Written in the same irreverent tone as many of his other works, but decidedly unfunny. The disjointed writing style and narrative falling in on itself in different POVs, or through various fictional stories-within-the-story is also very Vonnegut. It just doesn't come together in something that feels like it had a point, despite the author's assurance that this is the one book he knows actually has a moral - and it's spotlighted in the preface so I spoil nothing by revealing it's that "we are what we pretend to be". The abyss also stares back at you, etc. But the book never really capitalizes on showing this. The awfulness of Campbell's actions echo hollowly, and he's never really reconciled with the dilemma or his culpability. Perhaps if we'd had another 100 pages following who he really was before all this, to know that he lost something along the way? Maybe if his life in return had been less feckless? Even his conversion to becoming a spy is so passive, and he's not really giving much up in the life he leaves behind. There's of course the meta-narrative of someone covering his own ass left, aside from the actual story being told, and that too is an interesting idea at its core, but trying to second-guess the story being told requires some investment into either the person of Campbell, and the stakes of a 'wrongful' conviction - or the opposite, the threat of him walking free but being guilty.
The problem once again is that the character is so jelly-like and uncaring, it's not possible to get invested in the dilemma of the meta-narrative either. Even Campbell doesn't seem to care if he's ultimately the bad guy or not. Why should I? ( )

Be careful, you might become what you pretend to be. ( )

Self is its own maze. ( )

My reread continues. This is one of my favorite books by Vonnegut. I read it last in high school. I think I liked it a lot more as an adult. ( )

Maybe it is because i just read The Kindly Ones and a bunch of Svetlana Alexievich but this Vonnegut seems almost criminally timid. I am not sure what to make of the main character. Good or bad who really cares when the situation is so contrived or particular that it has no resonance. I really must of missed something. ( )