Babel, or the Necessity of Violence

2022 novel by R. F. Kuang

Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence

Author| R. F. Kuang
Language| English
Genre| Speculative fiction
Set in| Oxford, England, 1836
Publisher| Harper Voyager

Publication date

| August 23, 2022
Publication place| United States
Media type| Print, digital
Pages| 545
ISBN| 9780063021426
(Hardcover)

Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution is a 2022 novel of speculative fiction by R. F. Kuang and set in 1830s England. Thematically similar to The Poppy War, Kuang's first book series, the book criticizes British imperialism, capitalism, and the complicity of academia in perpetuating and enabling them.

Babel is set in an alternative-reality 1830s England in which Britain's global economic and colonial supremacy are fueled by the use of magical silver bars. Their power comes from capturing what is "lost in translation" between words in different languages that have similar, but not identical, meanings. Silver bars inscribed with such 'match-pairs' can increase industrial and agricultural production, improve the accuracy of bullets, heal injuries, and more. To harness this power, Oxford University created the Royal Institute of Translation, nicknamed "Babel", where scholars work to find match-pairs. The plot is focused on four new students at the institute, their growing awareness that their academic efforts maintain Britain's imperialist supremacy, their debate over how to prevent the Opium War, and the use of violence.

It debuted at the first spot on The New York Times Best Seller list, and won Blackwell's Books of the Year for Fiction in 2022 and the 2022 Nebula Award for Best Novel.

## Plot

[edit]

An orphan from Canton is taken in by Richard Lovell, a Babel professor, and takes the English name Robin Swift. Lovell has Robin tutored in Latin and Greek as well as Mandarin in order to prepare him for admission to Babel. It quickly becomes apparent that Lovell is Robin's biological father, but neither is willing to discuss this out loud. One day, Robin embarrasses Lovell by being late to one of his lessons and is brutally beaten and threatened with being returned to Canton to live in poverty. Nevertheless, Robin excels in his studies and, after seven years, is accepted into Babel.

Robin quickly befriends the other members of his first-year cohort: Ramy from Calcutta, Victoire from Haiti, and Letty, a white British admiral's daughter. There they learn that the effectiveness of translating European languages into English is diminishing and that "exotic" languages like Mandarin, Haitian Creole, and Arabic are considered the future of translation magic. In his first week, Robin encounters Griffin, his elder half-brother—another half-Chinese son of Professor Lovell—who recruits him into the Hermes Society, a clandestine organization seeking to undermine Britain's silver supremacy. Griffin explains to Robin how Babel exploits the languages of foreign nations only in order to solidify the British Empire's dominance over them. Robin goes along with Griffin's plans, abetting thefts of silver bars to aid Hermes, but remains conflicted, torn between his distaste for British colonial excess and inequality and his potential comfortable future as an imperial translator. This tension leads him to eventually break contact with Griffin and Hermes in his third year at Oxford.

Robin, Ramy, Victoire, and Letty join Lovell on a sea-trip to Canton to act as translators in the escalating conflict between the Qing Dynasty and British Empire over the Qing refusal to allow free trade or opium to enter China. Robin witnesses the contempt the British have for the Chinese and, after meeting with Lin Zexu, the official sent to stop the opium trade, and witnessing an opium den firsthand, he develops reservations about the British project there. When Lin burns the stockpile of confiscated opium, the Babel affiliates depart for England. On shipboard, Lovell again berates Robin for his supposed complicity with the Qing. However, Robin refuses to back down, and kills Lovell by using a silver bar to blow a hole in his chest. Ramy, Victoire, and Letty help Robin dispose of the body and hide their crime.

Once they return to Britain, they discover in Lovell's effects that the negotiations in China were a sham; Lovell and others were only trying to create a pretext for war, allowing Britain to seize China's stockpiles of silver. Letty walks in on Robin, Ramy, and Victoire discussing Hermes business, but she swears to stand by them after they explain their experiences of discrimination and the scale of British imperial atrocity. The group contacts Hermes, whose members opt to lobby Parliament and whip up public opposition to war with China with a pamphlet campaign. Griffin confides in Robin that he believes only violence can bring the empire down and teaches Robin to use firearms. However, Letty betrays them and, as the police raid the Hermes headquarters, shoots and kills Ramy.

