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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
fast-paced
adventurous
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:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
medium-paced
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-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
While this book didn't evoke any particularly strong emotions in me, it was fun! A book of the scope of Babel-17 would be around 500 pages these days, and I'm impressed that Delaney made it work in 200. That said, I wouldn't have minded it being longer. Delaney squeezes a lot of interesting ideas into this book that I'd like to spend more time with. The worldbuilding was equally fascinating, as were the characters, and there just wasn't enough time for any of that. I liked Rydra Wong as a main character, but by the end I wasn't very attached to her or any of the others.
Of course, I was here for the language(s). I will reread this book one day, and take more notes on all of that. There was one quote, quite near the end of Babel-17 in part 5 chapter 4, that caught my attention. I'm not sure if Delaney implied anything in Rydra's explanation here:
Of course, I was here for the language(s). I will reread this book one day, and take more notes on all of that. There was one quote, quite near the end of Babel-17 in part 5 chapter 4, that caught my attention. I'm not sure if Delaney implied anything in Rydra's explanation here:
"Well," said Rydra, "to start off with, the word for Alliance in Babel-17 translates literally into English as: one-who-has-invaded. You take it from there. It has all sorts of little diabolisms programmed into it. While thinking in Babel-17 it becomes perfectly logical to try and destroy your own ship and then blot out the fact with self-hypnosis so you won't discover what you're doing and try and stop yourself."
Absolutely fascinating throw-away comment, especially considering the 'enemies' in the book are called Invaders in English... Well, that sure has connotations, but as far as I can tell it's never addressed again.
My copy of Babel-17 has Empire Star as a 'short side' - it starts at the back of the book, upside-down. Empire Star is a story that canonically exists in the world of Babel-17 , and it was fun to see how it ties into the main book. (Again, I need to reread to really grasp the fine details of that.) It feels like a sci-fi fairy tale, and then it does a fun thing that I appreciate.
Together, the two stories feel retro (ahead of its time but, especially in format, very much from the 60s) yet refreshing. I enjoyed them.
My copy of Babel-17 has Empire Star as a 'short side' - it starts at the back of the book, upside-down. Empire Star is a story that canonically exists in the world of Babel-17 , and it was fun to see how it ties into the main book. (Again, I need to reread to really grasp the fine details of that.) It feels like a sci-fi fairy tale, and then it does a fun thing that I appreciate.
Together, the two stories feel retro (ahead of its time but, especially in format, very much from the 60s) yet refreshing. I enjoyed them.
mysterious
reflective
fast-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