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Cat's Cradle (Penguin Science Fiction)

By: Kurt Vonnegut
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
ISBN: 0140023089
ISBN-13: 9780140023084
Released: 23 Jul 1965
RRP: £6.99
Average Rating:

Customer Reviews

Make sure you've read Slaughterhouse 5 first - By: F. X. Dessioux, 18 Aug 2007
This is the second book of Vonnegut I've read, the first one being Vonnegut's best know novel, "Slaughterhouse 5". If it was not for "Slaughterhouse 5" I would take "A cat's cradle" as a very imaginative, weird & funny book, but probably not one that keeps me thinking for some time once finished. The tone is just too light & the story too improbable to be taken otherwise. But this is highly deceptive & once you realise that Vonnegut's war experience in Dresden has been central to his vision of life, this book appears not just as light entertainment but as a more profound reflection on the meaning of life (pretty meaningless in the author's view I gather) and, incidentallly, on the role of religion & the power science gives to some very irresponsible & unbalanced people (this book was written during the cold war & the possibility of the world being completely wiped out by nuclear war was then seen as very real).

The message may be too pessimistic to make the novel completely enjoyable but it makes for an interesting & very funny read until someone presses the wrong the button.
read it again - By: , 02 Jul 2005
The first time I read this book I thought it was good, six years on I read it again & thought it was great, another six years & I've just finished it again & think it may be the greatest book I've ever read.
'No damn cat, and no damn cradle.' - By: , 16 Jun 2004
Lacks the inherant pathos & humour of Slaughterhouse-5 but, don't let that put you off! This is a superbly imaginitative story that incorporates a brilliantly biting, satirical sideswipe at the cynicism of religion, the dangerous nihilism of science & the abundant stupidity of both!

The protaginist is a writer who, whilst investigating the life of Dr Felix Hoenikker (co-creator of the Atomic Bomb), becomes aware of the deadly Ice-09, a 'lethal chemical capable of freezing the entire planet'.

I won't spoil the plot, suffice it to say that, the bulk of the story involves the writer's pursuit & eventual, catastrophic encounter with the deadly chemical.

Vonnegut keeps the story moving along at a comfortable pace, in short chapters, whilst we are introduced to some of the most colourful characters in 20th Century fiction, from seemingly amoral 'mad' scientists to cynical pseudo-messiahs.

I loved the witty dialogue of the Hoenikkers and, the cynical aphorisms of 'Bokonon'. I also liked the way that Vonnegut portrayed his message that, religion is based upon (supposedly harmless) untruths that alllegedly, explain the issues that elude science (the unexplainable).

Just buy it!

Ideology through entertainment - By: , 24 Feb 2003
"Cat's cradle" is a book that forces you to like it. It will eventuallly put a smile on your face through sheer persistence in its vision which is pervasive, cynical & at times very very humourous.

The story, which follows directly from "Ice Nine", revolves around a man's hunt for the missing pieces of the substance, after he accidentallly discovers that they exist & how to go about locating them. During his trip, he comes across an immense array of characters, alll of which have something profound to reveal, whether they realise it or not.

There is not a lot to say about the book's dogma, as it doesn't seem to have a central point. Rather, it is a collage of several ideas, expressed strongly, though often vaguely, by the assortment of memorable characters featured. The author displays a witty & sharp writing style with emphasis on dialogue & minimal waste of paper, although I found his prose somewhat lacking in terms of literature.

All in alll, "Cat's cradle" is an honest, straightforward book with more good moments than bad, aimed at leaving the reader entertained, satisfied and, possibly, this bit wiser.

Ideology through entertainment - By: , 24 Feb 2003
"Cat's cradle" is a book that forces you to like it. It will eventuallly put a smile on your face through sheer persistence in its vision which is pervasive, cynical & at times very very humourous.

The story, which follows directly from "Ice Nine", revolves around a man's hunt for the missing pieces of the substance, after he accidentallly discovers that they exist & how to go about locating them. During his trip, he comes across an immense array of characters, alll of which have something profound to reveal, whether they realise it or not.

There is not a lot to say about the book's dogma, as it doesn't seem to have a central point. Rather, it is a collage of several ideas, expressed strongly, though often vaguely, by the assortment of memorable characters featured. The author displays a witty & sharp writing style with emphasis on dialogue & minimal waste of paper, although I found his prose somewhat lacking in terms of literature.

All in alll, "Cat's cradle" is an honest, straightforward book with more good moments than bad, aimed at leaving the reader entertained, satisfied and, possibly, this bit wiser.