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Songs of the Sage #1
The Babel Apocalypse
"They who control language control everything."
A genre-blending, dystopian Sci-Fi mystery-thriller that will make you think about language in a whole new way.
Language is no longer learned, but is streamed to neural implants regulated by lang-laws. Those who can't afford language streaming services are feral, living on the fringes of society. Big tech corporations control language, the world’s most valuable commodity.
But when a massive cyberattack causes a global language outage, catastrophe looms.
Europol detective Emyr Morgan is assigned to the case. His prime suspect is Professor Ebba Black, the last native speaker of language in the automated world, and leader of the Babel cyberterrorist organization. But Emyr soon learns that in a world of corporate power, where they who control language control everything, all is not as it seems.
As he and Ebba collide, Emyr faces an existential dilemma between loyalty and betrayal, when everything he once believed in is called into question. To prevent the imminent collapse of civilization, and a global war between the great federations, he must figure out friend from foe--his life depends on it. And with the odds stacked against him, he must find a way to stop the Babel Apocalypse.
A genre-blending, dystopian Sci-Fi mystery-thriller that will make you think about language in a whole new way.
Language is no longer learned, but is streamed to neural implants regulated by lang-laws. Those who can't afford language streaming services are feral, living on the fringes of society. Big tech corporations control language, the world’s most valuable commodity.
But when a massive cyberattack causes a global language outage, catastrophe looms.
Europol detective Emyr Morgan is assigned to the case. His prime suspect is Professor Ebba Black, the last native speaker of language in the automated world, and leader of the Babel cyberterrorist organization. But Emyr soon learns that in a world of corporate power, where they who control language control everything, all is not as it seems.
As he and Ebba collide, Emyr faces an existential dilemma between loyalty and betrayal, when everything he once believed in is called into question. To prevent the imminent collapse of civilization, and a global war between the great federations, he must figure out friend from foe--his life depends on it. And with the odds stacked against him, he must find a way to stop the Babel Apocalypse.
- GenresScience FictionFiction
388 pages, Paperback
First published May 2, 2023
9 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
About the author
Vyvyan Evans
20 books67 followersVyvyan Evans is a native of Chester, England. He holds a PhD in linguistics from Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., and is a Professor of Linguistics. He has published numerous acclaimed popular science and technical books on language and linguistics. His popular science essays and articles have appeared in numerous venues including 'The Guardian', 'Psychology Today', 'New York Post', 'New Scientist', 'Newsweek' and 'The New Republic'. His award-winning writing focuses, in one way or another, on the nature of language and mind, the impact of technology on language, and the future of communication. His science fiction work explores the status of language and digital communication technology as potential weapons of mass destruction. For further biographical details visit his official website: www.vyvevans.net. For details of his science fiction writing, visit the Songs of the Sage book series website: www.songs-of-the-sage.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
May 10, 2023
The beginning of a series that is shaping up to be such a great and unique one. The Babel Apocalypse is set in the near future. It is a time when humans no longer learn language. Instead, it's streamed to their brains. When there is an outage, the whole world is thrown into chaos, as many of the population in the Tier One world don't have the skills to speak without the streamed language.
A very cleverly written book that blends sc-fi, mystery, and thriller together successfully. The character of Ebba Black is fabulous! The last native speaker of the dead languages in the automated world and a linguist professor. Helps Emyr Morgan in the race to discover who is behind the outage.
I was addicted from the first paragraph and didn't stop reading until the last page. I couldn't pull myself away from this book. The twists were perfectly placed, and there was enough action to fill two books, never mind one! It also left me thinking about language and important it is to the human race.
I know I'm now looking forward to the next book so much!
Thanks to R&R Book Tours and the publisher for the copy of the book to write my unbiased review.
A very cleverly written book that blends sc-fi, mystery, and thriller together successfully. The character of Ebba Black is fabulous! The last native speaker of the dead languages in the automated world and a linguist professor. Helps Emyr Morgan in the race to discover who is behind the outage.
I was addicted from the first paragraph and didn't stop reading until the last page. I couldn't pull myself away from this book. The twists were perfectly placed, and there was enough action to fill two books, never mind one! It also left me thinking about language and important it is to the human race.
I know I'm now looking forward to the next book so much!
Thanks to R&R Book Tours and the publisher for the copy of the book to write my unbiased review.
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April 15, 2023The Babel Apocalypse has received a starred review in Kirkus!
"A perfect fusion of SF, thriller, and mystery—smart speculative fiction at its very best."
