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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
In the beginning was the word
I love this book. It's an amazing exploration of the nature and power of language, how it shapes of minds, our view of the world, and the world itself.
I love this book. It's an amazing exploration of the nature and power of language, how it shapes of minds, our view of the world, and the world itself.
adventurous
fast-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
Interesting concept but did not capture me in the same way as say Childhood's End or The Stars My Destination did.
Some cool ideas, technology but it was just okay.
Some cool ideas, technology but it was just okay.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
As befits this book, I struggle to find a language that can properly express how much I loved it. With an incredible economy of worldbuilding, Delany crafts some of the most iridescent prose available to English in service of a short and engaging story about translation, language, and the shape of future society. The best I've read from him yet.
challenging
mysterious
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
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A classic of the genre. The idea of language changing you has been run with later by other writers to varying degrees of success, but it Delany really fires the idea here.
I think my favorite part was how interesting the greater science fiction world that we only get hints of. There are other alien races, but we don't learn much about them aside from a single scene. We never really understand what the fight between the Alliance and the Invaders is about - and it's not clear anyone even remembers any longer!
The culture of transport, the various positions on a ship are all elements that support the main theme of the book - communication across divides - while still leaving enticing mysteries as to the fullness of them.
I think my favorite part was how interesting the greater science fiction world that we only get hints of. There are other alien races, but we don't learn much about them aside from a single scene. We never really understand what the fight between the Alliance and the Invaders is about - and it's not clear anyone even remembers any longer!
The culture of transport, the various positions on a ship are all elements that support the main theme of the book - communication across divides - while still leaving enticing mysteries as to the fullness of them.