Science, technology, and skepticism in the works of Kurt Vonnegut (part 1): Man versus machine

The utopia/dystopias of Player Piano and Galapagos

The works of Kurt Vonnegut —comprised of 14 novels, more than 120 published short stories, and a few posthumous collections—are best known to his followers for their black humor and satirical critique of society. But beginning with the publication of his first novel, Player Piano (1952), Vonnegut consistently explored the thematic dehumanization of man and society wrought by technology, and to a lesser extent, the effect said dehumanization has on free will, presenting us with a terrifyingly recognizable truth concerning humanity’s growing dependence on technology.

Part 1: Man versus machine
Part 2: Armageddon
Part 3: Mas as a machine
Part 4: Be more human

Vonnegut’s interest in science and technology can be traced back to his undergraduate education at Cornell University where he studied biochemistry. Being pressured into the field by his father, Vonnegut found himself more interested in writing for the school newspaper, but would later drop out to join the army on the eve of World War II. In addition to being fascinated by science fiction writers for their ability to combine…