Join Amazon Prime and get unlimited Free One-Day Delivery. Already a member? Sign in.

 

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
   
More Buying Choices
32 used & new from £3.00
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
Cat's Cradle (Essential Penguin)
 
 
Share your own customer images
Search inside another edition of this book

Cat's Cradle (Essential Penguin) (Paperback)

by Kurt Vonnegut (Author), Benjamin Kunkel (Introduction)
4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
RRP: £8.99
Price: £7.19 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
You Save: £1.80 (20%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In stock.
Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk. Gift-wrap available.

Want guaranteed delivery by Tuesday, July 14? Choose Express delivery at checkout. See Details
24 new from £3.55 8 used from £3.00
Other Editions: RRP: Our Price: Other Offers:
Hardcover Order it used
Paperback £8.99 £6.99 32 used & new from £3.51
Mass Market Paperback (New Dell ed) 3 used & new from £22.96
Library Binding (Reprint) 7 used & new from £18.01
Hardcover (Large Print) 2 used & new from £47.82
Show more editions and formats

Frequently Bought Together

Cat's Cradle (Essential Penguin) + Slaughterhouse 5, or The Children's Crusade - A Duty-dance with Death + Breakfast of Champions
Price For All Three: £16.77

Show availability and shipping details

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Slaughterhouse 5, or The Children's Crusade - A Duty-dance with Death

Slaughterhouse 5, or The Children's Crusade - A Duty-dance with Death

by Kurt Vonnegut
4.5 out of 5 stars (40)  £4.79
Breakfast of Champions

Breakfast of Champions

by Kurt Vonnegut
4.5 out of 5 stars (16)  £4.79
The Sirens Of Titan (S.F. Masterworks)

The Sirens Of Titan (S.F. Masterworks)

by Kurt Vonnegut
4.4 out of 5 stars (18)  £5.49
Mother Night

Mother Night

by Kurt Vonnegut
5.0 out of 5 stars (6)  £5.99
The Road

The Road

by Cormac McCarthy
4.3 out of 5 stars (326)  £2.99
› Explore similar items

Product details

  • Paperback: 192 pages
  • Publisher: Penguin; New Ed edition (1 Jul 1999)
  • ISBN-10: 0140285601
  • ISBN-13: 978-0140285604
  • Product Dimensions: 18 x 10.4 x 1.4 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 50,449 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories:

    #7 in  Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Authors, A-Z > V > Vonnegut, Kurt
    #7 in  Books > Fiction > 20th Century Classics > Vonnegut Jr., Kurt

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Product Description

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 ...

About the Author
Kurt Vonnegut was born in Indianapolis in 1922. During the Second World War he was a prisoner in Germany and present at the bombing of Dresden, an experience he recounted in his famous novel Slaughterhouse Five (1969). His first novel, Piano Player,was published in 1951 and since then he has written many novels, including: The Sirens of Titan, Jailbird, Deadeye Dick, Galapagos and Hocus Pocus. His volume of autobiography is called Palm Sunday (1981).
Inside This Book (Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
Search inside this book:

Suggested Tags from Similar Products

 (What's this?)
Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
Check a corresponding box or enter your own tags in the field below
science fiction

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
See most popular tags

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Cat's Cradle (Essential Penguin)
67% buy the item featured on this page:
Cat's Cradle (Essential Penguin) 4.1 out of 5 stars (14)
£7.19
Slaughterhouse 5, or The Children's Crusade - A Duty-dance with Death
15% buy
Slaughterhouse 5, or The Children's Crusade - A Duty-dance with Death 4.5 out of 5 stars (40)
£4.79
Breakfast of Champions
11% buy
Breakfast of Champions 4.5 out of 5 stars (16)
£4.79
Mother Night
4% buy
Mother Night 5.0 out of 5 stars (6)
£5.99
Explore similar items
 

Customer Reviews

14 Reviews
5 star:
 (6)
4 star:
 (4)
3 star:
 (3)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.1 out of 5 stars (14 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars 'No damn cat, and no damn cradle.', 16 Jun 2004
This review is from: Cats Cradle (Unbound)
Lacks the inherant pathos and humour of Slaughterhouse-5 but, don't let that put you off! This is a superbly imaginitative story that incorporates a brilliantly biting, satirical sideswipe at the cynicism of religion, the dangerous nihilism of science and the abundant stupidity of both!

