Ignatz

"Ignatz" by Ron Goulart is a science fiction novel written in the early 1960s. The book explores themes of identity, societal transformation, and the peculiar phenomenon of applied lycanthropy—specifically, the ability for individuals to transform into cats as a therapeutic method to relieve stress and tension in a modern world. The story follows Glenn Wheelan, a teacher returning to his hometown of San Miguel, where a controversial practice has taken hold—people are encouraged to become cats through the methods of a man named Mr. Balderstone. Wheelan, deeply uncomfortable with this transformation trend and filled with disdain for cats, embarks on a campaign against it, creating leaflets and attempting to rally dissent. As he navigates his feelings for Karen Wylie, who supports the cat transformation for its therapeutic benefits, Wheelan becomes embroiled in a bizarre struggle between his values and the town's new identity. The climax culminates in a surreal and comedic confrontation involving a lecture attended by transformed townspeople, leading Wheelan to an unexpected escape into the water, symbolizing his rejection of this strange new world.