"The first installment of Evans’ Songs of the Sage SF series explores a near future in which language is a streamed commodity controlled by corporations.
In the early 22nd century, learned language is largely obsolete. The majority of the world’s populace is “chipped” at birth with a neural implant that streams “Unilanguage” technology, which is controlled by powerful mega-corporations. The language-streaming business is a highly lucrative and rapidly evolving industry—but when a catastrophic global language outage inexplicably sweeps much of the world, humankind quickly devolves into chaos. Emyr Morgan, head of the Europol Cybercrime Division, is tasked with investigating the outage. The grand-scale conspiracy that he uncovers is ingeniously intricate and involves the most powerful people on the planet. He soon finds himself on the run, with only one person in his corner: the enigmatic Ebba Black, a linguistics professor, heiress, hacker extraordinaire, and the world’s last natural speaker of multiple dead or proscribed languages. She also may head a terrorist organization; Morgan muses, “I had never in my whole life met anyone quite like her” in a moment of comic understatement. The novel is powered by a multitude of narrative elements: deeply considered and meticulously described worldbuilding, an impressively complex storyline with numerous bombshell plot twists, emotionally compelling characters, and weighty themes concerning the power of language and the danger of humankind’s becoming overly dependent on technology. When the intriguingly complex elevated to another level; the pace becomes breakneck and the action nonstop, leading up to a stand-up-and-applaud conclusion that not only satisfies, but sets the stage for the next installment."
Read the full review in Kirkus here: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re...
"A perfect fusion of SF, thriller, and mystery—smart speculative fiction at its very best."
"The first installment of Evans’ Songs of the Sage SF series explores a near future in which language is a streamed commodity controlled by corporations.
In the early 22nd century, learned language is largely obsolete. The majority of the world’s populace is “chipped” at birth with a neural implant that streams “Unilanguage” technology, which is controlled by powerful mega-corporations. The language-streaming business is a highly lucrative and rapidly evolving industry—but when a catastrophic global language outage inexplicably sweeps much of the world, humankind quickly devolves into chaos. Emyr Morgan, head of the Europol Cybercrime Division, is tasked with investigating the outage. The grand-scale conspiracy that he uncovers is ingeniously intricate and involves the most powerful people on the planet. He soon finds himself on the run, with only one person in his corner: the enigmatic Ebba Black, a linguistics professor, heiress, hacker extraordinaire, and the world’s last natural speaker of multiple dead or proscribed languages. She also may head a terrorist organization; Morgan muses, “I had never in my whole life met anyone quite like her” in a moment of comic understatement. The novel is powered by a multitude of narrative elements: deeply considered and meticulously described worldbuilding, an impressively complex storyline with numerous bombshell plot twists, emotionally compelling characters, and weighty themes concerning the power of language and the danger of humankind’s becoming overly dependent on technology. When the intriguingly complex elevated to another level; the pace becomes breakneck and the action nonstop, leading up to a stand-up-and-applaud conclusion that not only satisfies, but sets the stage for the next installment."
Read the full review in Kirkus here: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re...
April 16, 2023
What an exceptional book! The premise is absolutely unique: in the near future humans no longer learn language, they stream it direct to their brains, courtesy of Universal Grammar technology, pioneered by Marc Barron the CEO of the powerful Appleton big tech behemoth. And most of the industrialized world must undergo language "chipping" at birth, mandated by language laws. But when a language outage hits, millions of people lose the ability to communicate.
The novel is part sci-fi epic, part odyssey, part mystery and a whole lot of thriller. The novel is peppered with emotionally-compelling characters. But for me, the stand out protagonist is Ebba Black, a professor and a cyberhacker, and one bad-ass. As early as the book's prologue, the tone is set:
"Ebba was not the emotional type. She had learned, out of necessity, to regulate her emotions a long time ago, to hide what she truly was--a high functioning sociopath with psychopathic tendencies. And Ebba was okay with that."
Following the language outage in Chapter 1, Emyr Morgan is assigned to the case, a cybercrime detective. And of course, his prime suspect is none other than the mysterious and alluring Ebba Black. The action and pace soon becomes dizzying, the prose is lovely, and the twists and turns keep on coming.
The book's ending is as startling as the rest of the book. And, I learned so much about language. This was a pleasure to read.
