Sci-Fi Annotation: The Sirens of Titan

The Sirens of Titan

by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

Basic Info
Genre: Science Fiction - Space Opera
Publication Date: Originally published in 1959
Number of Pages: 307
Geographic Setting: Newport, RI; Mars; Indianapolis, IN; Titan
Time Period: Futuristic
Series: None

Plot Summary
On his way to Mars, millionaire Winston Niles Rumfoord runs his private spaceship into a chrono-synclastic infundibulum, a funnel in which “all different kinds of truths fit together” and (after traveling through it) he perpetually travels through space and time and has the ability to see the past and the future.

Malachi Constant is the world’s richest man, not because he is extremely smart or has worked hard; he simply inherited money from his father who made a fortune by using words from the Bible to select stocks in the stock market. Constant does not appreciate his good fortune, blatantly taking it for granted and eventually squandering the money.

Rumfoord uses Malachi throughout the story to explore free will, morality, and the purpose of life, first by sending him to Mars where his memory is erased, his name is changed to Unk, and he is forced to kill his best friend while his brain is under another’s control. When Rumfoord's lackluster Martian Army wages war on Earth, he diverts Unk’s ship to Mercury, where Unk stays for two years.

While Unk is on Mercury, Rumfoord creates a new religion, “The Church of God the Utterly Indifferent” whose teachings are “Puny man can do nothing at all to help or please God Almighty, and Luck is not the Hand of God.” Prior to Unk’s return to Earth, Rumfoord works his congretation into a frenzy, telling them that soon a “Space Wanderer” will join them. When Unk’s ship lands on Earth, he is briefly treated like a savior. It is shortly after his arrival that Rumfoord reveals that Unk is really Malachi Constant, whose effigy is in every church member’s home or business as a reminder of a “repellant way of life that was no more.” 

Convinced by Rumfoord that he would live a friendless life on Earth, Constant (Unk) and his mate, Beatrice, and son, Chrono, are sent to live on Titan, a moon of Saturn. On Titan, Constant meets Salo, a handcrafted metal alien from the planet Tralfamadore who has been stranded for two-hundred thousand years waiting on a small part from Tralfamadore to fix his ship.

Constant lives out his final days on Titan, learning about love, why things happen, and what could possibly be the true meaning of life. 

Characteristics of a Science Fiction Novel

Tone/Mood: Vonnegut is known for his dark humor, which pairs nicely with science fiction. A somber scene is often offset with an element of humor or distraction. After Unk, under remote control of Boaz, has been forced to strangle his best friend, there is a snare drum-like sound in each of the soldiers’ heads, forcing them to move like marionettes. This sound is “Rented a tent, a tent, a tent; Rented a tent, a tent, a tent. Rented a tent! Rented a tent! Rented a, rented a tent.” The reader’s mind is removed from the somber scene, as they try to focus on how these words actually do sound like a cadence when said out loud.

Characters: As in many science fiction books, Vonnegut uses characters to “underscore issues and atmosphere" (Saricks, p. 245). Malachi Constant initially represents greed, cold-heartedness and frivolity; by the end he represents humility, understanding, and hard work. Often aliens play a major role in science fiction works. The Tralfamadorian, Salo, is really the only true representation of an “alien” in this story. Although Martians invade Earth, the “Martians” in this story were originally Earthlings. 

Frame/Setting: The setting invokes “otherness of time, place and/or reality” (Saricks, p. 245) especially via Rumfoord who materializes on Earth, Mars, Mercury and Titan throughout the book. Technical and scientific details are present, but underplayed, as Vonnegut often implies that Earthlings would never understand the technically and scientifically complex knowledge possessed by the Tralfamadorians. This type of downplaying is common in science fiction. There need to be elements of science and technology present, but “one does not need an extensive scientific background to understand and enjoy” it (Saricks, p. 248).

  

Pacing: This book vacillates between fast and slow pacings. The space travel and planet wanderings are frequently fast-paced while the discussions surrounding the messages and morals are slower.  

Title Read-alike (Fiction)

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. Like “The Sirens of Titan,” this book features intergalactic travels with quirky characters. While both books have underlying tones of humor, “The Sirens of Titan” leans toward dark humor and “Hitchhiker’s” is more offbeat.

Title Read-alike (Non-Fiction)

The Brothers Vonnegut: Science and Fiction in the House of Magic by Ginger Gail Strand. This book tells the true stories of Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. and his brother, Bernard Vonnegut, including their relationship, their personal lives, and how Bernard’s employment as a research scientist affected Kurt’s life and writings. 

Author Read-alike (Fiction)
Philip José Farmer. Like Vonnegut, Farmer writes science fiction that entertains, but with an underlying message usually pertaining to the human condition, survival, and the meaning of life. (As a side note, Farmer's original pen name was "Kilgore Trout", a character found in several of Vonnegut's works, including Breakfast of Champions. Farmer stopped using the pen name upon Vonnegut's request.)

Saricks, J. G. (2009). The readers advisory guide to genre fiction. Chicago: American Library Association.

Blogger’s note: It seems contradictory to say “I love Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., but I don’t really like science fiction,” but for me, it’s true. So much of Kurt’s writing IS science fiction – or at least science fiction-ish, but yet it’s really more about the human condition. Try doing a short plot summary for one of his books. Forgettabout it. His plots are so intertwined, complex, and thought-provoking that a one or two paragraph plot summary is impossible. So – I’m sorry this is so long, but don’t blame me. Blame Saint Vonnegut. 

Click here to read why I think “Slaughterhouse-Five” should be considered a Cultural Icon.