"It was like the moon." pg 179
This is how Billy describes what Dresden looks like after it has been bombed. Buildings are flattened and everything is covered in grey ash. This exact quote was told to one of the Tralfamadorians. Billy and the Tralfamadorian were just having a discussion over the differences between Earth and Tralfamadore. Billy is noting all the differences between Earth and Tralfamadore. Then he compares Earth to the moon after the Dresden bombing. This shows how different Dresden was after the attack. Like it was even the same planet. This is perhaps where Billy's idea of inventing Tralfamadore came from. He created a whole new planet because he couldn't reconcile that is beautiful, familiar earth had been transformed into a surreal new planet that he didn't recognize. So he created a third planet; a place where didn't destroy whole cities. A place where he could contrast with Earth safely, without sending his world spinning.
The whole moon extended metaphor stuck out with me too. In reconciling it as the moon and calling the people "moon men" (p.180 in my edition), Billy is able find it easier to deal with. Also, this sometimes reflects our attitudes on war. We sometimes think as the enemy as from another planet and not people. Vonnegut only shines light on this by showing it from the perspective of an Earthling on the "moon" instead of from the usual U.S biased view point we often receive.
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