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the_graylien 's review for:
Babel-17/Empire Star
by Samuel R. Delany
First, let me say that I didn't read the entirety of this book, only the "Babel-17" portion. I read it because I'm reading all the Nebula Award winning novels... eventually.
It begins with poet Rydra Wong being enlisted by the government to break a code. This code ends up being the language Babel-17. This language is a weapon used by "the Invaders" to learn those who learn it into traitors.
That's the basic premise of the book, I think, which I only puzzled out by reading several things about it on the internet. Being honest, I was able to zero in on and contemplate some of the things it was saying about language and the way it effects how we perceive everything, but I think a lot of it was lost on me.
It was very readable and enigmatic enough to keep me flipping pages, but being honest here, I think a lot more may be discovered by a repeat read, which I don't know if this book intrigued me quite enough to merit.
*- This book was co-winner of the Nebula Award for Best Novel for 1966, tied with Daniel Keyes' "Flowers for Algernon".
It begins with poet Rydra Wong being enlisted by the government to break a code. This code ends up being the language Babel-17. This language is a weapon used by "the Invaders" to learn those who learn it into traitors.
That's the basic premise of the book, I think, which I only puzzled out by reading several things about it on the internet. Being honest, I was able to zero in on and contemplate some of the things it was saying about language and the way it effects how we perceive everything, but I think a lot of it was lost on me.
It was very readable and enigmatic enough to keep me flipping pages, but being honest here, I think a lot more may be discovered by a repeat read, which I don't know if this book intrigued me quite enough to merit.
*- This book was co-winner of the Nebula Award for Best Novel for 1966, tied with Daniel Keyes' "Flowers for Algernon".