Kurt Vonnegut’s “Lost Board Game” Finally Published After Almost 70 Years

Barnes & Noble and Mars International are thrilled to announce that Kurt Vonnegut’s board game has finally been brought to fruition. GHQ (short for General Headquarters) is now available in Barnes & Noble bookstores across the country. Fans of Vonnegut have been celebrating the publication since its release in August of this year.

Vonnegut’s first novel, Player Piano, was published in 1952. While it was critically well received, it was not a financial success, and he needed to support his family through other efforts. One of those was an original board game called GHQ, which drew on his experiences during World War II. He designed it throughout 1956 and attempted to sell it to game companies, an effort that was ultimately unsuccessful. His notes on the game were filed away and Vonnegut’s GHQ was lost to us.

“I first learned about GHQ in 2013, and as a Vonnegut fan was driven to learn more about it,” says Geoff Engelstein, game designer and historian. “It took several years working with the Vonnegut family and Indiana University, but ultimately, we were able to locate his original notes on the game, and sample pieces. And the game turned out to be deep and strategic while still being easy to learn and fun to play.”

Engelstein turned his attention to the publication that eluded Vonnegut. “Barnes & Noble was an ideal partner to help bring GHQ to life and allow it to be discovered by all fans of Vonnegut’s work.”

“When Geoff approached me about the Kurt Vonnegut board game, I knew we had to be a part of the story,” says Barnes & Noble Sr. Merchandise Manager of Toys & Games Sabrina Falcone, “It has been an honor to be involved in bringing this project to fruition.”

Kurt Vonnegut’s son Mark was eight years old during GHQ’s development, and he fondly recalls his father working on the game and helping to test it. “He was discouraged about his writing at the time,” recalls Mark Vonnegut. “But he had unshakeable faith that GHQ would succeed.”  

Barnes & Noble is currently the exclusive retailer of GHQ. The first edition features deluxe wooden pieces and a 24-page commentary booklet showing Kurt Vonnegut’s design notes to give insight into his creative process. Customers can find GHQ at Barnes & Noble bookstores nationwide or on bn.com.

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