Family Values is an issue both major political parties have chosen for emphasis in this year's election. This subject is the theme for Kurt Vonnegut's 1976 novel Slapstick, Or Lonesome No More. The story is a history of Wilbur Daffodil-11 Roosevelt Swain, the last President of the United States. He occupies this position, not because the government is overthrown or otherwise destroyed, but because of a lack of interest. The story takes place far in the future when the earth's supplies of fossil fuels are exhausted. Communication networks no longer exist. After two or three months in the White House with no messages or word from the outside, he leaves to see what the Duke of Michigan is doing.

Wilbur wins the Presidency with the campaign slogan "Lonesome No More!" His contention is that modern times and instances have destroyed the fabric of the traditional family. His solution assigns everyone in the country a new middle name. The first part of this name is an animal, vegetable, or a mineral followed by a number from one to 20. If the first part of your new name matches someone else's, you are cousins. If your new middle name is an exact match, you are siblings. In this manner everyone immediately gains 190,000 cousins and 10,000 brothers and sisters. These new artificial families replace traditional households and must look out for one another. People start saying that if you know of a relative involved in questionable behavior, don't call the police, call 20 more clan members.

The book is typical of Mr. Vonnegut's middle novels: he tells nearly everything that is going to happen in the story in the first chapter. Much of the action is autobiographical; sadness and tragedy are no strangers to the Vonnegut family.

The above description is the proverbial tip of the iceberg. Vonnegut explains the building of the pyramids, how the Chinese overcame the population question and explores problems associated with drug addiction. The story is delightfully funny and poignantly sad. This is an enjoyable novel presented to us by a great Humanist. I highly recommend it.

--Wayne Wilson