The Big Trip Up Yonder

"The Big Trip Up Yonder" by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. is a science fiction short story that examines the impact of anti-aging technology on family and society. The story is set in the future and examines family, aging, and the way humans live. It offers a humorous look at how society values youth and immortality. The story centers on Gramps Ford, who is excited to pass away and the complications that his endless living family bring. Gramps' youthful-looking descendants, fight for the limited resources that never seem enough. The story crescendos around the reading of the will, thus causing a family feud. Ultimately, it is a humorous but meaningful ending that criticizes artificial longevity and the results of life without end.