The novel is part sci-fi epic, part odyssey, part mystery and a whole lot of thriller. The novel is peppered with emotionally-compelling characters. But for me, the stand out protagonist is Ebba Black, a professor and a cyberhacker, and one bad-ass. As early as the book's prologue, the tone is set:
"Ebba was not the emotional type. She had learned, out of necessity, to regulate her emotions a long time ago, to hide what she truly was--a high functioning sociopath with psychopathic tendencies. And Ebba was okay with that."
Following the language outage in Chapter 1, Emyr Morgan is assigned to the case, a cybercrime detective. And of course, his prime suspect is none other than the mysterious and alluring Ebba Black. The action and pace soon becomes dizzying, the prose is lovely, and the twists and turns keep on coming.
The book's ending is as startling as the rest of the book. And, I learned so much about language. This was a pleasure to read.
September 13, 2023
Disappointing. The book is based on an interesting and promising idea, but comes packed in a very generic sci-fi action thriller. Instead of fully exploring the consequences of the commodification of language by big-tech, which would've been enough for my taste, the reader gets to see all the pulpy tropes they could possibly imagine, and more.
A future super-cop, with an affinity for guns and "Italian design" uncovers a political conspiracy while investigating a terrorist attack. He teams up with a super-hacker femme fatale, and goes on to risk everything, to avert an impending war. The author clearly adopted the kitchen sink approach regarding tropes, so there's everything from time-travel, through doomsday cults, to sex dungeons. By the book's end, there's enough loose threads to fill a few more installments in the series, which I won't be reading.
What else's in store for the reader?
- Predictable plot-twists.
- A pointless, yet elaborate, chapter involving high-tech torture (ugh).
- A cast of bland, one-dimensional characters.
- A 22nd century world, which isn't really that different from the 21st century.
- A style which is a notch above the usual simplicity of pulp fiction. Though, the only defamiliarization strategy involves using new names for old stuff. It's combined with huge amounts of exposition, so the effect is kinda meh.
A future super-cop, with an affinity for guns and "Italian design" uncovers a political conspiracy while investigating a terrorist attack. He teams up with a super-hacker femme fatale, and goes on to risk everything, to avert an impending war. The author clearly adopted the kitchen sink approach regarding tropes, so there's everything from time-travel, through doomsday cults, to sex dungeons. By the book's end, there's enough loose threads to fill a few more installments in the series, which I won't be reading.
What else's in store for the reader?
- Predictable plot-twists.
- A pointless, yet elaborate, chapter involving high-tech torture (ugh).
- A cast of bland, one-dimensional characters.
- A 22nd century world, which isn't really that different from the 21st century.
- A style which is a notch above the usual simplicity of pulp fiction. Though, the only defamiliarization strategy involves using new names for old stuff. It's combined with huge amounts of exposition, so the effect is kinda meh.
April 15, 2023
This is a very special book, smart genre-blending sci-fi, mystery and thriller all rolled into one.
In the 22nd century language is no longer learned. It's streamed to neural implants and controlled by the shadowy Unilanguage and big tech corporations. When a massive language outage strikes, the world is thrown into chaos as much of the populace in the "Tier One" world no longer possesses any native language capability.
This sets off a desperate race against time, by the protagonist, Emyr Morgan, to figure out who is behind the outage, aided and abetted by the bad-ass Professor of Linguistics Ebba Black, the last native speaker of dead languages in the automated world.
There is non-stop action, twists aplenty, and very profound and moving sequences concerning the nature of language and what it means to give up on language when it is commoditized, in terms of what humanity loses as a consequence.
The ending is as unexpected as it is astounding. I fully expect this book to be up for a variety of awards. And I cannot wait to read the sequel.
In the 22nd century language is no longer learned. It's streamed to neural implants and controlled by the shadowy Unilanguage and big tech corporations. When a massive language outage strikes, the world is thrown into chaos as much of the populace in the "Tier One" world no longer possesses any native language capability.
This sets off a desperate race against time, by the protagonist, Emyr Morgan, to figure out who is behind the outage, aided and abetted by the bad-ass Professor of Linguistics Ebba Black, the last native speaker of dead languages in the automated world.
There is non-stop action, twists aplenty, and very profound and moving sequences concerning the nature of language and what it means to give up on language when it is commoditized, in terms of what humanity loses as a consequence.
The ending is as unexpected as it is astounding. I fully expect this book to be up for a variety of awards. And I cannot wait to read the sequel.
