Babel-17 (Masterplots II: American Fiction Series, Revised Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: Samuel R. Delany
- First Published: 1966
- Type of Plot: Science fiction
- Time of Work: The distant future
- Setting: Aboard various spaceships and on several planets of the Alliance
- Principal Characters: Rydra Wong, The Butcher, Jebel, Dr. Markus (Mocky) T’Mwarba, Mollya, Calli, Ron, Danil D. Appleby
- Genres: Long fiction
- Subjects: Language or languages
- Locales: Alliance, planets of the (fictive)
The Novel
Babel-17 is much more a spy story set centuries in the future than a space adventure of the Flash Gordon kind. The novel takes its name from the central mystery of the plot: A group of planets—the Alliance—is under attack by forces called the Invaders. The Alliance is hampered in the struggle by sabotage attempts on their defense installations, and the only clue is that each attack has been preceded by a radio transmission in an unknown language, a language that the Alliance has called “Babel-17.” Alliance general Forester consults Rydra Wong, a famous...
[The entire page is 2265 words long]
Join eNotes
Over 3,500 study guides, question and answer forums, literature criticism, reference content, and much more!
Navigate
See Also
