summary

Summary

Cat's Cradle is a novel by American author Kurt Vonnegut, first published in 1963. The story centers around John, a writer who decides to pen a book about the events on the day of the Hiroshima bombings. He becomes interested in Dr. Felix Hoenikker, one of the creators of the atomic bomb. In his quest for material, John meets Hoenikker's children and learns about the existence of 'ice-nine'—a dangerous substance capable of freezing all the water on the planet. The events unfold in the fictional island nation of San Lorenzo, where John encounters the local culture, their religion Bokononism, and the inevitable clash between science and morality. The novel explores themes of scientists' responsibility for the consequences of their discoveries and reflects on the role of chance in human history.