Vonnegut’s five decades of writing yielded many worlds-worth of people, places, and things. This book is an invaluable tool for looking up the marvelous facts that exist only in the pages his work - the place of birth of Kilgore Trout, the chief highlights of Breakfast of Champion’s Midland City, the number of times Robert Kennedy appears in Vonnegut’s fiction (twice).

The Encyclopedia identifies every major or minor Vonnegut character (from Celia Aamons to Zog), as well as recurring images and significant themes from all of Vonnegut’s books and short stories, including his essay collections.

Editor Marc Leeds provides italicized notes explaining the significance of many items, but relies primarily on extended quotations from Vonnegut himself. This is a vital reference source for both fans and scholars of the great American writer.