The protaginist is a writer who, whilst investigating the life of Dr Felix Hoenikker (co-creator of the Atomic Bomb), becomes aware of the deadly Ice-09, a 'lethal chemical capable of freezing the entire planet'.

I won't spoil the plot, suffice it to say that, the bulk of the story involves the writer's pursuit and eventual, catastrophic encounter with the deadly chemical.

Vonnegut keeps the story moving along at a comfortable pace, in short chapters, whilst we are introduced to some of the most colourful characters in 20th Century fiction, from seemingly amoral 'mad' scientists to cynical pseudo-messiahs.

I loved the witty dialogue of the Hoenikkers and, the cynical aphorisms of 'Bokonon'. I also liked the way that Vonnegut portrayed his message that, religion is based upon (supposedly harmless) untruths that allegedly, explain the issues that elude science (the unexplainable).

Just buy it!

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Marvellous, funny, intelligent, perceptive, 23 Sep 2001
By gigidunnit (Tokyo, Japan) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)   
Along with Edmund Cooper's "The Overman Culture", one of the science fiction books I remember reading most avidly as a child, books which stay with you throughout your life. "Cat's Cradle", for me, is Vonnegut's best. It doesn't have the nightmare resonance of "Slaughterhouse Five", the cosmic jokes of "Sirens of Titan" or the deep, abiding humanism which suffuses "Breakfast Of Champions", surely Vonnegut's most moving work (positively heartbreaking), but "Cradle" is a magnificent achievement, a book you will return to time and again and always find something new and interesting (and funny!).

Vonnegut topples his targets like bowling pins. The self-consciously epic sweep of the narrative is signalled by its cheeky references to Moby Dick -- "Call me Jonah" is the first line, and there are a massive 127 chapters crammed into its tiny 179 pages -- but what could be more epic than the end of the world anyway? Vonnegut not only thinks up a new and unusual method of destroying the planet, he invents a cynical new religion, a cast of extraordinary characters, and a very human and very flawed narrator. There's love, sex, death, high farce and the meeting of souls.

"Cat's Cradle"'s abiding popularity can be demonstrated by the number of words and phrases which are now part of everyday language - "busy busy busy", ice nine, boko-maru, foma, karass and so on. Genius is an overused word, but this is clearly the work of genius. It may just seem to you like a book full of cruel jokes in which ultimately everybody dies, but that's the world we live in. The central conceit of the invented religion Bokononism is that its followers know it's all rubbish. Worshipping Bokononism is like reading a good novel. "Don't try," Vonnegut tells us about life on page 115. "Just pretend you understand." These are words to live by. You won't regret buying this book.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Make sure you've read Slaughterhouse 5 first, 18 Aug 2007
By F. X. Dessioux (Madrid, Spain) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This is the second book of Vonnegut I've read, the first one being Vonnegut's best know novel, "Slaughterhouse 5". If it was not for "Slaughterhouse 5" I would take "A cat's cradle" as a very imaginative, weird and funny book, but probably not one that keeps me thinking for some time once finished. The tone is just too light and the story too improbable to be taken otherwise. But this is highly deceptive and once you realise that Vonnegut's war experience in Dresden has been central to his vision of life, this book appears not just as light entertainment but as a more profound reflection on the meaning of life (pretty meaningless in the author's view I gather) and, incidentally, on the role of religion and the power science gives to some very irresponsible and unbalanced people (this book was written during the cold war and the possibility of the world being completely wiped out by nuclear war was then seen as very real).