Griffin breaks Victoire and Robin out of prison, but is killed during the escape. The pair decide that only force can hope to succeed, and resolve to capture Babel's college tower. They enter the college, recruiting a few of the students and faculty while expelling the rest. They start removing the resonance rods that allow the translation magic across Britain to function, throwing the country into disarray, and announce their intent to continue doing so until their demands for peace with China are met. They attract supporters among radicals and reformers, who fortify Oxford against the British army. Without access to Babel and its ledgers, other translators cannot maintain the silverwork supporting Britain's infrastructure, culminating with the destruction of Westminster Bridge, Letty arrives to plead with them to surrender, promising that the army will raid the tower at dawn. Robin, spiraling into despair since Canton, resolves to destroy the tower and its contents and render its silver useless for future enchantment. Victoire escapes into hiding, and Robin and the remaining Babel scholars destroy the tower with themselves inside, crippling the Silver Industrial Revolution and leaving the future of the British Empire uncertain.[1][2]

## Characters

[edit]

Robin Swift: The main character. His mother's family were formerly merchants driven to poverty by his uncle's opium addiction. Able to pass for white in certain lights, Robin feels conflicted by his desire to be accepted by Babel and his father, Professor Lovell, and his growing understanding that the system they perpetuate is indefensibly immoral.

Ramiz Rafi "Ramy" Mirza: A Muslim Indian student from Calcutta and Robin's best friend. Ramy was taken from his family by sir Horace Wilson, and lived on his estate in Yorkshire before being sent to Babel. Ramy draws much attention in Oxford, so he takes it as an opportunity to dazzle. He is loud, brilliant, and absurdly charming.

Letitia "Letty" Price: The daughter of a British former admiral and Victoire's roommate. Her brother attended Babel before she did, but was seemingly unfit to the Classic studies. He died in an accident, and only then was Letty allowed to study in Oxford. She experiences the unfair treatment of misogyny of 1830s England and can thereby relate to her friends. But she doesn't see the blatant racism her best friend, Victoire, has to go through.

Victoire Desgraves: A Haitian student raised in France and Letty's roommate. Victoire lived in slavery in France, reading books and studying though out her time there, she soon learned about Babel. Victoire forged a letter asking for her to be a student when she was able, and left her old life behind. Victoire is remarkably resilient and moral, she is often the peace keeper in heated discussion.

Professor Richard Lovell: A professor of Chinese and committed imperialist. Cold and unyielding, he fathered both Griffin and Robin to create bilingual Chinese students for Babel.

Mrs. Piper: Lovell's kindly housekeeper.

Griffin Lovell: Robin's half-brother by their shared father. Member of the Hermes Society. Griffin believes the British Empire will only be brought down by violent means.

Anthony Ribben: An older student at Babel and the member of the Hermes Society who recruits Victoire and Ramy. Anthony Ribben was enslaved as a boy, though his owner was an abolitionist. Anthony escaped to England, where Oxford University helped establish him as legally free. Unlike Griffin, Anthony believes that social change can be brought about by non-violent means, from pamphlets and public opinion to blackmailing members of Parliament.

## Reception

[edit]

### Reviews

[edit]

Babel debuted in September 2022 at the top spot on The New York Times Best Seller list for hardcover fiction.[3][4] It was generally well received, including starred reviews from Booklist[5] and Kirkus Reviews.[6] Booklist called the novel "engaging" and "richly descriptive".[5] while Kirkus said it was "ambitious and powerful while displaying a deep love of language and literature".[6] Kirkus further called it "an expansive, sympathetic, and nevertheless scathing critique of Western imperialism and how individuals are forced to make their peace with the system and survive or to fight back and face the consequences".[6] Amal El-Mohtar, writing for The New York Times Book Review wrote, "Babel derives its power from sustaining a contradiction, from trying to hold in your head both love and hatred for the charming thing that sustains itself by devouring you."[7]

