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Babel-17

Babel-17

CyberpunkLiterary Fiction
Pages
336
Published
1966
Language
English

Synopsis

In a future interstellar war, a new language called Babel-17 is developed as a weapon. Its users become unwitting traitors as the language reshapes their perception and thoughts. Starship captain Rydra Wong is tasked with uncovering how the enemy is sabotaging strategic sites, a mission that forces her to confront the dangerous power of this alien tongue.

Prose complexity
7/10

Vibe

Thought-ProvokingComplexIntellectualDark
Quest

Genres

Cyberpunk Literary Fiction Science Fiction Space Opera Dystopian

About the author

S
Samuel R. Delany

Samuel R. Delany is a writer known for his science fiction, including the Hugo Award-winning novel Babel-17. His work often explores themes of language, identity, and society.

Characters

Rydra WongProtagonist
All characters in Babel-17

Frequently asked questions

  • Is this book part of a series?

    While it is a standalone novel, the author conceived it in a head-to-tail pairing with his later 1966 work, Empire Star, meaning the two books are intended to be read in relation to one another.

  • Did this book win any major awards?

    It tied for the Nebula Award for Best Novel in 1966, sharing the honor with Daniel Keyes's Flowers for Algernon.