Why should I take up all this space? I'll get off this old planet, let some sweet baby have my place.

May 4, 2007 6:58 AM

2BR02B is a short story by the late Kurt Vonnegut (so it goes) from 1962, brought to you now by Project Gutenberg.
posted by buriednexttoyou (17 comments total)

I wish people used "ting-a-ling" to pepper their Vonnegut-related writing instead of "so it goes."
/nitpick
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 7:13 AM on May 4, 2007 [1 favorite]

Also, thanks for the link.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 7:13 AM on May 4, 2007

Hi ho.
posted by Cookiebastard at 7:29 AM on May 4, 2007

Thanks, the story mixes bits of melancholy and truth.
posted by drezdn at 7:32 AM on May 4, 2007

Cool story, but how is it possible that the copyright for a short story by a just-deceased writer has expired?
posted by gubo at 7:35 AM on May 4, 2007

Transcriber's Notes: "This etext was produced from Worlds of If, January 1962. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the copyright on this publication was renewed."

This implies that the copyright was held by the publication, and they let it lapse.
posted by muddgirl at 7:37 AM on May 4, 2007

It just made the copyright renewal cut. In the US after 1964, you don't have to renew your copyright after 28 years anymore (with some international exceptions thanks to GATT).
posted by Falconetti at 7:45 AM on May 4, 2007

Thanks, muddgirl and Falconetti!
posted by gubo at 7:47 AM on May 4, 2007

This story was published under copyright in a book of shortstorys a recently as 2000. It should fall under copyright for that.
posted by orgvol at 8:36 AM on May 4, 2007

"However, for works copyrighted prior to January 1, 1964, the copyright still must have been renewed in the 28th calendar year to receive the 67-year period of added protection. The amending legislation enacted June 26, 1992, automatically extends this second term for works first copyrighted between January 1, 1964, and December 31, 1977."

So by 2000, it was already in the public domain.
posted by anotherpanacea at 8:47 AM on May 4, 2007

Great story ... reminds me of the whole Quietus thing in "Children of Men."
posted by jbickers at 9:11 AM on May 4, 2007

Argh, poor research spreads. Still, the story's good for those of us who haven't read Bagombo Snuff Box yet.
posted by buriednexttoyou at 9:22 AM on May 4, 2007

orgvol: "This story was published under copyright in a book of short stories as recently as 2000. It should fall under copyright for that."

Apropos of not much, I really recommend that compilation. The stories are early enough to be of particular interest if you're a Vonnegut fan, and even if you're not, they're short, tightly written, and to the point.
posted by Drexen at 10:51 AM on May 4, 2007

And he'll never write another one... *sigh*
posted by WinnipegDragon at 1:47 PM on May 4, 2007

And he'll never write another one...

He's just making space for you to write your own...
posted by 3.2.3 at 2:44 PM on May 4, 2007 [3 favorites]

I was talking with someone the other day who mentioned, when Vonnegut came up, that his work wasn't funny. I didn't press the issue since it was tangential to the conversation, assuming she meant that she didn't like his work. Now I wonder if she just thought his work was just too darkly satiric to be funny.

This story was not funny, but it was amazing.
posted by voltairemodern at 4:01 PM on May 4, 2007

The story is very close to "Welcome to the Monkey House", which is another Vonnegut short story in a book of short stories by that name. He also used the Ethical Suicide Parlors in "God Bless You , Mr. Rosewater."

Patrons receive a free meal in an adjoining Howard Johnson's Restaurant before committing suicide. According to the website, however, there are only three HJ's open at this time-- one in Maine and two in upstate New York, so I guess that the whole idea never really took off.

The Howard Johnson's in Lake Placid looks like it is still going strong.
posted by notmtwain at 9:19 AM on May 5, 2007