What does this book say about the world we live in now? Is it a call to arms to address current systems of oppression? Does it argue for reparations to address historical harms of imperialism?

Is the whole portrayal of colonialsm too one sided? Is there a benefit to empire? Look to how much of British culture, language, law, and so on remains in the British imperial ex-colonies. Why are they retained if they are purely the tools of oppression?

(Should I mention "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas"?

(And a note about further questions: I'm sure we'll revisit many of these themes when we finish the book, so don't feel like you need to give deep and thoughtful replies to them. And if you think there are other themes and questions we should discuss, please say so!)

Also, the murders were described viscerally and had profound effects on the people around, as opposed to the more sanitised deaths of other styles of fiction. Did that tone work in this book?

And, do you think this two-part read was a good idea? Is it a good way of reading longer books in this club?

What is there to learn from this book about worldbuidling in general? Has this prompted you to make more use of language, power structures, and colonialism in your games? (Does this book make you look at "steampunk" differently?)

Any thoughts on this contrast?

Why is Robin male? Why that privilege? Is it so he can pass as a white man? Will that be important?

Griffin is there, I think, to show what Robin could become if he were just a bit less useful to the Empire. Do you think it's important that they're half-brothers? Will they form a closer relationship?

And how should people come together to change oppressive systems? Find a modus vivendi to survive in them? Persude and cajole? Civil disobedience? Violent uprising and coups? All of these were tried in the book, and none of them was successful. What was Kuang trying to say here?

(Note from Richard - I have included all the quotes even though they considerably outweigh the actual blurb...)

‘One for Philip Pullman fans’
THE TIMES

‘An ingenious fantasy about empire’
GUARDIAN

‘Fans of THE SECRET HISTORY, this one is an automatic buy’
GLAMOUR

‘Ambitious, sweeping and epic’
EVENING STANDARD

Traduttore, traditore: An act of translation is always an act of betrayal.

Oxford, 1836.

The city of dreaming spires.

It is the centre of all knowledge and progress in the world.

And at its centre is Babel, the Royal Institute of Translation. The tower from which all the power of the Empire flows.

Orphaned in Canton and brought to England by a mysterious guardian, Babel seemed like paradise to Robin Swift.

Until it became a prison…

But can a student stand against an empire?

An incendiary new novel from award-winning author R.F. Kuang about the power of language, the violence of colonialism, and the sacrifices of resistance.

'A masterpiece that resonates with power and knowledge. BABEL is a stark picture of the cruelty of empire, a distillation of dark academia, and a riveting blend of fantasy and historical fiction – a monumental achievement’

Samantha Shannon, author of THE PRIORY OF THE ORANGE TREE

'Clever, wickedly fun . . . with an excellent balance of humour and heart. I loved it' S. A. Chakraborty, author of The City of Brass

Cairo, 1912: Though Fatma el-Sha'arawi is the youngest woman working for the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities, she's certainly not a rookie, especially after preventing the destruction of the universe last summer.

So when someone murders a secret brotherhood dedicated to one of the most famous men in history, Al-Jahiz, Agent Fatma is called onto the case. Al-Jahiz transformed the world fifty years ago when he opened up the veil between the magical and mundane realms, before vanishing into the unknown. This murderer claims to be Al-Jahiz, returned to condemn the modern age for its social oppressions. His dangerous magical abilities instigate unrest in the streets of Cairo that threaten to spill over onto the global stage.

Alongside her Ministry colleagues and a familiar person from her past, Agent Fatma must unravel the mystery behind this imposter to restore peace to the city - or face the possibility he could be exactly who he seems . . .

P. Djèlí Clark is the winner of the Nebula, Locus, and Alex Awards and has been shortlisted for the Hugo Award.

.......

Note from Richard
This novel can be read independently. Some background is explained in the short story A Dead Djinn in Cairo which might be helpful (you find out more about how she prevented the destruction of the universe last summer, for example). The novella The Haunting of Tram Car 015 is in the same world and there is an overlap of characters, but the story is quite separate.

A few things have been foreshadowed:

• The group of Robin, Remy, Letty, and Victoire will turn on each other and betray each other. What will prompt that split? Who will be on what side?
• The notion of "autotranslation" silver contaminating all the silver it touches has got to be a Chekov's gun. Who will do the contamination, and whose silver will be destroyed?
• Ribben has mysteriously disappeared. Will he come back from the dead?
• Just how deep will Robin get into the activities of Hermes?