We have our first guest! My friend Kit joins me to talk about R.F. Kuang’s 2022 novel, and likely big scifi/fantasy award nominee, “Babel.” Kuang’s fourth novel published before she turned 26 (she has another out this year), this historical fantasy tale of a young Chinese man drawn into the British imperial apparatus as a translator and maker of magic driven by translation has drawn rave reviews. Kit and I have other ideas about the book, its mediocre prose, uninspired characterization, shallow politics, and all-around stifling, suffocating quality. We do a deep dive on what Kit has named “the new chosen one” narrative, where instead of simpletons being chosen for quests ala Tolkien or Star Wars, we get young people of marginalized identities taken into the bosom of the empires that marginalize them, only to lead rebellion against them. Some examples of these narratives are good, and some are bad, and it’s worth looking at their prominence.

Subscribe to Melendy Avenue Review at the Citizen Level to get all the content: book reviews, podcasts, cat pics, and more!

Follow RITTOM on twitter!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit peterberard.substack.com