Cat's Cradle
A Novel
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4.4 • 31 Ratings
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- $17.99
Publisher Description
“A free-wheeling vehicle . . . an unforgettable ride!”—The New York Times
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.
“[Vonnegut is] an unimitative and inimitable social satirist.”—Harper’s Magazine
“Our finest black-humorist . . . We laugh in self-defense.”—Atlantic Monthly
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Vonnegut's 1963 satirical science fiction novel still manages to pack a powerfully subversive punch. The new audio release offers listeners an excellent opportunity to connect or reconnect with a classic text whose thematic elements nuclear terror, the complications of science, American imperialism, global capitalism and the role of religion in public life are remarkably relevant to our 21st-century landscape. The story line centers on a young writer's quest to research the history of the atomic bomb, which leads to a bizarre political soap opera and apocalyptic showdown on the shores of a seedy banana republic in the Caribbean. Tony Roberts brings tremendous energy to his reading, projecting a sardonic tone perfectly suited to Vonnegut. His portrayals of the principal male figures sometimes take the form of interchangeable over-the-top carnival barkers, but given the essence of the material, such a unnuanced approach can be understood and appreciated. The audiobook includes a 2005 interview in which Vonnegut who died April 11, 2007 discusses how his life shaped his literary craft.
Customer Reviews
Cat's Cradle
What a wonderful book. With the wit of "A Conneticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court", the mystique of "Alice in Wonderland", and the far-off otherworldly aura of "Gulliver's Travels", Vonnegut takes the reader to a magical place, a fun and entertaining place, where one may just become a little bit wiser. A good read!
Cats cradle
This book was very hard to read, it was all over the place and I could not keep track of it. After 17 chapters I had enough.
This book was not for me. It’s gone.
Cat's craddle
Very good. Read it as a theatre play