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Cat's Cradle (Essential Penguin) |  | Author: Kurt Vonnegut
Creator: Benjamin Kunkel
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
List Price: $14.45
Buy New: $5.96
as of 3/13/2010 12:59 CST details
You Save: $8.49 (59%)
New (13) Used (7) from $5.96
Seller: the_book_depository_
Rating:  390 reviews
Sales Rank: 185771
Media: Paperback
Pages: 192
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 4.1 x 0.6
ISBN: 0140285601
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN: 9780140285604
ASIN: 0140285601
Publication Date: July 1, 1999
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Amazon.com Review
Cat's Cradle, one of Vonnegut's most entertaining novels, is filled with scientists and G-men and even ordinary folks caught up in the game. These assorted characters chase each other around in search of the world's most important and dangerous substance, a new form of ice that freezes at room temperature. At one time, this novel could probably be found on the bookshelf of every college kid in America; it's still a fabulous read and a great place to start if you're young enough to have missed the first Vonnegut craze.
Product Description
Told with deadpan humour and bitter irony, Kurt Vonnegut's cult tale of global destruction preys on our deepest fears of witnessing Armageddon and, worse still, surviving it ...Dr Felix Hoenikker, one of the founding 'fathers' of the atomic bomb, has left a deadly legacy to the world. For he is the inventor of 'ice-nine', a lethal chemical capable of freezing the entire planet. The search for its whereabouts leads to Hoenikker's three ecentric children, to a crazed dictator in the Caribbean, to madness. Felix Hoenikker's Death Wish comes true when his last, fatal gift to mankind brings about the end, that for all of us, is nigh.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 390
 worth the read February 28, 2010
Thomas Neil Kiser (Aurora, IL USA)
Not quite my normal taste, but I enjoyed it all the same. Perhaps I will come back and reread again. A second reading might reveal more to me. Nonetheless, I do recommend this book.
Science Vs. Religion: The End of the World February 12, 2010
John Becker (new london, ct)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The end of the world has always been a difficult topic for discussion, probably because there is no saying when or how it will take place. In 'Cat's Cradle" by Kurt Vonnegut, it is a topic that keeps coming up. And if you are at all familiar with Vonnegut's dark humor, you would not be surprised. The cause? Religion verses science. It starts when the main character, John Hoosier (who is telling this story in the first person) is researching for a book to be called "The Day the World Ended," about Dr. Felix Hoenikker, the man behind the atomic bomb. This sparks a fascination, and leads him to contact this late scientist's children.
This book is full or random coincidences that seem to make no sense when you are reading it, but they all come together in the end. All the characters, seeming slightly exaggerated, are not at all what you would expect. There is a radical religious figure, Bokonon, and a Minister of science, Frank, who are all thrown together with ICE-NINE, a chemical that freezes everything upon contact. The world ends when they are all on San Lorenzo, a made up island with a murderous dictator. It is very fun and also interesting.
 A Masterpiece of Speculative Fiction February 3, 2010
J. Lewis (Silver Spring, MD USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Fascinating story that puts forth some very interesting ideas on the purpose of religious belief. Highly Recommended. Quotes from the text: "All of the true things that I am about to tell you are shameless lies." "Anyone who cannot understand how useful a religion based on lies can be will not understand this book either." "Live by the harmless untruths that make you brave and kind and healthy and happy."
excellent condition February 3, 2010
J. O'neil
I ordered this book as a Christmas gift for my sister, she gave me instructions to purchase a "used copy" because a new copy would be a waste. When the book arrived, very quickly by the way, I was pleasantly suprised. The "used" copy that I purchased
looked like new. My sister scolded me on Christmas morning for purchasing a new copy, only I new that it was used. I definately
recommend buying books from this seller, the shipping is reasonable and very fast, the books are of better quality than advertised. I'll be back! Thank You!!!
 eh...so it goes. January 11, 2010
T. S. Boutilier (Western NY)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I am glad this wasn't the first Vonnegut book I read. Had it been I probably wouldn't be enthusiastic about reading another. Fortunately, my first was Slaughterhouse-Five.
There are plenty of reviewers here who gave great, detailed synopses of the book, so I will skip that.
What I found good about the book was it's commentary on religion and, more specifically, the relationship between religion and political power (Papa and Bokononists/Bokonon). I also enjoyed the reactions John had to some of the absurd things people would say, especially on the plane. And the elevator scene was a riot, funny and thought provoking. Vonnegut is a master at providing us with funny and ridiculous characters, and there are some in this book (although not enough to make it a great book, but still enough to make it worth a read).
But...the book got slow in many places, and after a while it seemed almost like a chore to read. I enjoyed the message, but not the way it was told. If this is your first Vonnegut book please don't use it against him if you find it boring, many of his other books (like Slaughterhouse-Five) are awesome.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 390
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