explorer / books · 1976
The Embedding
Ian Watson’s only award entry in this dataset.
Published 1973 by Victor Gollancz · 254 pages
Nebula · 1976
FinalistOn the ballot with
This book is recorded on the Nebula ballot only. Each row shows the full Best Novel ballot for that award and ceremony year. Winners appear first.
★ Winner
The Forever War
Joe Haldeman
Finalist
Doorways in the Sand
Roger Zelazny
Finalist
Ragtime
E. L. Doctorow
Finalist
The Mote in God's Eye
Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle
Finalist
Invisible Cities
Italo Calvino
Finalist
The Female Man
Joanna Russ
Finalist
The Stochastic Man
Robert Silverberg
Finalist
The Heritage of Hastur
Marion Zimmer Bradley
Finalist
The Computer Connection
Alfred Bester
Finalist
Dhalgren
Samuel R. Delany
Finalist
A Midsummer Tempest
Poul Anderson
Finalist
Autumn Angels
Arthur Byron Cover
Finalist
A Funeral for the Eyes of Fire
Michael Bishop
Finalist
Guernica Night
Barry N. Malzberg
Finalist
Missing Man
Katherine MacLean
Finalist
The Exile Waiting
Vonda N. McIntyre
Finalist
The Birthgrave
Tanith Lee
Finalist · this book
The Embedding
Ian Watson
Synopsis
Linguist Chris Sole raises children using an artificial embedded grammar, while another researcher studies an Amazonian people whose ritual language uses recursive structures. When aliens offer technology in exchange for living human brains, the two language experiments become central to the bargain.
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