May 4, 2023
I LOVED this book overall. I don't really read too many sci-fi books that I like, let alone love and this was an amazing book. The writing was well written and very engaging as a reader. I loved the character of Emyr as the MC. He is such an interesting character, always on his own and alone. I also liked when Ebba meets Emyr for the first time. The way that Ebba talks and interacts with people is so interesting. "On the list he goes", I loved that line. That ending is amazing and very fitting for Emyr and for Ebba.
I hope that there is a continuation of this story in the future as I really liked this book overall and am curious to see what happens with Emyr and his ending.
I hope that there is a continuation of this story in the future as I really liked this book overall and am curious to see what happens with Emyr and his ending.
May 2, 2023
The Babel Apocalypse is a very intriguing read that kept me hanging on to every word. It starts off with a blast and keeps on rolling. The twists never seem to let up as you race to the end to see how it all ends. The world-building is outstanding. The more I read the more I wanted to read.
It kept in suspense from beginning to end with never a dull moment in between. The story flowed along quite smoothly. It kept me guessing and wondering who was behind it all. I love the whole concept behind language hacking. I loved all the futuristic elements. The flying vehicles, tablets, and software. It was all amazing.
Imagine not being able to speak without an app. I can’t. Imagine a world where no one can talk without an app where language is loaded straight into your brain and without it you become feral. Does that not just blow your mind? What an amazing idea for a story.
Well, someone has hacked into their language software and now no one can talk. Who would do such a thing? Future more than that, why would they do it? What is their motive? Well, never fear, Europol detective Emyr Morgan is on the case. He has a suspect. But the question is this “Is this person who hacked the software”?
Can Emyr find the person who did this? If he can’t, the world as he knows it will be no more. Now there is a thought for another story. A world full of feral people that can’t communicate with each other.
I sorely loved reading The Babel Apocalypse tremendously so much so that I highly recommend it to apocalyptic fans! Grab your copy of The Babel Apocalypse today!
It kept in suspense from beginning to end with never a dull moment in between. The story flowed along quite smoothly. It kept me guessing and wondering who was behind it all. I love the whole concept behind language hacking. I loved all the futuristic elements. The flying vehicles, tablets, and software. It was all amazing.
Imagine not being able to speak without an app. I can’t. Imagine a world where no one can talk without an app where language is loaded straight into your brain and without it you become feral. Does that not just blow your mind? What an amazing idea for a story.
Well, someone has hacked into their language software and now no one can talk. Who would do such a thing? Future more than that, why would they do it? What is their motive? Well, never fear, Europol detective Emyr Morgan is on the case. He has a suspect. But the question is this “Is this person who hacked the software”?
Can Emyr find the person who did this? If he can’t, the world as he knows it will be no more. Now there is a thought for another story. A world full of feral people that can’t communicate with each other.
I sorely loved reading The Babel Apocalypse tremendously so much so that I highly recommend it to apocalyptic fans! Grab your copy of The Babel Apocalypse today!
May 5, 2023
I don’t even know where to begin with this smart, twisty, dystopian sci-fi story that has me asking so many questions about the real world I live in, and its potential for such a wild downfall (doesn’t seem that out of the question anymore). The setting of The Babel Apocalypse is a place where language is no longer learned, which remains such an original foundation for a book—at least books I’ve read.
What’s the worst thing that can happen to a society where language is no longer learned but streamed?
A cyberattack. Dun-dun-dun.
When this happens, detective Emyr is assigned to the case, and his job becomes one of deciphering who the good and the bad are in this new and dangerous world. His prime suspect is the fascinating Ebba Black, the last native speaker of language, who is as compelling as she is mysterious and complex. I LOVED HER!
The stakes are high here – like the end of the world as Emyr knows it—if he can’t crack the case. And truly, readers will not be able to guess how this book ends. Dare I say, I was SPEECHLESS?!
I loved the original take on a very scary dystopian world, but what really kept me reading was just how good of a job the author does in developing their characters. Their interactions with one another and their well-roundedness is very skilled. It’s one of those reads where both plot and character carry the entire story, and that is a rare combo to master in equal parts success.
Dark, moody, thrilling, entertaining…THE BABEL APOCALYPSE is a potential nightmare scenario that rides on one detective’s ability to solve the case. I wouldn’t want to be Emyr but I was happy to follow him. There’s nothing I didn’t enjoy, including the cover art, about this buy.
Read less
What’s the worst thing that can happen to a society where language is no longer learned but streamed?
A cyberattack. Dun-dun-dun.
