Catch 22 by Joseph Heller

Author: Joseph Heller

Published: 1961

Novel. 

At the heart of Catch-22 resides the incomparable, malingering bombardier, Yossarian, a hero endlessly inventive in his schemes to save his skin from the horrible chances of war. His problem is Colonel Cathcart, who keeps raising the number of missions the men must fly to complete their service. Yet if Yossarian makes any attempts to excuse himself from the perilous missions that he's committed to flying, he's trapped by the Great Loyalty Oath Crusade, a man is considered insane if he willingly continues to fly dangerous combat missions, but if he makes the necessary formal request to be relieved of such missions, the very act of making the request proves that he's sane and therefore ineligible to be relieved. 

Characters: 

Yossarian

Chaplain Tappman

Colonel Cathcart

Doctor Daneeka

Milo Minderbinder

Lieutenant Nately

Lieutenant Scheisskopf

Snowden

Captain Aardvaark

Appleby

Captain Black

Colonel Cargill

Clevinger

Nurse Cramer

Major Danby

Mrs. Daneeka

General Dreedle

Dobbs

Captain Flume