Slaughterhouse-Five is a satirical novel that blends science fiction and anti-war commentary, following the life of Billy Pilgrim, a soldier who becomes unstuck in time after surviving the bombing of Dresden during World War II.
The novel explores themes of fate, free will, and the absurdity of war as Billy experiences his life in a nonlinear fashion, including being abducted by aliens. Vonnegut’s novel is a darkly humorous and deeply affecting critique of war and the human condition, recognized as one of the most important works of 20th-century literature.
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