Critics discussed Kuang's attempt to complicate the modern understanding of academia in the 1830s, including the research and footnotes she placed throughout the novel. The Guardian said, "This is a scholarly book by a superb scholar", noting that "the pages are heavy with footnotes; not the more usual whimsical ones ... but academic notes, hectoring and preachy."[8] The review remarked that the characters "are pretentious, but vulnerable too, and the balance is lovely".[8] Similarly, the Chicago Review of Books highlighted how Babel "educates and urges us to reframe—to (re)translate—the dominant narrative of what the West calls its civilization."[9] They called the novel "brilliant both in concept and execution, ... a page-turner with footnotes, a thriller with a higher purpose, a Bildungsroman where the stakes matter".[9] Library Journal echoed the sentiment, writing about how Kuang "prompts readers to question the ethics of both empire and academia".[10]

There were also qualified or negative reviews. Paste noted that Babel is "a meticulously researched period piece, a primal scream from the traditionally unheard".[11] However, they added, "its determination to make sure its (admittedly important) message is heard, means a significant chunk of this doorstopper's 500+ pages feels didactic and lecture-y, rather than fully transformative."[11] Publishers Weekly negatively reviewed the novel, saying, "Kuang underwhelms with a didactic, unsubtle take on dark academia and imperialism."[12] They explained, the "narrative is frequently interrupted by lectures on why imperialism is bad, not trusting the reader or the plot itself enough to know that this message will be clear from the events as they unfold. Kuang assumes an audience that disagrees with her, and the result keeps readers who are already aware of the evils of racism and empire at arm's length. The characters, meanwhile, often feel dubiously motivated."[12]

### Awards and honors

[edit]

Amazon,[13] Kirkus Reviews,[4] NPR,[14][15] and The Washington Post[16][17] named Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence one of the best fantasy books of the year. Barnes & Noble named it one of the top ten books of the year, regardless of genre.[18][19][20]

The administrators of the 2023 Hugo Awards, held at Chengdu Worldcon, ruled Babel not eligible for nomination without further explanation.[21][22] A later report based on emails shared from the awards' administrative panel revealed that the book was likely ruled ineligible in an attempt to avoid running afoul of Chinese censorship laws.[23]

Year  | Award  | Result  | Ref.

|
|
|

2022  | Blackwell's Books of the Year  | Fiction  | Won  | [24]
Goodreads Choice Award | Fantasy  | Nominated  | [25]
Nebula Award | Novel | Won  | [26]
New England Book Award  | —  | Shortlisted  |
Waterstones Book of the Year | —  | Shortlisted  | [27][28]
2023  | Alex Award | —  | Won  |
British Book Award | Fiction  | Won  | [29]
Dragon Award | Fantasy Novel | Shortlisted  |
Locus Award | Fantasy Novel | Won  | [30]
RUSA CODES Reading List | Fantasy  | Shortlisted  |
2024  | (Booksellers) Indie Book Award  | Fiction  | Shortlisted  |
Prix Imaginales  | Meilleur roman étranger  | Shortlisted  |