When this happens, detective Emyr is assigned to the case, and his job becomes one of deciphering who the good and the bad are in this new and dangerous world. His prime suspect is the fascinating Ebba Black, the last native speaker of language, who is as compelling as she is mysterious and complex. I LOVED HER!
The stakes are high here – like the end of the world as Emyr knows it—if he can’t crack the case. And truly, readers will not be able to guess how this book ends. Dare I say, I was SPEECHLESS?!
I loved the original take on a very scary dystopian world, but what really kept me reading was just how good of a job the author does in developing their characters. Their interactions with one another and their well-roundedness is very skilled. It’s one of those reads where both plot and character carry the entire story, and that is a rare combo to master in equal parts success.
Dark, moody, thrilling, entertaining…THE BABEL APOCALYPSE is a potential nightmare scenario that rides on one detective’s ability to solve the case. I wouldn’t want to be Emyr but I was happy to follow him. There’s nothing I didn’t enjoy, including the cover art, about this buy.
Read less
May 3, 2023
The Babel Apocalypse begins with a startling premise: that in 2125, most people no longer learn language in childhood simply by interacting with others. Instead, vocabulary and grammar are transferred via satellite into neural implants in their brains. Residents of countries that require the implants must subscribe to streaming services in order to communicate with one another and with the virtual digital assistants (VirDas) that do everything from preparing meals to operating taxis. When an unprecedented outage knocks out most of the commercial streaming services, things go sideways in a flash. Over seven billion people are cut off from their language feeds and lose all or most of their ability to speak. Unable to use VirDas, they cannot even unlock their own doors.
Emyr Morgan, head of Europol’s cybercrime division, is tapped to investigate the catastrophe and embarks on a harrowing race to find the cause. The most obvious suspect is an enigmatic Nordic woman known for advocating for “untethering” people from the chips in their brains. But there are plenty of others with plausible motives, and as Morgan follows up on leads, the book takes us on a mind-boggling, twisting journey peppered with combat, romance, deception, torture, and a touch of time travel. We’re also plunged into a richly imagined world full of exquisite buildings, flying cars, and robots of all kinds. Along the way, the story provokes important questions such as whether all languages are worth preserving and how much our desire for physical safety and digital security should impinge on our need for privacy. The book ends on a heart-stoppingly precarious cliffhanger that is sure to leave readers pumped for the sequel.
Emyr Morgan, head of Europol’s cybercrime division, is tapped to investigate the catastrophe and embarks on a harrowing race to find the cause. The most obvious suspect is an enigmatic Nordic woman known for advocating for “untethering” people from the chips in their brains. But there are plenty of others with plausible motives, and as Morgan follows up on leads, the book takes us on a mind-boggling, twisting journey peppered with combat, romance, deception, torture, and a touch of time travel. We’re also plunged into a richly imagined world full of exquisite buildings, flying cars, and robots of all kinds. Along the way, the story provokes important questions such as whether all languages are worth preserving and how much our desire for physical safety and digital security should impinge on our need for privacy. The book ends on a heart-stoppingly precarious cliffhanger that is sure to leave readers pumped for the sequel.
April 10, 2023
In the not-so-distant future, everyone has a language translation chip in their brain that creates a custom language for them from birth. This is fine until someone brings down the servers running the app, at least for some of the providers. Fingers get pointed at Russian hackers, cause don't they always, but a single Europol investigator traces the evidence back to a major software company that wants to take a big bite out of the market.
I love the premise. This is sf with language and technology at its core, and it's actually something I've given thought to myself. When we have a real-time translation, will we each wind up with a private language? I'm pretty sure Bruce Sterling did a nice short story about two people who fall in love through the translation apps on their phones, then have to ditch them and run away, unable to communicate...but finding that words aren't always needed.
This story is heavy on political compromise, with our rational investigator looking for the truth while larger forces seek to use the outage as an excuse for their agendas. It's heavily euro-centric, with the United States disunited into a collection of independent countries and no longer a big dog.
Not enough of the story revolves around the consequences of the language outage, as the main character and the people he interacts with all seem to be on unaffected systems, and while chaos may reign for the suddenly voiceless mass, it's all offstage.
As a political thriller, it's passable, but I wish more had been done with the original concept.
I love the premise. This is sf with language and technology at its core, and it's actually something I've given thought to myself. When we have a real-time translation, will we each wind up with a private language? I'm pretty sure Bruce Sterling did a nice short story about two people who fall in love through the translation apps on their phones, then have to ditch them and run away, unable to communicate...but finding that words aren't always needed.