The message may be too pessimistic to make the novel completely enjoyable but it makes for an interesting and very funny read until someone presses the wrong the button.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Hollow allegory
I loved Slaughterhouse 5, but this is just didn't resonate with me. I know it's supposed to be an allegory lampooning science and religion along the way; but I found the... Read more
Published 29 days ago by G-man

5.0 out of 5 stars read it again
The first time I read this book I thought it was good, six years on I read it again and thought it was great, another six years and I've just finished it again and think it may be... Read more
Published on 2 Jul 2005

3.0 out of 5 stars Ideology through entertainment
"Cat's cradle" is a book that forces you to like it. It will eventually put a smile on your face through sheer persistence in its vision which is pervasive, cynical and at times... Read more
Published on 24 Feb 2003 by symeon@webmate.gr

3.0 out of 5 stars Ideology through entertainment
"Cat's cradle" is a book that forces you to like it. It will eventually put a smile on your face through sheer persistence in its vision which is pervasive, cynical and at times... Read more
Published on 24 Feb 2003 by symeon@webmate.gr

4.0 out of 5 stars Armageddon and Ice Nine
Nothing can be more horrific than the end of the world. Vonnegut portrays Armageddon not through nuclear war, plague or comet collision but by mans obsession with furthering the... Read more
Published on 30 Jan 2003 by lexi_wades

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good (but perhaps not his best)
A nice short read, this is vonnegut on good form and therefore recommended. Not as inventive or thrilling as Sirens of titan (read this book!) but great all the same. Read more
Published on 17 Sep 2001 by bodrick

4.0 out of 5 stars "Cat's cradle" is generally a great book
I really enjoyed this book despite its rather abrupt, if apt ending. Its a fast moving, clever book which doesn't get lost in the ifs and hows of th science it's talking about... Read more
Published on 5 Jul 2001

5.0 out of 5 stars Busy Busy Busy
This is one of my all time favourite books. It's funny from beginning to end, it's intelligent and it's also touching. Read more
Published on 6 Jun 2001 by J. Bloss

5.0 out of 5 stars Touched my soul without removing my shoes!
This book starts a religon and ends a planet. I have read almost everything that Vonnegut has published and this book is essential in understanding the genius, precise wit that... Read more
Published on 29 Nov 2000 by J. HARVEY

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting if not inspiring sci-fi tale of apocalypse
This is a strange book indeed. Very readable and always interesting with peculiar and fascinating characters. Read more
Published on 25 Aug 1999

Only search this product's reviews


Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)
This product's forum (0 discussions)
  Discussion Replies Latest Post
  No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
  [Cancel]


Active discussions in related forums
   
Related forums

Listmania!

Create a Listmania! list

Look for similar items by category

Feedback

Fun for Everyone

Christmas Gifts
Achieve over 15,000 RPM with our great range of Powerballs.

›Shop the Powerball store

  

More From Kurt Vonnegut

Breakfast of Champions

Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut

'Outrageous, witty, thought-provoking, unputdownable, scintillating... Read more
£7.99 £4.79

 

Up to 53% off Braun Series Shavers

Braun Series 3 390cc Clean & Renew System Rechargeable Foil Electric Shaver
Get in touch with your smooth side with Braun Series shavers, now with Gillette blade technology.

›Discover Braun Series at Amazon.co.uk

  

Treat Someone

Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates--available in any amount from £5 to £500 With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is).

›Learn more about Gift Certificates

  
Ad

Where's My Stuff?

Delivery and Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)
You have no recently viewed items or searches.

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.
Continue Shopping: Top Sellers
The Girl Who Played with Fire
The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson
4.5 out of 5 stars (74)£3.86
 Breaking Dawn (Twilight Saga)
Breaking Dawn (Twilight Saga) by Stephenie Meyer
4.1 out of 5 stars (462)£6.49
 The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
4.1 out of 5 stars (165)£3.99
 The Host
The Host by Stephenie Meyer
4.2 out of 5 stars (81)£3.86

amazon.co.uk Amazon Home
International Sites:  United States  |  Germany  |  France  |  Japan  |  Canada  |  China
Business Programs: Sell on Amazon  |  Fulfilment by Amazon  |  Join Associates  |  Join Advantage
Customer Service  |  Help  |  View Basket  |  Your Account
About Amazon.co.uk  |  Careers at Amazon
Conditions of Use & Sale |  Privacy Notice  © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. and its affiliates