Babel-17

Babel-17

Cover of first edition paperback
Author	Samuel R. Delany
Language	English
Genre	Science fiction novel
Publisher	Ace Books
Publication date	1966
Publication place	United States
Media type	Print (Hardcover & Paperback)
Pages	173 pp
ISBN	NA

Babel-17 is a 1966 science fiction novel by Samuel R. Delany in which the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis (that language strongly influences thought and perceived reality) plays an important part. It was joint winner of the Nebula Award for Best Novel in 1966 (with Flowers for Algernon) and was also nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 1967.

Delany hoped to have Babel-17 originally published as a single volume with the novella Empire Star, but this did not happen until the 2001 reprint.

Plot summary

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.

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.

Language

Babel-17 Language contains interesting linguistic features is the absence of a pronoun or any other construction for "I". The novel takes an implicitly Whorfian view of language, as the heroine finds her perceptions (and even her physical abilities) altered once she has learned Babel-17. In this it resembles a number of other science fiction novels which deal with language, such as Native Tongue by Suzette Haden Elgin and The Languages of Pao by Jack Vance.

External links

• Errata for Babel-17, approved by the author.

References

• Clute, John (1995). The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction. New York: St. Martin's Press. p. 1386. ISBN 0-312134-86-X. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
• Clute, John (1995). The Multimedia Encyclopedia of Science Fiction. Danbury, CT: Grolier. pp. CD-ROM. ISBN 0-7172-3999-3. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
• Nicholls, Peter (1979). The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction. St Albans, Herts, UK: Granada Publishing Ltd. p. 672. ISBN 0-586-05380-8.
• Jakubowski, Maxim (1983). The Complete Book of Science Fiction and Fantasy Lists. St Albans, Herts, UK: Granada Publishing Ltd. p. 350. ISBN 0-586-05678-5. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
• Pringle, David (1990). The Ultimate Guide to Science Fiction. London: Grafton Books Ltd. p. 407. ISBN 0-246-13635-9.
• Tuck, Donald H. (1974). The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and Fantasy. Chicago: Advent. p. 136. ISBN 0-911682-20-1.