Sirens of Titan Review and some holiday ranting

I don't believe it, I've done a lot this past month, and so-far I was able to freelance and catch up on some reading. All I ever want is books, and I don't think my hunger for books, for even for delectables such as Divinity can be satisfied during this time of year. Firstly, television sucks during this season, nothing but "holiday classics" like every terrible stop-motion picture, and the occasional Christ story film or short that explains why this festive time of year matters to many people around the world. Personally, I don't care much for the Yuletide cheer and television follies, so instead I read a ton of books in a matter of a few weeks, so this is my busiest book-buying season. I'll even download some ebooks so I have something to read in-between book shopping. Then you have the "faux classics", which eat up more television time,and knock off decent shows that are keeping primetime television alive. At least they show Die Hard, or I'd have nothing to watch! Ugh! Literally I need to spit out onomatopoeias every time I have to watch Charlie Brown again and again, every single year! The irony is that the Charlie Brown Christmas tree has become some hipster ironic piece of decoration, and the cross and nativity seen have been traded for a Grinch balloon. See, Charlie Brown was always supposed to be a Christian undertone show, and in-turn has gone to the point of helping to rip out the last remnant of Christianity in the whole season. I'm not a Christian, nor Jew, but I like tradition, because it teaches you where you come from, and essentially what you were, and what you'll bring to future generations. I'm a Satanist, personally, and I don't like going about admitting it publicly for one reason: religion should be kept to yourself. However, this is about tradition, and I'm not defending the enforcement of children to sing Chrsitian hymns, or pray in school, which I would be for if all prayer was allowed, but I'd rather keep prayer out, and teaching in! In-fact, teach them even more, because kids don't seem to even grasp the rudimentary teachings, and are shoved out half-educated into the world. These kids can't even sing Christmas songs in plays, because the plays have become abstract theater that is meant to not insult one particular creed, yet insults everyone watching it from being a tip-toeing disgrace of politically correct shit, which litters the stage, and ruins the minds of our youth. Again, I would never call for a prayer, or religious songs in schools, although I'm not necessarily saying ban. Ban is a word I cannot stand: it forces no debate, no compromise, and everyone falters in the end, a pity party of bureaucracy. So to avoid all the nonsense, and the media about to start flinging the figgy pudding over all the nonsense that the world is going to hell, and that Christmas, and all other white light holidays, which still dominate this country over pagan and secular traditions mind you, is being oppressed. Listen, I'm all for you keeping your traditions, I really am, but when my Solstice observances are not being treated with the same respect, then we will get how over 85 percent of you are being "oppressed". So instead of all that nonsense, I've decided to let the talking heads and asinine morons who shouldn't even be on television fight it out in-between rehashed shows about Frosty and Rudolph (now in 3D!!!) After finishing NaNoWriMo, and winning, I've finally had a chance to read. I recently finished a book that is old, but still quite a pleasant read today called the Sirens of Titans by the late, great Kurt Vonnegut Jr. Now Mr. Vonnegut has been a favorite author of mine since I was in high school. I discovered him first in Slaughterhouse-Five, his most famous work, and I did so while writing my thesis for that year. I was surprised that such a great book was considered a banned book in most school libraries. The history of banned books always fascinated me, because being a strong proponent against personal responsibility, I felt the idea of banning knowledge,however obscure it may be to some, is a capital offense against the growing, pondering mind. I've read a few books here-and-there by Kurt Vonnegut over the years, as he's written so many, it's hard to not find one of his books quite easily almost anywhere. He is one of the few beloved American satirists, and quite the Science Fiction writer. I know many would call blasphemy for even daring to name him a Science Fiction writer, but the man was just that! Sirens of Titan is considered his best book, and I always found that to be more hype than acknowledgment, yet after I've finished reading it, I was certain the critics may have been correct! I've previously read Galapagos, which was a lovely little book, and inspired me to write a "short" short story entitled: Infinity and Null" which I'll be sharing in a separate post. Sirens of Titan has inspired me as well, it's taught me that great satire isn't necessarily guffaw, and it can be quite brutal. Granted, it's not as brutal as the comedy of Jackson's Dead Alive film, but more along the lines of my personal favorite; Black Sheep: the one about the killer sheep in New Zealand, and not the David Spade, Chris Farley comedy. The book is grand, a fun tale that is, like many of Kurt Vonnegut's works, ahead of its time, and reads strong from start, to finish. If you have never read this particular work by Mr. Vonnegut, it is delightful, with few shortcomings, a story that is legible, and truly a magnificent read for anyone that simply loves a rousing tale of the meaning of life. Written so long ago, it resonates now I feel, more than many stories would, especially in a time where we believe in self-control, and how we are the overseers of our own destinies, to find out that we simply are not. The book is about a god, a lack of a god, and a world where we are at the mercy, and the benefit of natural gods. Planets are god, the whole universe is Itself a god-like versification of a poetic god. Religion is a reoccurring theme, but so is blatant sins, which I've found fascinating with this work. It simply appeals to everyone, and why it is a masterpiece by an author who, by hook, or by crook, has own over, and been the controversial discussion of so many people from different spheres of influence. Vonnegut isn't anti political, nor anti religious, he's simply an observer, a keen seer, who takes us on a journey throughout time, and time travel, but mostly space travel, and encourages us to keep believing. This work isn't about some rich, depraved man who loses it all, it's more about a rich man, who finds richness in something above and beyond his ordinary life. He is reborn,and rejuvenated, after losing everything, even his memory, and really, if you do not empathize with Malachi Constant, then you have not lived long enough, lost yet enough of something previous, or you've simply gone past that grueling stage in life. Sirens of Titan is about humanity, a big-picture book told in hysterical context, which a few beautiful imagery lines of pure magic that keep you from gravitating towards rip roaring laughter. (but I don't doubt you'll find yourself laughing, be-as-it-may, the book is still quite smarmy and cute with humor.). This book does make one feel like life is a beautiful, wicked, terribly magnificent thing to showcase, and ruminate on, it does it's job to make you think. Malachi Constant isn't a hero, nor a villain, though he plays both parts down to a fiddling repertoire of stage drama that leaves you both adoring him and hating him in a matter of chapters. I've read so many characters in my life: bumbling oafs, geniuses, killers, thieves, and heroes alike; Malachi Constant is perhaps the most human of characters I've ever read in a book before, and even though he's gained and lost, and although this book has a very similar outline to another work of genius; Siddhartha by Herman Hesse; it is still so authentic, I simply cannot compare it to anything before. I've given the book appraisal, because it's a very real piece of,literature, and although I respect, and am a truly strong fan of Kurt Vonnegut, I do not see eye-to-eye on many of his musings, but he tells them so intelligently, it's impossible to dislike the man who up until Mark Twain, had very few successful American satirists to lead him, and even fewer to follow. Kurt Vonnegut's Sirens of Titan is worth reading, it has story, it has taste, even when it's utterly tasteless. It will move you, or at least make you fidget around a bit in loving discomfort. It will make you feel great, and it will offer you some sound Aesop fable-style advice that is truly universal. Thank you for reading the Malacast Editorial! Please be sure to follow me on Twitter, and don't forget to send emails, just keep them legal, and not full of spam or anything nasty. Twitter: Twitter.com/mcasteditorial of @mcasteditorial E-mail: mcasteditorial@yahoo.com. I will put up Infinity and Null when I can, so look out for that, I mean literally, it may do damage to your brain cells if you read it unintentionally. It'll come with a warning label I'm sure. Thank you again, and Happy Everything Shopping Season to all of you!