This story is heavy on political compromise, with our rational investigator looking for the truth while larger forces seek to use the outage as an excuse for their agendas. It's heavily euro-centric, with the United States disunited into a collection of independent countries and no longer a big dog.
Not enough of the story revolves around the consequences of the language outage, as the main character and the people he interacts with all seem to be on unaffected systems, and while chaos may reign for the suddenly voiceless mass, it's all offstage.
As a political thriller, it's passable, but I wish more had been done with the original concept.
April 15, 2023
The Babel Apocalypse is a superior sci-fi novel, that is at once cyberpunk, mystery and page-turning thriller.
The premise is unique: in the near future, language is no longer learned. Rather, thanks due to neuroprosthetic brain implants, known as Universal Grammar tech, people stream language direct to their brains as they think and talk. While the advantages are immense, the downside is that, in the wake of a cyberterrorist attack on the language streaming servers in low Earth orbit, most of the world's population, at least in advanced economies, are at a stroke rendered feral, and unable to communicate.
The novel is told from the first person perspective of the cybercrime detective charged with figuring out who is behind the global language outage. But the novel's real star is Professor Ebba Black, an heiress, hacker and the last native speaker in much of the world. Ebba is enigmatic and may, perhaps, actually be behind the outage, so detective Emyr Morgan suspects.
The book is a whirlwind of action, richly developed characters, and an expert's deep knowledge of how language works (the author is a renowned linguist and former university professor). The book takes on complex and weighty matters, considering a future where something akin to ChatGPT is literally inside all our heads.
The book is complex, rich, emotionally charged, and well developed. And the ending is something that I never saw coming. This is a fantastic book that I will read again. I look forward to the next one in the Songs of the Sage series.
The premise is unique: in the near future, language is no longer learned. Rather, thanks due to neuroprosthetic brain implants, known as Universal Grammar tech, people stream language direct to their brains as they think and talk. While the advantages are immense, the downside is that, in the wake of a cyberterrorist attack on the language streaming servers in low Earth orbit, most of the world's population, at least in advanced economies, are at a stroke rendered feral, and unable to communicate.
The novel is told from the first person perspective of the cybercrime detective charged with figuring out who is behind the global language outage. But the novel's real star is Professor Ebba Black, an heiress, hacker and the last native speaker in much of the world. Ebba is enigmatic and may, perhaps, actually be behind the outage, so detective Emyr Morgan suspects.
The book is a whirlwind of action, richly developed characters, and an expert's deep knowledge of how language works (the author is a renowned linguist and former university professor). The book takes on complex and weighty matters, considering a future where something akin to ChatGPT is literally inside all our heads.
The book is complex, rich, emotionally charged, and well developed. And the ending is something that I never saw coming. This is a fantastic book that I will read again. I look forward to the next one in the Songs of the Sage series.
May 15, 2023
This may be one of the most thought-provoking books I’ve ever read. As someone who makes a living out of words and communicating stories, the idea of big tech-regulated language is at once fascinating and terrifying. The implications of identity and culture this book explores are chilling, and I sincerely hope things never find their way to this point.
I was initially torn about hearing the story from the perspective of the regulatory side that was promoting controlling language, but as it turns out, that was a great strength of the story. I’ve read plenty of books from the angle of the passionate rebellion that wants to take down the regulating body that would steal personal freedoms, so this was a nice break from that. The ending left me reeling. I actually had to take a few days to process how things ended up for the protagonist. With some time away from it, I can view the book in its entirety and see it for the master delivery of a warning that it is. But don’t let this description fool you. It was also a fantastic story. This is not a book that hammers home a point at the expense of the plot (I’ve also read my fair share of those).
I highly recommend this, especially to science fiction, thriller, and dystopia fans. So much to unpack in here that I can’t possibly cover in a short review. Besides, you shouldn’t take my angle as your own—this is the kind of book that you need to read to feel the full impact.
Thanks to Goddess Fish tours and the author for the free copy. I'm leaving this review voluntarily, and all thoughts are my own.
I was initially torn about hearing the story from the perspective of the regulatory side that was promoting controlling language, but as it turns out, that was a great strength of the story. I’ve read plenty of books from the angle of the passionate rebellion that wants to take down the regulating body that would steal personal freedoms, so this was a nice break from that. The ending left me reeling. I actually had to take a few days to process how things ended up for the protagonist. With some time away from it, I can view the book in its entirety and see it for the master delivery of a warning that it is. But don’t let this description fool you. It was also a fantastic story. This is not a book that hammers home a point at the expense of the plot (I’ve also read my fair share of those).
