Kurt Vonnegut’s 1963 novel, Cat’s Cradle, is a modern classic. It tells a thrilling and thought-provoking story that is as relevant today as it was when it was first published. The novel is a satire focusing on the topics of religion, technology, and much more. It follows the narrator, John, a soon-to-be published author, who is researching a book he’s writing about religion. In the process of his research, he meets the seemingly-eccentric contributor Felix Hoenikker. Hoenikker’s connection to a previously unknown substance – Ice-nine – leads John into a volatile world of political maneuvering and the pursuit of power.
The novel begins when John lands on the Caribbean island of San Lorenzo and meets the natives, known as “bokononists”. John learns about Bokononism, a religion in San Lorenzo founded by two men of desperate circumstances, Bokonon and Julian Castle. Bokononism is a major theme in the novel and consists of a collection of lies held together by a primitive sense of morality, as well as an interesting outlook on life. The Bokononist believes that all of mankind is going down their own self-created paths of destruction.
John also meets Baron Conrad Hoenikker, son of the former chief scientist at the fictional "Research Institute". After a series of events, the Baron discloses his father's research into a new and extremely powerful form of ice, called Ice-nine, a substance that can turn any water supply it touches into this dangerous new form of ice. John, the Baron, and several companions set out to sea, to Puerto Rico, in search of the island home of Hoenikker’s father, so they can get their hands on the Ice-nine.
John’s journey soon turns into a race around the world to prevent Ice-nine from falling into the wrong hands and triggering a potential apocalypse. Along the way, John meets a variety of characters, from an unnamed Vietnamese soldier to an industrialist with a fascination for technology. He also meets a controversial physicist, Professor Asa Breed, and his two daughters, Mona and Angela.
Throughout the novel, Vonnegut reveals the dangers of unbridled technology, religion, and government power. He portrays the scientist, Felix Hoenikker, as one of the main movers and shakers, who will do anything in order to achieve his goals, a theme that reflects the attitude of many of the characters in the novel. It’s up to John, the narrator, to make sense of the ever-changing landscape and decide what to do when faced with a situation that has no clear solution. In the end, John finds himself on the brink of a global crisis.
Cat’s Cradle is a powerful novel of ideas, a thought-provoking satire of our own world. It is also a story of hope and a warning that technology, religion, and government power can all be used for good or ill. It’s up to us to make the decisions that will determine which path we go down in the future. For those looking for a stirring adventure, combined with a thoughtful look at the world we live in, Cat’s Cradle is a must-read.
