September 2025
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    Before I go too far, obviously Vonnegut is a highly celebrated author and I know that expecting anybody else to just be a second coming of him is nowhere to put my expectations (nor should it be even in an ideal world).

    I've recently been positively obsessed with Vonnegut, and as I continue to tear through his library of works, I'm wondering if there are any writers who are still alive and actively writing whose style can be compared to Vonnegut's. It doesn't have to be a perfect match, in fact it's probably better if it's not perfect because that would help create a necessary sense of originality to the work.

    Vonnegut's ability to tackle some insanely profound and existential aspects of life, all the while writing in a very approachable, compulsively readable, and diabolically hilarious manner is something I have yet to find an equal to in current authors, but I have hope that there are examples out there which I simply have not given the time of day to yet, as somebody who has only gotten back into a serious reading rhythm relatively recently. One of my other favorite parts of his library is that they're almost entirely standalone works without relying on establishing a popular series in order to sell/make money. Obviously the current publishing landscape heavily rewards series these days, but a man can hope haha.

    As of everybody I've read (which admittedly is not a huge variety) who has produced any sort of work in the 21st century, the closest to capturing the vibe I'm hoping for is Neal Stephenson in Snow Crash (which of course is a late 20th century novel from 1992, but Stephenson I believe is still writing to this day, or at the very least has published numerous books in the 21st century).

    An added bonus would be the artful interweaving of characters from various works in a similar manner to Vonnegut, akin to a character like Kilgore Trout who appears in at least 3 different standalone novels. One of my favorite parts of reading through his library has been finding these fun little easter eggs with nods to his other novels/characters. Though this is less of a requirement, as I'm not really certain how common this is to find.

    Anyway, all possible recommendations are thoroughly appreciated!

    by PsyferRL

    6 Comments

    1. pleasedontsmashme on

      Try Carl Hiaasen. His books are very humorous and fast paced. The characters are wild. I don’t believe you have to read them in any particular order. You will also find a particular one eyed character that makes a recurring appearance through many of the books.

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