

Player Piano (1952)

by Kurt Vonnegut

Other authors: See the other authors section.

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
6,819801,357 (3.75)64
Vonnegut's first novel spins the chilling tale of engineer Paul Proteus, who must find a way to live in a world dominated by a super computer and run completely by machines. His rebellion is a wildly funny, darkly satirical look at modern society.
  1. 62
    Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (Anonymous user)
  2. 00
    R.U.R. by Karel Čapek (CGlanovsky)
    CGlanovsky: Exploring societal implications of replacing humans with artificial labor.
Loading...

Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book.

No current Talk conversations about this book.

» See also 64 mentions

English (74)  Italian (2)  French (2)  Spanish (1)  All languages (79)
Showing 1-5 of 74 (next | show all)
It began with humor then the PTSD bled through and hemorrhaged while trying to deal with the human condition and war in an other worldly manner...so it goes.

This is quick and wonderful read. Potent. ( )
  cmpeters | Feb 2, 2024 |
Have decided to reread all Vonnegut books in the order of publication. I still love this book. I was amazed at how relevant it still is. Haven't read it since which school and I am sure I got a lot more out of it now. ( )
  cdaley | Nov 2, 2023 |
A tale about the technocratic and technocentric near-future. As his first published novel, a bit clunky and heavy-handed. ( )
  sfj2 | Oct 31, 2023 |
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. Who doesn't love a story that makes you realize you're just another cog in the machine and there's ultimately nothing you can do about it? ( )
  aywebster | Oct 26, 2023 |
What happens when most jobs are replaced by automation? Player Piano warns us of a different kind of dystopia -- one where everyone has food, and homes and material possessions, where technology is advancing in leaps and bounds, but also, where a divide has been created between those who can be replaced by machines and those who thrive. The novel does a great job of raising important questions about increased classism and job instability for displaced workers.

Certainly not my favorite Vonnegut book, but that seems to be the theme. ( )
  thezenofbrutality | Jul 5, 2023 |
Showing 1-5 of 74 (next | show all)
no reviews | add a review

» Add other authors (54 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Kurt Vonnegutprimary authorall editionscalculated
Bacon, C.W.Cover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Binger, CharlesCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Briemen, Reindert vanCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Charles, MiltonCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Rummel, ChristianNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
You must log in to edit Common Knowledge data.
For more help see the Common Knowledge help page.
Canonical title
Original title
Alternative titles
Original publication date
People/Characters
Important places
Important events
Related movies
Epigraph
Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow:
They toil not, neither do they spin;
And yet I say unto you,
That even Solomon in all his glory
Was not arrayed like one of these. . . .
Matthew 6:28
Dedication
FOR JANE - GOD BLESS HER
First words
ILIUM, New York, is divided into three parts.
Quotations
This silly playlet seemed to satisfy them completely as a picture of what they were doing, why they were doing it, and who was against them, and why some people were against them. It was a beautifully simple picture these procession leaders had. It was a though a navigator, in order to free his mind of worries, had erased all the reefs from the maps.
Last words
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
Disambiguation notice
Publisher's editors
Blurbers
Original language
Canonical DDC/MDS
Canonical LCC

References to this work on external resources.

Wikipedia in English

None

Vonnegut's first novel spins the chilling tale of engineer Paul Proteus, who must find a way to live in a world dominated by a super computer and run completely by machines. His rebellion is a wildly funny, darkly satirical look at modern society.

No library descriptions found.

Book description
Haiku summary

Current Discussions

None

Popular covers

Quick Links

Rating

Average: (3.75)
0.5 3
1 13
1.5 11
2 79
2.5 26
3 346
3.5 76
4 534
4.5 49
5 274

Is this you?

Become a LibraryThing Author.

 

About | Contact | Privacy/Terms | Help/FAQs | Blog | Store | APIs | TinyCat | Legacy Libraries | Early Reviewers | Common Knowledge | 202,658,119 books! | Top bar: Always visible