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cleo_reads's review
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
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.
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