Slaughterhouse-five -

: On Tralfamadore, Billy is kept in a zoo and learns the aliens' philosophy of time: that all moments—past, present, and future—always exist simultaneously. Central Themes

: The story jumps between Billy’s childhood, his time as an American POW during the firebombing of Dresden , his post-war life as an optometrist, and his abduction by aliens from the planet Tralfamadore . slaughterhouse-five

: The Tralfamadorian view that all events are predetermined leads to the recurring phrase " So it goes ," which the narrator uses whenever death is mentioned. : On Tralfamadore, Billy is kept in a

: Modern interpretations often view Billy’s "time travel" and alien encounters as a psychological coping mechanism for the trauma he experienced during the war. Impact & Recognition : On Tralfamadore