Slouching Toward Winston Smith
Thoughts on Player Piano by Kurt Vonnegut
From the start, Player Piano gives a very 1984 vibe: a well-to-do man of the state discovers and flirts with conspiratorial forces, risking the small semblance of freedom enjoyed by members of his class. It’s true that Paul Proteus feels a whole lot more jaded and self-interested than Orwell’s hero, but there’s a zaniness in Vonnegut’s presentation that keeps Paul (along with his entire world) from feeling dark and cynical. I want to call the humor Coen-esque, but that hardly seems possible.
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