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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
On the one hand, you can very clearly tell that this was written in ~1966. There's outdated language used and though this book is more "diverse" than I expected, in some ways, the handling was poor. Babel-17 has really interesting discussions about language, but I actually enjoyed Empire Star more. I didn't like the initial set up of "simplex, complex, and multiplex minds," but the idea is developed I think fairly well and I enjoyed the ending.
I read this book for COL258 and I enjoyed it for the class and it was fun but not my fave overall. It was pretty confusing at times even with the class essentially explaining the whole thing.
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
adventurous
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The thing about this book is that it's not so much about the plot but a kind of treatise on ways that language and thought go together on one side and how complex thought and ideology go together. Plus time travel. I had a good enough time reading it but the end of empire star made me mad because it's like if you didn't see where this is going you're an idiot and I hate that kind of condescension. Unless I'm being too lol!sensitive and it's just a joke? I hope its just a joke. Anyways, I'd probably not have picked this up on my own but as it was assigned reading I did and am probably the better for it.
Delightful. Space poets, linguistics, aggressive body modifications, threesomes, and all somehow packed into a classic space opera plot (a galactic empire is at war with mysterious aliens) with enough fights and murders to make the pages fly by. Quite enjoyable.
The second book is a long story, and feels more like a sketch, but is an agreeable philosophy-into-fiction kind of thing.
The second book is a long story, and feels more like a sketch, but is an agreeable philosophy-into-fiction kind of thing.
Both Babel-17 and Empire Star are excellent, intelligent pieces of science fiction. These are the first works of Delany's that I've read, and I don't think they will be the last.
Babel-17: A thoughtful, eloquent love letter to language, wrapped in an exciting space tale. Given that the book was written in the mid-sixties, I was pleasantly surprised with the nuanced, intelligent, non-stereotypical female lead, and even more surprised at the positive, casual depiction LGB people.
Empire Star: Not quite as good as Babel-17, but still an engaging, thought-provoking work. It starts off feeling like a typical boy's-own-adventure story, but ends up being much more complex than that. To say more would spoil it too much.
Babel-17: A thoughtful, eloquent love letter to language, wrapped in an exciting space tale. Given that the book was written in the mid-sixties, I was pleasantly surprised with the nuanced, intelligent, non-stereotypical female lead, and even more surprised at the positive, casual depiction LGB people.
Empire Star: Not quite as good as Babel-17, but still an engaging, thought-provoking work. It starts off feeling like a typical boy's-own-adventure story, but ends up being much more complex than that. To say more would spoil it too much.