explorer / books · 1967
Babel-17
Published 1966 by Ace Books · 173 pages
Hugo · 1967
FinalistNebula · 1967
WinnerOn the ballot with
Each row shows the full Best Novel ballot for that award and ceremony year. Winners appear first.
Hugo 19676 finalists
Nebula 19673 finalists · tied winners
Samuel R. Delany on these ballots
7 award entries · 5 books · 2 wins · 1967–1977
WinHugo finalistNebula finalistThis book
Synopsis
Poet and starship captain Rydra Wong is recruited to decipher Babel-17, a mysterious alien language that appears to be the key to a series of devastating attacks. As she ventures into enemy space, she discovers that Babel-17 is not merely a code but a language so precise and powerful that thinking in it reshapes perception itself.
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