Babel-17

A space opera based on a strong version of the Sapir–Whorf hypothesis, the principle that language influences thought. When learning the language, Babel-17, our protagonist first notices she starts to see new connections and similarities between unconnected concepts. Once fluent and able to think in Babel-17 her thought process speeds up and allows her to become a strategic mastermind. Yet there are also unwanted effects programmed into the core of the language.

The ideas are all there, but they are packaged into a rather fast-paced, character- and action-packed space opera that is too short to fully dive into all the linguistic and cognitive possibilities.