I highly recommend this, especially to science fiction, thriller, and dystopia fans. So much to unpack in here that I can’t possibly cover in a short review. Besides, you shouldn’t take my angle as your own—this is the kind of book that you need to read to feel the full impact.
Thanks to Goddess Fish tours and the author for the free copy. I'm leaving this review voluntarily, and all thoughts are my own.
May 2, 2023
Fascinating premise and sharp writing to pull it off
A future where evil corporations steal language and sell it back to you? That sounds chillingly plausible. I can tell this was written by a linguistics expert and yet the language parts only serve to propel the story, not bog it down.
And holy scientific cow! The technology described in this book is so top-shelf, short little me needs a stepping stool to reach it :) I still don't know what "out-soc" means, though. Actually, it's not too hard to follow, but the realism is impressive. And I love me some realism.
The writing style? Smart as a whipcrack.
Parts I found memorable:
-(in a wrecked vehicle) "I smelled the distinct odor of rotten eggs--the toxic combination of sulfur at high temperature that had elaked from the ion-sulfur batter and reacted with hydrocarbons in the taxi shell to create hydrogen sulfide." (love the realism of this!)
-"I knew what I would do. I always did when violence drew me in."
-"For one, she listed things to herself, silenty, in her head. Reasons to know me...Reasons to hate me, to admire me. But not reasons to love me. Never that."
The main characters? Ebba Black is intriguing. She may be a bit of a Mary Sue, but she's never boring. Never that.
If you love sci-fi and you haven't read this book yet, chances are high that this book is better than most of the other books sitting on your To Be Read list right now.
A future where evil corporations steal language and sell it back to you? That sounds chillingly plausible. I can tell this was written by a linguistics expert and yet the language parts only serve to propel the story, not bog it down.
And holy scientific cow! The technology described in this book is so top-shelf, short little me needs a stepping stool to reach it :) I still don't know what "out-soc" means, though. Actually, it's not too hard to follow, but the realism is impressive. And I love me some realism.
The writing style? Smart as a whipcrack.
Parts I found memorable:
-(in a wrecked vehicle) "I smelled the distinct odor of rotten eggs--the toxic combination of sulfur at high temperature that had elaked from the ion-sulfur batter and reacted with hydrocarbons in the taxi shell to create hydrogen sulfide." (love the realism of this!)
-"I knew what I would do. I always did when violence drew me in."
-"For one, she listed things to herself, silenty, in her head. Reasons to know me...Reasons to hate me, to admire me. But not reasons to love me. Never that."
The main characters? Ebba Black is intriguing. She may be a bit of a Mary Sue, but she's never boring. Never that.
If you love sci-fi and you haven't read this book yet, chances are high that this book is better than most of the other books sitting on your To Be Read list right now.
May 5, 2023
The Babel Apocalypse”, written by Vyvyan Evans is a novel that straddles the dystopian and the science-fiction genre with grace.
The novel revolves around Ebba Black, a professor whose mastery of dead languages attracts the attention of a detective; whose mind is “forged from sorrow”, and who has a secret mission to accomplish.
The best things about this novel are its structure and pace. From the first ten pages, we are given the backbones of the story with the main character’s goals, the potential obstacles, and an overview of the futuristic setting of the book. As for the pace, no time is being wasted as we are ushered straight into the conflict yet the author takes his time to describe every crucial detail.
Another strength of this book is the actual storytelling mostly through the description of the dystopian world. Although there are strong differences between our world and this fictional one, the description flows in such a smooth manner that we feel like we belong.
The characters also make this book worth it. First of all, all the main ones have clear journeys with respective goals in mind. Also, they are relatable because their strengths and their flaws are presented implicitly but they both play a part in the story.
Reading “The Babel Apocalypse” was a delight because the story is complex yet interesting. I am pleased that this is the first book of a series and that there will be more novels of the same caliber to look forward to.
The novel revolves around Ebba Black, a professor whose mastery of dead languages attracts the attention of a detective; whose mind is “forged from sorrow”, and who has a secret mission to accomplish.
The best things about this novel are its structure and pace. From the first ten pages, we are given the backbones of the story with the main character’s goals, the potential obstacles, and an overview of the futuristic setting of the book. As for the pace, no time is being wasted as we are ushered straight into the conflict yet the author takes his time to describe every crucial detail.
