Embassytown by China Miéville

This book took my love of linguistics, anthropology, and science fiction and wound them together into an intricate story about the inhabitants of a colonized world where the native Language can only convey truth.

I have never experienced a book that did quite what Miéville did here: not only make semiotics a central part of a novel but also drop you into it in a way that’s almost like participant-observation in a new country, with a definite sense that something is going on around you but you have no clue what. I loved the slow unraveling of the story as it picked apart and made sense of the people, the history, the culture, and the place (and its technologies), although there are some points — including details about Language and its restrictions — that remained fairly handwavy.

This is not an easy or light read, as it touches on topics like colonialism, oppression, war, indoctrination, cultural contact, authenticity, and relationships. But if you’re willing to wade through the heavy moments and sit with the confusion, it’s a fascinating exploration.