paraicNov 26, 2022

@bookstodon @linguistics A question prompted by a post I saw: what are the best #ScienceFiction #scifi books where #languages play an important part?

There’s 1984, obviously. Even more obviously, The Languages of Pao by Jack Vance. The Imperial Radch series by Ann Leckie has some interesting language features in terms of gender identity, power and mutual intelligibility.

I’m sure there are loads more - this is ‘off the top of my head’ - what others would you recommend?

Show threadKansasKridNov 26, 2022

@paraic @bookstodon @linguistics Not science fiction, Ponty Pool Changes Everything by Tony Burgess and its film adaptation just called Pontypool, are not standard horror either. The book was never intended to be published, if I remember correctly Burgess called it “experimental” and the ending is way out there. But it uses language in a way I had never seen before.

This one may qualify for a re-read by me, now that it jumped back in my head.

Show threadsubobscura
@kansaskrid @paraic @bookstodon @linguistics I came here to recommend this one! Love it!
Nov 26, 2022 at 12:32pmWeb
Show threadKansasKridNov 26, 2022
@subobscura @paraic @bookstodon @linguistics
#pontypool was one of a few books that altered my perception of authorship. It showed me that books can go places I never thought possible. It expanded the universe for me.