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Babel-17 / Empire Star
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Babel-17 / Empire Star (2001) (edit title/settings)

by Samuel R. Delany (Author) (edit contributors)

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Description edit see section history

Babel-17, winner of the Nebula Award for best novel of the year, is a tale of a famous poet bent on deciphering a secret language that is the key to the enemy’s deadly force, a task that requires she travel with a splendidly improbable crew to the site of the next attack.

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Summary edit see section history

During an interstellar war one side develops a language, Babel-17, that can be used as a weapon. Learning it turns one into an unwilling traitor as it alters perception and thought. The change is made more dangerous by the language's seductive enhancement of other abilities. This is discovered... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

During an interstellar war one side develops a language, Babel-17, that can be used as a weapon. Learning it turns one into an unwilling traitor as it alters perception and thought. The change is made more dangerous by the language's seductive enhancement of other abilities. This is discovered by the beautiful starship captain, linguist, poet, and telepath Rydra Wong. She is recruited by her government to discover how the enemy are infiltrating and sabotaging strategic sites. Initially Babel-17 is thought to be a code used by enemy agents. Rydra Wong realises it is a language, and finds herself becoming a traitor as she learns it. She is rescued by her dedicated crew, figures out the danger, and neutralizes its effects.

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First Sentence edit see section history

It's a port city.

Themes & Symbolism edit see section history

  • Language: The novel deals with several issues related to the peculiarities of language, how conditions of life shape the formation of words and meaning, and how the words themselves can shape the actions of people.
  • Perception: Empire Star makes perception central to its theme in the concept of simplex/complex/multiplex: three different ways for an individual to perceive and order events.

Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 6 of 70 in Science Fiction Masterworks. (edition-based publisher list)

Preceded by The Stars My Destination, and followed by Lord of Light.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Samuel R. Delany (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Vintage Books
Country: United States of America
Publication Date: 2001
ISBN: 0375706690
Page Count: 311

Awards edit see section history

  • Nebula (1966: Best Novel, 1 (tie))
  • Hugo (Finalist, 1967: Best Novel)

Classification edit see section history

  • Library of Congress: 76472351
  • Dewey: 813.54

More Books Like This edit see section history

   
  • The Dispossessed
  • The Languages of Pao
  • Native Tongue

Books with Additional Background Information edit see section history

   
  • Empire Star

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