Kurt Vonnegut

Bloggers are a truly nerdy lot. I'm sure you've heard that Kurt Vonnegut just died. As might be predicted, bloggers have responded with an outpouring of reminisces about early exposures to science fiction and social satire and are practically competing to see who can insert the nerdiest in-jokes into their obituaries (current leader: RPM of Evolgen for titling his obit "He's With the Tralfamadorians Now"). The memories and nerdiness are generating a sort of bittersweet joy around what would normally be a rather morose exercise. Joy at someone's death is usually reserved for the most disgusting sorts of dictators and predators. That the death of someone loved and admired should bring joy is an irony that I think Vonnegut would have appreciated.