Both authors drew on a proposal by a third individual doing "real research".
Why "Ice 9" is relevant is that the research was into possible water "polymers".
Only thing ever come of it was probably water-based acrylic floor finish.
Thankfully the initial concept, that "Ice 9" could be infectious was totally discredited several years back.
OK, I guess I got my Vonnegut novels mixed up.
In one of his novels, he describes a society where all people are ranked socially according to their IQ. I had thought that it was Cat's Cradle.
Thanks for the correction!
Sounds like Al Gore's and John Kerry's dream, except that they'd be relegated to mens' restroom urinal cake inspectors.
The most, err..."chilling" scene in Cat's Cradle is where the character commits suicide by taking some Ice-9 frost and touching it to their lips.
The idea behind Ice-9 being 'infectious' is the idea that it was a high-melting point, thermodynamically preferred phase of solid ice.
IIRC Vonnegut said he got the idea from his brother who worked at GE Schenectady.
Full Disclosure: How on earth you have a solid being preferred over a liquid at 37 C (think of entropic considerations) is beyond me.
Cheers!