God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater

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Second only to Slaughterhouse-Five in Vonnegut's canon, this novel features Eliot Rosewater, a wandering, semi-crazed millionaire on a quest for heritage and philanthropy. He introduces Kilgore Trout, a desperate yet visionary hack writer, who serves as both conscience and cautionary tale. Rosewater, seeking meaningful use of his inheritance from his entrepreneurial father, attempts to do good amidst pervasive cynicism and corruption. A pivotal moment occurs when Rosewater attends a science fiction conference in Milford, Pennsylvania, where he delivers a famous monologue that resonates with writers and critics for decades: "None of you can write for sour apples... but you're the only people trying to come to terms with the really terrific things which are happening today." The narrative is driven not by money but by outrage at the human condition, especially in the face of a corrupt lawyer aiming to manipulate the Rosewater fortune. The story unfolds through a series of short tales about Eliot's interactions with the citizens of Rosewater County, often concluding with a punch line. The antagonist Mushari's story is similarly presented, revealing various human hypocrisies with dark humor. The novel was adapted into a musical by Alan Menken in 1979.