Study Guide

Slaughterhouse-Five Chapter 2, Section 27

By Kurt Vonnegut

Chapter 2, Section 27

Billy's mom loses consciousness and Billy goes into the waiting room to sit down.
He realizes he's sitting on something—a book called The Execution of Private Slovik, by William Bradford Huie.
The book tells the story of the only American soldier to be shot for cowardice since the Civil War.
A passage from the decision on Slovik's case follows, in which the staff judge recommends that Slovik be executed, not as a punishment, but simply to maintain discipline.