Kurt Vonnegut was an American writer, best known for his satirical works such as Slaughterhouse-Five and Cat's Cradle. He was born in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1922 and died in 2007. He was a prolific writer, having published 14 novels, three short story collections, five plays, and five works of non-fiction. His works often explored the effects of war, technology, and science on society. He was also a vocal critic of the Vietnam War and the Bush administration.