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eachz's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Absolutely engrossing and brilliant
The only reason it wasn't a 5 was because I was ever so slightly disappointed by the "reveal". I wanted a juicier explanation!
The only reason it wasn't a 5 was because I was ever so slightly disappointed by the "reveal". I wanted a juicier explanation!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Violence, and Death
Minor: Fatphobia
mercerhanau's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: War
Minor: Classism, Confinement, Violence, Cannibalism, Fatphobia, Grief, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Blood, Suicide, and Torture
cleo_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Engrossing, thought-provoking, unabashedly weird sf classic that feels remarkably fresh today, with a diverse, queer cast.
I wasn’t sure at first if this would work for me. The main character, Rydra Wong, is a type of female protagonist that I’ve encountered in other mid 20thC sf classics written by men. She’s young and beautiful, brilliant and so very accomplished, and everyone who meets her falls in love with her.
We first meet her through the pov of a middle aged general. Rydra is a 26 year old poet, revered throughout the worlds of 5 galaxies. She’s also a gifted linguist and previously worked in military cryptography (6 years ago!). The general needs her to break a code called babel-17, to prevent sabotage and help win their war against the Invaders. By the end of the evening, he’s fallen in love and agreed to give her full access to everything she needs to understand babel-17 and hopefully prevent the next attack. Then she puts together a ship’s crew (did I mention she also has a pilot’s license?) and flies off.
Fortunately, Rydra turned out to be a more interesting character than I expected (although not what you’d call fully developed) and I just kind of relaxed into the story.
The novel was by turns philosophical and full of adventure. You could read it just for the exploration of how language shapes how and what we think. You could read it, as I initially did, for the queer history - written by a bi Black man, with a bi protagonist and polyamorous characters. Or you could just go along for the ride and enjoy a rollicking space adventure.
I wasn’t sure at first if this would work for me. The main character, Rydra Wong, is a type of female protagonist that I’ve encountered in other mid 20thC sf classics written by men. She’s young and beautiful, brilliant and so very accomplished, and everyone who meets her falls in love with her.
We first meet her through the pov of a middle aged general. Rydra is a 26 year old poet, revered throughout the worlds of 5 galaxies. She’s also a gifted linguist and previously worked in military cryptography (6 years ago!). The general needs her to break a code called babel-17, to prevent sabotage and help win their war against the Invaders. By the end of the evening, he’s fallen in love and agreed to give her full access to everything she needs to understand babel-17 and hopefully prevent the next attack. Then she puts together a ship’s crew (did I mention she also has a pilot’s license?) and flies off.
Fortunately, Rydra turned out to be a more interesting character than I expected (although not what you’d call fully developed) and I just kind of relaxed into the story.
The novel was by turns philosophical and full of adventure. You could read it just for the exploration of how language shapes how and what we think. You could read it, as I initially did, for the queer history - written by a bi Black man, with a bi protagonist and polyamorous characters. Or you could just go along for the ride and enjoy a rollicking space adventure.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror
Minor: Fatphobia
retrofuturism's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, War, and Fatphobia
roaming_ro's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Suicide
booksthatburn's review against another edition
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
A lot of cool stuff with regards to thinking about language and polyamory, neat bit of sci-fi.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Fatphobia
Moderate: Gun violence, Suicide, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Murder, Mental illness, Blood, and Alcohol
Minor: Cannibalism, Pregnancy, Animal death, Vomit, Death of parent, Ableism, Racial slurs, Torture, and Child death
Older book which uses some outdated/racist terminology (frequent use of "talonsontypewriters's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Body horror, Medical content, and Gore
Moderate: Alcohol, Gun violence, Suicide, Fatphobia, Ableism, Death, Murder, and Grief
Minor: Pregnancy and Animal death
Body horror refers mostly to cosmetic surgery taken on by many characters to grant them various physical attributes. Passing use of "oriental" and other dated derogatory terms/beliefs. Mild discrimination against polyamory early on. Nonsexual nudity.kateofmind's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
It's only one scene and a minor character but it's overwhelming and the audio narrator makes it worse.booknug's review against another edition
challenging
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia
mar's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
i pick up an old scifi book from the SF Masterworks series based on blurb alone. i set my expectations at "please just don't be casually racist/sexist" levels. what i do not expect is THIS ABSOLUTE GEM of a fun, pulpy space adventure with casual LGBT and polyamorous rep, written by a black gay man. truly the unexpected LGBT rep truly took me tf OUT i am going to cry 🥺🥺🥺
i also rly enjoyed seeing which elements of this 1966 book feel dated or cliché now, and which feel captivating and unique still. it's very much science in name only kinda science fiction (it has spaceship ghosts! and telepathy!) but like in a charming, campy way 💕
i also rly enjoyed seeing which elements of this 1966 book feel dated or cliché now, and which feel captivating and unique still. it's very much science in name only kinda science fiction (it has spaceship ghosts! and telepathy!) but like in a charming, campy way 💕
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia
Minor: Homophobia