Babel 17 and language

This week I read the science fiction novel “Babel 17” by Samuel R. Delany. It’s about a language invented through a war in space to find traitors and expose them. Later discovered by a very intelligent telepath named Rydra Wong, who accidentally becomes an enemy through learning it. The whole story centers around the mass idea of language and how dangerous it can really be. An entire war could’ve been completely won over within the wrong use of words and the person who says them. It’s an interesting metaphor because almost every problem politically throughout history has been due to the wrong choice of words and the manner they’re said. The entire novel really focuses on being particulate on what to say and being incredibly clear. The “code” of Babel 17 is extensive and sometimes hard to follow but that’s definitely intentional and creates this mind game for the reader where you have to go back and read the sentence multiple times to truly get a grasp on what the purpose of it was.

  We live in the “Make America Great Again” era where words are as detrimental as ever. Constant ridicule has never been shy from political fields, Nixon’s “I am not a crook” speech will forever go down in history just due to bad word choice alone. However, with the internet now, something as silly as George Bush pronouncing “nuclear” a funny way can lead to someone as serious as our president to a complete laughing stock. This has started a very PC culture, people constantly watch what they say to avoid offending others and making fools of themselves, queue “Look at my African American over here”. We live in a time where language can go both ways, safe and smart or brash and to the point. Both are incredibly subjective but both can also be used against each other. Babel 17 deals with the impact words can have on a mass scale and how easy they can affect someone. At a time when we as a country are being led by someone who can’t get off their twitter, it seriously couldn’t be more relevant.

The martian and Sci fi

“The Martian is a novel by Andy Weir about an astronaut in 2035 named Mark Watney who is impaled by an antenna in space and is believed dead by NASA. Actually he’s been alive through planting potatoes through alternative means and when NASA realize he’s alive, it’s an all out battle to get him back to Earth safe and sound. What makes this story work as a modern sci fi story is its sense of realism along with fantastical elements that differentiate it from the world we live in today. 2035 is not that far off, especially from 2011 the time this book was released. By that time, most believe we would’ve probably found a way to get to Mars and back and that mindset is what makes all of this less out of the ordinary than the typical flying cars sinario. It follows a ton of elements from past sci fis, one being their detailed explanations for anything scientific. Getting Mark back was far from easy, from the progress of a “Slingshot” Trajectory to making deals with China to fund The entire thing. Things are Vetoed, 4 year missions are scheduled and trying to get in contact with him all become part of the equation and these details add to the realism and believability that this could happen. It’s a serious response to a serious problem, a man who has tons of information that could help out billions for research is in danger, what could possibly be more important? Weir must’ve done intense research on the matter along with overthinking every sinario that could’ve came from this, that’s what makes a good sci fi, the intelligence and devotion to the world and its inhabitants around it. Another thing it greatly follows is its language, this book was no easy read. It’s diction and mannerism of explaining things in incredibly intense and sometimes hard to get through. It’s best for immersiveness and part of the reason I thought the movie failed from it, Mark doesn’t sound like a high schooler just a professional astronaut. In conclusion this book borrows a lot but creates a ton from new ways of explanations and it’s themes, Great read!

Coraline, a modern day myth

   The novel I read this week was Neil Gaiman’s “Coraline” about a little girl who moves into an apartment complex that holds the secret to an alternate, more perfect world. This was an example of the very popular urban legend. Ever since the owner of the area’s sister disappeared over night, many aren’t allowed in, especially children. Wybie, her grandson and friend of Coraline, is forbidden to go inside. The colorful characters that share the complex with Coraline give subtle warnings to what’s indoors and all of this just makes Coraline more and more curious. It’s reinvented in the sense that it’s a world nobody understands unless they are brave enough to actually experience it. Coraline is the only one who finds out the truth and that’s all through her journey throughout the nightmarish landscapes. What she’s seen has only been seen by those who fell victim to the temptation of a perfect reality. Making a myth only proven by the word of Coraline who tells nobody by the end of it.

  The myth is relevant to the contemporary world through it’s relation through Coraline. She’s loud when bored, always looking for adventure and curious when tempted, a description for any modern day tween girl. I see it as a metaphor for kids discovering light drug use such as marijuana or drinking. Enlightened experiences that are more fun than the real world but have a toll and could leave you reliant on it. The other world in comparison to the regular reality is so much brighter and fun, leaving Coraline little reason not to keep going back. Her refusal and fight back paraphrases the end of an addiction, the other mother’s hand resembles to me the lingering effects on it and how it can come back to attack. It’s incredibly deep and with drugs becoming more and more apparent through today’s youth, the metaphor is definitely relevant and stays true.

   Coraline’s mythological influence is definitely apparent, however it’s metaphorical theme and modern day approach create a bigger meaning that turns it from being just another urban legend to a brand new concept. Just apart of Gaiman’s genius.