Path: ...!news.snarked.org!weretis.net!feeder6.news.weretis.net!panix!.POSTED.panix2.panix.com!panix2.panix.com!not-for-mail From: kludge@panix.com (Scott Dorsey) Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written,rec.arts.sf.fandom Subject: Re: Babel Date: 12 Mar 2024 22:43:22 -0000 Organization: Former users of Netcom shell (1989-2000) Lines: 22 Message-ID: References: <157c33f00b3f96e4ca84bfbad3c36e31@www.novabbs.com> Injection-Info: reader1.panix.com; posting-host="panix2.panix.com:166.84.1.2"; logging-data="10995"; mail-complaints-to="abuse@panix.com" Bytes: 1654 jerryfriedman wrote: >I thought it was good but not great. The story and characters were engaging, >and the magic system was original. One problem was that criticizing 19th- >century colonialism and especially the Opium Wars seemed too easy and >out of date. And nothing was said about China's conquests or suppression >of dissent. Those problems were EXACTLY why I was surprised it didn't get a nomination. Because those problems are very much advantages for promoting the book in China. That's what I found so boggleworthy. >A minor criticism is that, after Kuang makes a big deal about researching >Oxford slang of the 1830s, she gives her characters a lot of 20th- and >21st-century dialogue, which I found jarring. I didn't find it that jarring because I am living in the middle of it, but I agree that it won't age well. I disagree with your spoiler, though. --scott -- "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."