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catcrowcandle's review against another edition
The book was interesting, but then I read on Wikipedia that the author openly supports NAMBLA, so I won't be reading anything else by him.
libron26's review against another edition
3.0
This was a weird book that definitely showed its age in not always a good way. It was clever in parts and sort of reminded me of a better episode of Star Trek: The Original Series. It is very much a '60s book in the feel of things. It's kind of hard to describe in words really. A better classic sci-fi work such as Dune had some of that too but less so which in my book makes it better. Delany was experimental in the prose of this novel which was one of the more interesting things about it. Perspectives change and the reader can feel lost at times trying to figure out what is going on. It was challenging in a somewhat interesting way that made me bump up my rating from two to three stars.
Language is a big theme of the novel and Delany does a good job playing with language throughout which brings a higher literary quality to the work than if it was just straight prose science fiction. Some concepts such as "discorporate" entities which are ghosts which is weird. Not something you'd think to be in a sci-fi novel. Cool to think about though. Same with telepathy which was big back in the day but has disappeared from much of contemporary sci-fi since we think of it as pseudo-science.
This was a strange read and recommended for its strangeness.
Language is a big theme of the novel and Delany does a good job playing with language throughout which brings a higher literary quality to the work than if it was just straight prose science fiction. Some concepts such as "discorporate" entities which are ghosts which is weird. Not something you'd think to be in a sci-fi novel. Cool to think about though. Same with telepathy which was big back in the day but has disappeared from much of contemporary sci-fi since we think of it as pseudo-science.
This was a strange read and recommended for its strangeness.
wlewis98's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Very odd, goofy scifi. Good if you like the weird and surreal.
olga_yo's review against another edition
4.0
It was rather a quick and easy read, but some things I’ll be mulling over for quite some time.
A simple plot on the outside and so many subtle things on the inside. It felt almost as a long story or a novella the way it was told, but at the same time the world felt real and multidimensional, the characters, even the Customs officer that we meet briefly twice, were alive and vibrant. I really enjoyed those subtle touches like the way Captain Wong changed the Customs so much in just one evening.
Babel-17 itself, the way it was described, the way Rydra discovered it and it changed her was masterfully done. She basically cracks a language that operates on a whole different dimension and we get to live in her head and witness that. Loved it.
The part where she teaches the Butcher the meaning of ‘I am’ and ‘you are’ was absolutely amazing. The thing was almost palpable. Simple words that I teach to all beginner students all the time here turned into a whole different thing, heavy with meanings and implications. This was hands down my favourite scene in the book.
A simple plot on the outside and so many subtle things on the inside. It felt almost as a long story or a novella the way it was told, but at the same time the world felt real and multidimensional, the characters, even the Customs officer that we meet briefly twice, were alive and vibrant. I really enjoyed those subtle touches like the way Captain Wong changed the Customs so much in just one evening.
Babel-17 itself, the way it was described, the way Rydra discovered it and it changed her was masterfully done. She basically cracks a language that operates on a whole different dimension and we get to live in her head and witness that. Loved it.
The part where she teaches the Butcher the meaning of ‘I am’ and ‘you are’ was absolutely amazing. The thing was almost palpable. Simple words that I teach to all beginner students all the time here turned into a whole different thing, heavy with meanings and implications. This was hands down my favourite scene in the book.
happywedge's review against another edition
5.0
It's rare for me to want to read a book again right away, but that's how I feel about this one. I really liked it while reading and know I missed a lot and want to go back and find the things I missed!
sunn_bleach's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
"Babel-17" is an attempt to take the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis to its absolute extreme, but unfortunately you'll realize pretty quickly that it's so absurd as to be very, very silly. The premise very quickly becomes absurd, and fittingly it shows how much the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis (alongside newspeak in "1984") has had a rather unfortunate influence on pop culture. Yes, language influences your perceptions. No, it doesn't literally change your mind. No, not having words for something doesn't mean you can't think those thoughts, else nobody would learn language to begin with.
The book has some fascinating concepts regarding sexuality and body modification - both of which would be constant through-lines in Delany's work (especially "Dhalgren"). For that (and if you can take a deep breath at the whole "language equals thought" thingy), it might be worth reading, but it wouldn't be the first Delany book I recommend, much less New Wave science fiction.
Pacing's a mess, too.
The book has some fascinating concepts regarding sexuality and body modification - both of which would be constant through-lines in Delany's work (especially "Dhalgren"). For that (and if you can take a deep breath at the whole "language equals thought" thingy), it might be worth reading, but it wouldn't be the first Delany book I recommend, much less New Wave science fiction.
Pacing's a mess, too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gun violence, Murder, and War
Moderate: Medical trauma and Death of parent
jayisreading's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
3.0
I have mixed feelings about this novel, but, at its core, I enjoyed how Delany thought about language in his novel, particularly how language can define and limit the speaker and their understanding of the world around them. With that said, the novel is very much a product of its time (e.g., some insensitive approaches to certain cultures and peoples), though, at the same time, it had its surprisingly progressive moments (e.g., body modifications and the casual acceptance of queerness).
I did struggle a fair bit with how the story was told. I think this is more a me problem, though, which is that I was not a fan of Delany’s writing style. However, I also think there was a major issue with pacing in this novel, so the flow of the plot read strangely to me.
I think I would have more nuanced thoughts about this novel if I had a stronger background in linguistics, because I have no doubt there’s plenty to be said about what was left out from this novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Suicide, Murder, and War
Minor: Fatphobia, Racial slurs, and Torture
sydsnot71's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this. Old school SF. A meditation of language wrapped up inside a space opera. The discussion of language and meaning reminded me, oddly, of George Orwell's 1984.
Our hero is Rydra Wong, poet, starship captain, and linguist. She's on the track of Babel-17, which is language that has been detected around a series of sabotage incidents that may be coming from The Invaders.
I loved the way the book does old school SF stuff whilst philosophising about language and meaning. I fell a little in love with Rydra Wong. Also the general world building is rather interesting.
The writing is full of energy and drive as if Delany was as excited to tell this story as we might be to read it. It may also be no coincidence that his wife at the time was a poet/translator. But it is always dangerous to trust in an author's biography as an influence too much.
This is the first Delany I've read and I really enjoyed it so I'm definitely going to try and read some more. His Wikipedia page makes him sound like an interesting guy.
Our hero is Rydra Wong, poet, starship captain, and linguist. She's on the track of Babel-17, which is language that has been detected around a series of sabotage incidents that may be coming from The Invaders.
I loved the way the book does old school SF stuff whilst philosophising about language and meaning. I fell a little in love with Rydra Wong. Also the general world building is rather interesting.
The writing is full of energy and drive as if Delany was as excited to tell this story as we might be to read it. It may also be no coincidence that his wife at the time was a poet/translator. But it is always dangerous to trust in an author's biography as an influence too much.
This is the first Delany I've read and I really enjoyed it so I'm definitely going to try and read some more. His Wikipedia page makes him sound like an interesting guy.
andrewrawr's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting but sillier than it wants to be, just like the Satori Whorf hypothesis
bathscurse's review against another edition
2.0
(2.5 ⭐️) sad abt this. so many interesting concepts around language and how it defines/limits our selves and enviroments that are let down by the often unfocused, often clumsy writing.