Babel-17 - Rambling Readers

Paperback, 173 pages

English language

Published March 26, 1966 by Ace Books.

OCLC Number:: 617016

(5 reviews)

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. This is discovered by the starship captain Rydra Wong. She is recruited to discover how the enemy are infiltrating and sabotaging strategic sites.

20 editions

Kian Ryan reviewed Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany (The Gregg Press science fiction series)

Review of 'Babel-17' on 'Goodreads'

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I read this immediately after "The Stars My Destination" which made for something of a change of pace. Babel-17 explores the impact of language as a weapon, past the ideas of propaganda, and the way languages effect people. Delaney spins a rich science-fiction web including ideas on genetic splicing, travel, and telepathy.