Cat's Cradle
by Kurt Vonnegut, Martí Sales Sariola · first published 1963
51% recommend46% neutral2% critical
Why HN recommends it
Short, funny, engaging Vonnegut novel built around the invented substance ice-nine, with satire of science and society that lingers; often suggested as a good first Vonnegut for newcomers.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Cat's Cradle is Kurt Vonnegut's satirical commentary on modern man and his madness. An apocalyptic tale of this planet's ultimate fate, it features a midget as the protagonist, a complete, original theology created by a calypso singer, and a vision of the future that is at once blackly fatalistic and hilariously funny. A book that left an indelible mark on an entire generation of readers, Cat's Cradle is one of the twentieth century's most important works -- and Vonnegut at his very best.
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…don't praise books like these lightly or without good reason) So I love Lord of the Rings, the Silmarillion, Martian Chronicles (and other Ray Bradbury books), Ursula K Le Guin(Earthsea), Kurt Vonnegut (Cat's Cradle, Sirens of Titan, Slaughterhouse Five etc), Dune, Game of Thrones series, Neuromancer, Asimov (basically everything but especially Foundation series), Terry Pratchett, and so on... And I consider Gene…
on “Gene Wolfe Turned Science Fiction into High Art (2019)” ↗While many enjoy those non-fiction technical reads, there's more to life than that! What other (i.e. fiction) books does the HN community like? My personal favorite is definitely Cat's Cradle (Vonnegut), but Kafka On The Beach (Murakami) has become my close second.
on “Ask HN: What's Your Favorite Novel?” ↗I can never decide if Cat's Cradle is the funniest book I've ever read, or Toole's A Confederacy of Dunces. Some days, Dunces wins, but the majority of the time all it takes is remembering ice-nine and it's back to camp Kurt I go.
on “Kurt Vonnegut at 100” ↗If you find this interesting, you might enjoy Kurt Vonnegut's "Cat's Cradle", which is based around a highly dangerous (and imaginary) form of ice, ice-nine. And even if you aren't super excited about ice-nine, it's still a highly enjoyable read.
on “Found trapped in a diamond: a type of ice not known on Earth” ↗Kurt Vonnegut's works: The Sirens of Titan, Mother Night, Cat's Cradle, Slaughterhouse Five, Player Piano, Jailbird, God Bless You Mr. Rosewater... Find the time to read Vonnegut.
on “Ask HN: Great fiction books that have had a positive impact on your life?” ↗Re-reading Vonnegut’s Cat’s Cradle after being in Silicon Valley after a while really illuminated the character-type I found myself surrounded by: emotionally detached geniuses absentmindedly ruining the world. His style of storytelling…
on “Ask HN: Great fiction books that have had a positive impact on your life?” ↗Slaughterhouse Five has been my least favorite Vonnegut that I've read. However, I've absolutely loved the other few that I've read, most recently Cat's Cradle.
on “How To Write With Style (1999)” ↗Thanks - a really fascinating article. Can't help but be reminded of "Cat's Cradle" by Kurt Vonnegut. (If you haven't read it, one of the plot features is "Ice 9", a fictional form of ice that's a solid at room temperature, and causes liquid water to solidify around it. IMHO, one of…
on “Ice” ↗Kurt Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle! I read it yesterday afternoon. "Science" (i.e. what other people think of it) has a big role in it, but there are a lot of facts in it, too. It's a well-written book that'll leave you thinking for sure..
on “Ask HN: Fiction books that entertain and educate?” ↗The Big Two are Cat's Cradle and Slaughterhouse Five. They're the two you're mostly likely to end up talking with someone about, or to have familiarity assumed by an article or something. If we were to make it a Big Three the third…
on “How To Write With Style (1999)” ↗I've read all the books you mentioned other than Slapstick and agree with your synopsis and recommendations. I'd personally start with Cat's Cradle over Slaughterhouse Five. Deadeye Dick is strange and hilarious, but probably better after reading a few of his books first. :)
on “How To Write With Style (1999)” ↗…style), but the story and writing are fantastic. It's a world where machines can do most kinds of work, so the majority are unemployed except a few specialists (primarily management and engineering). Cat's Cradle is closer in style/tone to Slaughterhouse-Five. While dark, both of them are, it's another really good read. Mother Night is among my favorites, if not my favorite, of his writings.
on “Ask HN: Best non-business books to read on vacation” ↗1984, Orwell Brave New World, Huxley Animal Farm, Orwell The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Heinlein Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Persig Cat's Cradle, Vonnegut Catch-22, Heller The first 3-4 books of the Foundation Series, Asimov The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien
on “Ask HN: Which books would you recommend to me that had a big impact on you” ↗…shelf, including Galapagos. Sirens of Titan also is good. Very strange. For people who do not read much but are desirous of learning more, I'm unsure of the best approach. Maybe Slaughterhouse-Five or Cat's Cradle? Vonnegut deals in Scenes. It is why we love him. Like Fitzgerald, he wrote of a Movie Age. And so I evaluate him based upon his individual scenes, not books. My favorite is from Breakfast of Champions.…
on “Kurt Vonnegut at 100” ↗Cat's Cradle is one of my favorite books, but to be honest, I've never found it that funny - at least not in the sense that it makes me laugh much. What do you find so funny about it?
on “Kurt Vonnegut at 100” ↗