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Liptak, Andrew (May 6, 2021). "Poppy War Author R.F. Kuang Announces New Novel, Babel". Tor.com. Archived from the original on May 15, 2021. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
2. ^ Kuang, Rebecca (May 5, 2021). "Announcing BABEL, out August 2022". R.F. Kuang Author Newsletter. Archived from the original on December 6, 2021. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
3. ^ "Hardcover Fiction". New York Times. September 11, 2022. Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
4. ^ a b "Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of 2022". Kirkus Reviews. Archived from the original on November 24, 2022. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
5. ^ a b Lockley, Lucy (July 2022). "Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution". Booklist. Archived from the original on November 27, 2022. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
6. ^ a b c "Babel". Kirkus Reviews. July 13, 2022. Archived from the original on November 27, 2022. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
7. ^ El-Mohtar, Amal (October 14, 2022). "The Magic of Translation". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 27, 2022. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
8. ^ a b Pulley, Natasha (September 10, 2022). "Babel by RF Kuang review – an ingenious fantasy about empire". The Guardian. Archived from the original on August 4, 2024. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
9. ^ a b Rabuzzi, Daniel (August 25, 2022). "Translation as Oppression and Liberation in "Babel"". Chicago Review of Books. Archived from the original on November 27, 2022. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
10. ^ Fletcher, Lydia (July 1, 2022). "Babel; or, The Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution". Library Journal. Archived from the original on November 27, 2022. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
11. ^ a b Baugher Milas, Lacy (August 21, 2022). "Babel Is an Ambitious Epic That Doesn't Trust Its Audience Enough". Paste Magazine. Archived from the original on November 27, 2022. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
12. ^ a b "Babel by R F Kuang". Publishers Weekly. March 4, 2022. Archived from the original on December 5, 2022. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
13. ^ "Amazon Best Books of 2022". Locus Online. November 17, 2022. Archived from the original on November 27, 2022. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
14. ^ "NPR's Best Books of 2022". Locus Online. November 22, 2022. Archived from the original on November 26, 2022. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
15. ^ "Books We Love (2022)". NPR. 2022. Archived from the original on July 8, 2020. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
16. ^ "The Washington Post's Best SFF of 2022". Locus Online. November 21, 2022. Archived from the original on November 27, 2022. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
17. ^ Anders, Charlie Jane (November 17, 2022). "The 9 best science fiction and fantasy novels of 2022". Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
18. ^ locusmag (October 11, 2022). "Barnes & Noble Best Books of the Year 2022". Locus Online. Archived from the original on November 27, 2022. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
19. ^ "Awards: B&N's Discover Winner, Best Books of 2022". Shelf Awareness. October 17, 2022. Archived from the original on November 30, 2022. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
20. ^ "2022 B&N Speculative Fiction Book Award Winner". Barnes & Noble. Archived from the original on December 8, 2022. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
21. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on August 4, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2024.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
22. ^ "2023 Hugo Awards, Lodestar Award, and Astounding Award Nominations Released". Locus Online. January 20, 2024. Archived from the original on January 20, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
23. ^ Hawkins, Amy (February 15, 2024). "Authors 'excluded from Hugo awards over China concerns'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
24. ^ "Awards: Arthur C. Clarke Winner; Blackwell's Books of the Year". Shelf Awareness. October 27, 2022. Archived from the original on March 26, 2023. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
25. ^ "Babel, Or the Necessity of Violence". Goodreads. Archived from the original on April 28, 2024. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
26. ^ Templeton, Molly (May 15, 2023). "Here Are the Winners of the 2022 Nebula Awards!". Tor.com. Archived from the original on May 15, 2023. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
27. ^ "Waterstones Book of the Year 2022 Shortlist". Locus Online. October 27, 2022. Archived from the original on November 27, 2022. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
28. ^ "Awards: Kirkus Winners; Waterstones Book of the Year Shortlist". Shelf Awareness . October 28, 2022. Archived from the original on November 27, 2022. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
29. ^ Hassan, Beril Naz (May 16, 2023). "British Book Awards 2023: Full list of this year's winners". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on January 17, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
30. ^ "2023 Locus Awards Winners". Locus Awards. June 25, 2023. Archived from the original on June 29, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2024.

* v
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Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel

1970s and 1980s|

* The Silmarillion by J. R. R. Tolkien (1978)
* Harpist in the Wind by Patricia A. McKillip (1980)
* Lord Valentine's Castle by Robert Silverberg (1981)
* The Claw of the Conciliator by Gene Wolfe (1982)
* The Sword of the Lictor by Gene Wolfe (1983)
* The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley (1984)
* Job: A Comedy of Justice by Robert A. Heinlein (1985)
* Trumps of Doom by Roger Zelazny (1986)
* Soldier of the Mist by Gene Wolfe (1987)
* Seventh Son by Orson Scott Card (1988)
* Red Prophet by Orson Scott Card (1989)

1990s|

* Prentice Alvin by Orson Scott Card (1990)
* Tehanu by Ursula K. Le Guin (1991)
* Beauty by Sheri S. Tepper (1992)
* Last Call by Tim Powers (1993)
* The Innkeeper's Song by Peter S. Beagle (1994)
* Brittle Innings by Michael Bishop (1995)
* Alvin Journeyman by Orson Scott Card (1996)
* A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin (1997)
* Earthquake Weather by Tim Powers (1998)
* A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin (1999)

