Catch 22

Q: "How many books are in the Catch 22 series?"

"There are three books in the Catch 22 series, published between 1961 and 1994."

Q: "What is the first book in the Catch 22 series?"

"The first book in the Catch 22 series is Catch-22, published in 1961."

Q: "Is Closing Time a direct sequel to Catch-22?"

"Yes, Closing Time (1994) revisits Yossarian and other characters from Catch-22 decades after World War II. The sequel follows them as older men in New York City, dealing with mortality and the changes in American society since the war. It received mixed reviews compared to the original."

Reading order

#	Title	Published	Author	Buy on Amazon
1	Catch-22	1961	Joseph Heller	Buy
2	Hlava 22	1961	Joseph Heller	N/A
3	Closing Time	1994	Joseph Heller	Buy

Catch-22 (1961) is Joseph Heller’s most famous novel and one of the most recognized works of American literary satire. Set during World War II on the fictional Mediterranean island of Pianosa, the book follows Captain Yossarian and a large cast of fellow airmen trapped in a military bureaucracy that has turned lethality into paperwork. The novel’s title entered the English language as a term for any absurd, self-contradictory rule.

Heller returned to these characters thirty-three years later with Closing Time (1994). The sequel follows Yossarian, Chaplain Tappman, and Milo Minderbinder as old men in the 1990s, grappling with aging, death, and a changed America. Closing Time is a darker, more melancholy book than its predecessor, and critical reception was divided. Some readers appreciated the chance to revisit the characters, while others felt the sequel could not recapture the manic energy of the original. The two books together trace an arc from wartime absurdity to peacetime decline.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Catch 22 series?

There are three books in the Catch 22 series, published between 1961 and 1994.

What is the first book in the Catch 22 series?

The first book in the Catch 22 series is Catch-22, published in 1961.

Is Closing Time a direct sequel to Catch-22?

Yes, Closing Time (1994) revisits Yossarian and other characters from Catch-22 decades after World War II. The sequel follows them as older men in New York City, dealing with mortality and the changes in American society since the war. It received mixed reviews compared to the original.

Reading order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading order