Cat's Cradle

Author: Kurt Vonnegut

Cat's Cradle is written in a style that makes me feel like Vonnegut's sitting back with a joint, having a laugh, in on the joke that is life. It reminds me of the style that Douglas Adams' hitchhiker novels are written in - we're all fucked, but isn't it kind of funny style. Except Vonnegut's themes are more sinister, and pointing at a future that we're working towards, if we're not careful. It's amazing that Vonnegut can manage to have a sense of humor after growing up in the depression and his mother committing suicide when he was21. A writer is obsessed with Hoenikker, the scientific "father" of the atomic bomb, and attempts to write a thesis on the day the bomb went off. Through his research, the writer realizes Hoenikker, though scientifically brilliant, was sociopathic in his application of science, lacking an understanding of consequences. He realizes that Hoenikker's last project, Ice 9, has the ability to turn every water particle into ice. At this point, our writer/researcher heads to San Lorenzo. Explaining what happens on San Lorezon would ruin the delightfully acid trippy plot, so please read the novel instead. But I will say, if you think Scientology is nuts (doesn't anyone think there is something slightly odd about a religion created by a science-fiction writer?), then Bokonism will blow your mind. The Cat's Cradle explores issues with religion, science, technology, and the concept of truth. It satirizes many modern flaws, including the arms race. It shows us how all it takes is a crazy idea by one influential person to affect life in a negative way, and makes very apt observations about the ridiculous things society uses science for.