2000s|

* Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling (2000)
* A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin (2001)
* American Gods by Neil Gaiman (2002)
* The Scar by China Miéville (2003)
* Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold (2004)
* Iron Council by China Miéville (2005)
* Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman (2006)
* The Privilege of the Sword by Ellen Kushner (2007)
* Making Money by Terry Pratchett (2008)
* Lavinia by Ursula K. Le Guin (2009)

2010s|

* The City & the City by China Miéville (2010)
* Kraken by China Miéville (2011)
* A Dance with Dragons by George R. R. Martin (2012)
* The Apocalypse Codex by Charles Stross (2013)
* The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman (2014)
* The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison (2015)
* Uprooted by Naomi Novik (2016)
* All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders (2017)
* The Stone Sky by N. K. Jemisin (2018)
* Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik (2019)

2020s|

* Middlegame by Seanan McGuire (2020)
* The City We Became by N. K. Jemisin (2021)
* Jade Legacy by Fonda Lee (2022)
* Babel, or the Necessity of Violence by R. F. Kuang (2023)
* Witch King by Martha Wells (2024)

* Best Novel (1971–1981)
* Best SF Novel (1980–present)
* Best Fantasy Novel (1978–present)
* Best First Novel (1981–present)
* Best Horror Novel (1989–1997, 1999, 2017–present)
* Best Young Adult Book (2003–present)
* Best Novella (1973–present)
* Best Novelette (1975–present)
* Best Short Story (1971–present)

* v
* t
* e

Nebula Award for Best Novel

1966–1980|

* Dune by Frank Herbert (1966)
* Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany and Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes (1967)
* The Einstein Intersection by Samuel R. Delany (1968)
* Rite of Passage by Alexei Panshin (1969)
* The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin (1970)
* Ringworld by Larry Niven (1971)
* A Time of Changes by Robert Silverberg (1972)
* The Gods Themselves by Isaac Asimov (1973)
* Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke (1974)
* The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin (1975)
* The Forever War by Joe Haldeman (1976)
* Man Plus by Frederik Pohl (1977)
* Gateway by Frederik Pohl (1978)
* Dreamsnake by Vonda N. McIntyre (1979)
* The Fountains of Paradise by Arthur C. Clarke (1980)

1981–2000|

* Timescape by Gregory Benford (1981)
* The Claw of the Conciliator by Gene Wolfe (1982)
* No Enemy But Time by Michael Bishop (1983)
* Startide Rising by David Brin (1984)
* Neuromancer by William Gibson (1985)
* Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (1986)
* Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card (1987)
* The Falling Woman by Pat Murphy (1988)
* Falling Free by Lois McMaster Bujold (1989)
* The Healer's War by Elizabeth Ann Scarborough (1990)
* Tehanu: The Last Book of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin (1991)
* Stations of the Tide by Michael Swanwick (1992)
* Doomsday Book by Connie Willis (1993)
* Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson (1994)
* Moving Mars by Greg Bear (1995)
* The Terminal Experiment by Robert J. Sawyer (1996)
* Slow River by Nicola Griffith (1997)
* The Moon and the Sun by Vonda N. McIntyre (1998)
* Forever Peace by Joe Haldeman (1999)
* Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler (2000)

2001–2020|

* Darwin's Radio by Greg Bear (2001)
* The Quantum Rose by Catherine Asaro (2002)
* American Gods by Neil Gaiman (2003)
* Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon (2004)
* Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold (2005)
* Camouflage by Joe Haldeman (2006)
* Seeker by Jack McDevitt (2007)
* The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon (2008)
* Powers by Ursula K. Le Guin (2009)
* The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi (2010)
* Blackout/All Clear by Connie Willis (2011)
* Among Others by Jo Walton (2012)
* 2312 by Kim Stanley Robinson (2013)
* Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie (2014)
* Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer (2015)
* Uprooted by Naomi Novik (2016)
* All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders (2017)
* The Stone Sky by N. K. Jemisin (2018)
* The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal (2019)
* A Song for a New Day by Sarah Pinsker (2020)

2021–present|

* Network Effect by Martha Wells (2021)
* A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark (2022)
* Babel, or the Necessity of Violence by R. F. Kuang (2023)
* The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera (2024)

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