Audible has released a John Malkovich-narrated audio book of Kurt Vonnegut’s Breakfast of Champions. In the meta-fiction novel, Vonnegut’s reoccurring sci-fi writer character Kilgore Trout meets with car salesman Dwayne Hoover, who believes Trout’s work to be non-fiction. The work alleges that its reader is the only human with free will (i.e. not a robot), and Hoover — who’s going mad — takes the message to heart, allowing his newfound solipsism to fuel his violent impulses.“Breakfast of Champions is just about the best script an actor could wish for, and it was a real treat to perform,” said Malkovich. “I hope Vonnegut fans have as much fun listening to this challenging and funny American classic as I had recording it, and I believe those new to the book will discover it’s just as fresh and relevant as it was forty years ago.”
It’s a good year for Vonnegut fans, as Unstuck in Time , Bob Weide’s documentary about the writer (nearly 30-years in the works), is finally back in full-swing production with an expected release later this year.
You can listen to a sample of Malkovich’s narration here, and watch behind-the scenes-footage of the recording below: