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A review by baldwig
Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany
challenging
medium-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
Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany 1965 SF Masterworks #6 3 Read well by Jack Fox
What did I just read?
• ""You mean we've just been trying to decipher a lot of nonsense?" "It's not a code," (Rydra Wong) repeated. "It's a language." The General (Forester) frowned."
• ""The voice of your age," said (Dr. Markus) T'mwarba."
Rydra Wong "nodded. "Mocky, up till a year ago, I didn't even realize I was just saying other people's ideas. I thought they were my own."
"Every young writer who's worth anything goes through that. That's when you learn your craft.""
• Rydra Wong, "In the beginning was the word. That's how somebody tried to explain it once. Until something is named, it doesn't exist."
• "If you have the right words," she said, "it saves a lot of time and makes things easier."
After a while he asked, "What is I?"
She grinned. "First of all it's very important. A good deal more important than anything else. The brain will let any number of things go to pot as long as 'I' stay alive. That's because the brain is part of I. A book is, a ship is, Jebel is, the universe is, but, as you must have noticed, I am."
The Butcher nodded. "Yes. But I am what?"
Quoted by Jarrod:
Rydra, ""Butcher, there are certain ideas which have words for them. If you don't know the words, can't know the ideas and if you don't have the idea, you don't have the answer.""
What did I just read?
• ""The voice of your age," said (Dr. Markus) T'mwarba."
Rydra Wong "nodded. "Mocky, up till a year ago, I didn't even realize I was just saying other people's ideas. I thought they were my own."
"Every young writer who's worth anything goes through that. That's when you learn your craft.""
• Rydra Wong, "In the beginning was the word. That's how somebody tried to explain it once. Until something is named, it doesn't exist."
• "If you have the right words," she said, "it saves a lot of time and makes things easier."
After a while he asked, "What is I?"
She grinned. "First of all it's very important. A good deal more important than anything else. The brain will let any number of things go to pot as long as 'I' stay alive. That's because the brain is part of I. A book is, a ship is, Jebel is, the universe is, but, as you must have noticed, I am."
The Butcher nodded. "Yes. But I am what?"
Quoted by Jarrod:
Rydra, ""Butcher, there are certain ideas which have words for them. If you don't know the words, can't know the ideas and if you don't have the idea, you don't have the answer.""