Review of The Embedding by Ian Watson

At its worst, science fiction is cheap, shallow entertainment on par with mainstream popular fiction that fails to induce anything in the reader save the thought ‘time wasted’.  At its best, however, science fiction can be a powerful tool for exploring the human condition and supply deep-reaching questions for thought.  Done right, it expresses aspects of existence that literary realism can (literally) only dream of.  After all, the opportunities for comparison and contrast, profundity and insight are exponentially myriad when the universe, not just the world, is your canvas.  Taking full advantage of the possibilities, Ian Watson penned The Embedding in 1973.  Using linguistics as a bounce point, humanity’s chances/willingness/ability to merge toward a common understanding are examined under a genre light that features aliens, political intrigue, jungle tribes, and language experiments in intelligent if not hackneyed fashion.

While there are several side stories, The Embedding can be divided into three main flows.  The first is set in the deep jungles of Brazil where the Xemahoa tribe live.  Pierre is a French anthropologist observing the tribe, taking particular note of their use of language.  Rather languages: everyday speech is in a format readily translatable into other known languages, while in their religious ceremonies another language, a language which combines fungal psychedelics with embedded words and phrasing, is used.  A controversial dam project threatening to force the Xemahoa away from their ancestral home and fungal grounds, it isn’t long before politics ad violence interrupt Pierre’s research.  Meanwhile in the UK. a highly experimental language study is underway—one that would certainly be illegal were it performed today.  Linguist Chris Sole teaches brain damaged children using embedded language, experimental drugs, and physical techniques that occupy the gray area of abuse, all in the hopes of not only better understanding human communication, but perhaps unlocking something deeper in the brain.  Appearing about a third to halfway through the novel is the third storyline.  Passing through the Milky Way is an alien ship, returning to its home world.  Its mission to understand reality deeper than known reality, they come looking to barter knowledge for knowledge in the hope humanity may offer some piece to their reality puzzle.  They, of anyone in the story, find the unexpected.

Review of "The Languages of Pao" by Jack Vance

‘Good things come in small packages.’ is a common enough expression, and the same could be said of Jack Vance’s The Languages of Pao.  Written in 1957, the book is one of Vance’s earlier creations and does not represent the maturity of style that the dialogue of Tales of the Dying Earth or plotting of Planet of Adventure display.  However, one can see that seeds have been planted and buds are sprouting.  The novel, though checking in at only 150 pages, is unmistakably Vance.

Fully deserving to be fleshed out - to have all of the details unpacked - the exposed bones of The Languages of Pao tell of the exiled ruler of the titular planet and the steps he takes to stabilize his beloved country after his father’s assassination.  Baren is just a boy when he is whisked away by the seemingly benevolent wizard dominie, Falafox, to the planet of Breakness.  The knowledge Barend gains and linguistics he learns unwind in an unpredictable fashion that only Vance can write.  Events moving swiftly – perhaps too swiftly for the weight of the ideas contained within – the story nevertheless moves with a deft plot and focus to its conclusion.  In typical Vance style – positive for the protagonist, that is - the climax occurs in satusfying fashion, bearing nothing of the fairy tale colors other pulp sci-fi stories of the time wore. 

Aside from the plot moving at times quite rapidly, the only disadvantage of The Languages of Pao is that the reader is left wanting a more detailed narrative regarding the role language plays in the story.  While what content exists is more than sufficient to carry the plot, the thematic punch is somewhat pulled due to the paucity of description.  Obviously playing off Saussere’s ‘sign’ and ‘symbol’ theory of linguistics, the book would not have suffered if the social connection to language was made stronger (for example, as in Le Guin's The Telling or Mieville's Embassytown).  Alas, the idea coming so early in Vance’s career, the seed never had a chance to fully blossom. 

That being said, The Languages of Pao is certainly an atypical sci-fi story written as only Jack Vance can.  The cultural insight, wry humor, and well-thought out plot typical of the author are all present.  As such, the book comes highly recommended for any Vance fan who has not yet read this work, or for anyone who would like a light taste of what role linguistics might play in a sci-fi story.