Babel–Meaning or Madness?

Into the plethora of genres and sub-genres in today’s fiction rockets BABEL, Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators’ Revolution, by R. F Kuang. The title says it all. History, deeply interwoven in a fantastic view of what might have existed, the long (500 pages plus) twists-filled story uses fiction’s “what-if” attitude in the most imaginative way. It’s 1830s England, and Britain rules the waves, the world’s economies, even the intellectual wealth of civilization.

The Story

Book cover of Babel by R.F. Kuang

In an alternate reality, magical silver bars manipulated by specially trained linguists and translators affect reality. Life can be tweaked by experts to improve an invention, increase production, improve the accuracy of bullets, heal injuries, and more. Languages are matched by pairs, similar in meaning but never completely translatable. Pairs inscribed on silver bars exhibit magical properties, but only those trained at Oxford University’s Royal Institute of Translation, or Babel, have the ability to wield their power.

Enter a small group of new students. Robin Swift, an orphan from Canton, bonds with Ramy from Calcutta, Victoire from Haiti, and Letty, a white British admiral’s daughter. They’ve been recruited because the effectiveness of translating European languages is diminishing, and exotic languages should revitalize the magic. The cluster faces dilemmas, travels the world, and learns the truth about their situation and so-called talents. “Mixed blessing” is a mild description.

A Deeper Meaning

But this tale isn’t simply an escape into fantasy. The author firmly roots the plot in the complexities of imperialism, racism, and the strange bedfellows they make with academia. At great length, Kuang flagellates the long-lived power structures of Great Britain and points fingers at their abuses and crimes. What she doesn’t do is identify the same, if not worse, villains in the rest of the world. It’s past time to speak up about the WASP passion for power and riches, but surely, anyone tarred by the same brush deserves the same berating. The color of anyone’s skin, or religion, or social standing, does not excuse abuses.

Conclusion

The book’s strengths are many, the tales fascinating, the underpinnings of thoughtful tirades well aired. I cheered for the fighters for freedom and parity. But I desperately longed for exposure for these crimes and failings that are all the human race’s, not just the same old straw man of European Anglos.

Well worth several readings, it debuted at the first spot on The New York Times Best Seller list and won the 2022 Nebula Award for Best Novel.

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