Closing Time (novel)

Closing Time is a 1994 novel authored by Joseph Heller, acting as a follow-up to his 1961 acclaimed work Catch-22. The story is set in New York City during the 1990s and revisits familiar figures including Yossarian, Milo Minderbinder, and Chaplain Tappman.

The plot weaves together two distinct narratives: Yossarian in the twilight years of his life, and Sammy Singer alongside Lew Rabinowitz, two World War II veterans residing in Coney Island. Sammy, who briefly appeared as a tailgunner in Catch-22, serves as a connecting thread between the two novels.

The theme of death continues to be prominent, evolving from wartime casualties to ailments associated with aging such as cancer. A notable inconsistency involves Yossarian’s age—while he is 28 in Catch-22 (set in 1944), he is portrayed as 68 in Closing Time, which refers to the earlier events as "50 years ago." Heller admitted this inconsistency but opted not to address it.

Literary allusions include a character named "Vonnegut," referencing Kurt Vonnegut’s experiences during WWII and his novel Slaughterhouse-Five, as well as a figure named "Joey Heller," reflecting the author’s own military service.

Plot

Closing Time centers on John Yossarian, now advanced in age and living in late 20th-century New York, grappling with the challenges of aging, illness, and societal absurdities. Once a defiant bombardier, he has transitioned into a lucrative consultancy role for a major defense corporation but retains a deep-seated cynicism. Although medically healthy, Yossarian spends considerable time hospitalized. A wedding is scheduled near a bus stop in New York.

Yossarian becomes entangled in a clandestine government initiative focused on constructing underground survival shelters. He grows increasingly suspicious as he realizes that society’s elite have secured their own protection while leaving the general population vulnerable. Despite his concerns, he finds himself unable to break free from the very system he despises.

Reception

The American publication Kirkus reviewed the book by remarking that Heller produced a sequel to a novel that arguably "needed no sequel," emphasizing that much of the narrative dwells on themes of aging and mortality. Only a handful of original characters return, with the primary connection to the first book being recurring motifs underscoring persistent capitalism and militaristic attitudes. Overall, Heller was perceived as "beating a very tired horse."