"Catch-22" is a satirical war novel written by American author Joseph Heller, first published in 1961. The novel is set during World War II and follows Captain John Yossarian, a U.S. Army Air Forces B-25 bombardier stationed on the fictional island of Pianosa in the Mediterranean Sea. The book explores the absurdity and illogical nature of war, introducing the term "catch-22" to describe a no-win situation or contradictory rules. Heller's work gained acclaim for its dark humor and critique of bureaucracy, becoming a classic of American literature and a touchstone of anti-war sentiment.