Since its original publication in 1968, Welcome to the Monkey House has been one of Kurt Vonnegut's most beloved works. This special edition celebrates a true master of the short-story form by including multiple variant drafts of what would eventually be the title story. In a fascinating accompanying essay, "Building the Monkey House: At Kurt Vonnegut's Writing Table,"""noted Vonnegut scholar Gregory D. Sumner walks readers through Vonnegut's process as the author struggles--false start after false start--to hit upon what would be one of his greatest stories. The result is the rare chance to watch a great writer hone his craft in real time. Praise for Kurt Vonnegut "Kurt Vonnegut is, in my view, the great, urgent passionate American writer of our century."--George Saunders "Vonnegut's fiction itches to seize the human truth by its large handles."--John Updike