Another strength of this book is the actual storytelling mostly through the description of the dystopian world. Although there are strong differences between our world and this fictional one, the description flows in such a smooth manner that we feel like we belong.
The characters also make this book worth it. First of all, all the main ones have clear journeys with respective goals in mind. Also, they are relatable because their strengths and their flaws are presented implicitly but they both play a part in the story.
Reading “The Babel Apocalypse” was a delight because the story is complex yet interesting. I am pleased that this is the first book of a series and that there will be more novels of the same caliber to look forward to.
May 28, 2023
This is an intriguing book with an all-too-real feel to the premise of technology gone wrong. I’ve often daydreamed about the ability to learn a new language without having to study…kind of a built-in universal translator, if you will. The thing about advancements is that sometimes they lead to a slippery slope.
In this case, that slippery slope leads to a world in which it is mandated that babies be implanted with a chip at birth that forms language for them. And, for a price, you can add on all kinds of services to your streaming language.
With only one person left in the world who has never been chipped, the stage is set for this story. And, what a character she is. Ebba Black is the leader of a group that is trying to reclaim, in a sense, what has been lost. And Emyr Morgan, a Europol detective, has been assigned to discover who is behind a massive cyberattack that makes many unable to talk or understand language.
I really liked both of these characters. I enjoyed the way they interacted and the relationship between them. This book had me turning pages as fast as I could read and had so many twists and turns, I was never sure what was going to happen next.
It’s the first book in the Songs of the Saga series, and I’m looking forward to reading the upcoming books. Be aware, The Babel Apocalypse ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, but don’t let that stand in your way. This book is very much worth it! 5 stars
In this case, that slippery slope leads to a world in which it is mandated that babies be implanted with a chip at birth that forms language for them. And, for a price, you can add on all kinds of services to your streaming language.
With only one person left in the world who has never been chipped, the stage is set for this story. And, what a character she is. Ebba Black is the leader of a group that is trying to reclaim, in a sense, what has been lost. And Emyr Morgan, a Europol detective, has been assigned to discover who is behind a massive cyberattack that makes many unable to talk or understand language.
I really liked both of these characters. I enjoyed the way they interacted and the relationship between them. This book had me turning pages as fast as I could read and had so many twists and turns, I was never sure what was going to happen next.
It’s the first book in the Songs of the Saga series, and I’m looking forward to reading the upcoming books. Be aware, The Babel Apocalypse ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, but don’t let that stand in your way. This book is very much worth it! 5 stars
April 27, 2023
As someone who has always been fascinated by language and its power, “The Babel Apocalypse” by Vyvyan Evans was a thrilling read that kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. The dystopian, cyberpunk, sci-fi odyssey explores a world where language is no longer learned but streamed to neural implants controlled by big tech corporations. Those who can’t afford these services are left to live on the fringes of society, feral and disconnected.
The book left me feeling unsettled, as the idea of language being controlled by a select few in power is a terrifying thought. The story is full of twists and turns, as Europol detective Emyr Morgan tries to prevent a global war between federations while facing an existential dilemma between loyalty and betrayal. Ebba Black, the last native speaker of language, is a fascinating character who adds depth and complexity to the story.
I particularly enjoyed the vivid descriptions of places like the Babel Tower and the language streaming centers. The world-building in “The Babel Apocalypse” is fantastic, and it left me wanting to explore more of this dystopian universe. Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves sci-fi or dystopian novels, and especially to those who are interested in the power of language.
The book left me feeling unsettled, as the idea of language being controlled by a select few in power is a terrifying thought. The story is full of twists and turns, as Europol detective Emyr Morgan tries to prevent a global war between federations while facing an existential dilemma between loyalty and betrayal. Ebba Black, the last native speaker of language, is a fascinating character who adds depth and complexity to the story.
I particularly enjoyed the vivid descriptions of places like the Babel Tower and the language streaming centers. The world-building in “The Babel Apocalypse” is fantastic, and it left me wanting to explore more of this dystopian universe. Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves sci-fi or dystopian novels, and especially to those who are interested in the power of language.
May 17, 2023
Vyvyan Evans kind of completely confused me with his world in his first of the Song of the Sage series The Babel Apocalypse. His world-building and the complexity of his world had me completely confused and reading chapters over and over again just to kind of understand what was going on. While that may be off-putting for some people I found an odd sense of joy in spending so much time trying to figure everything out. The complexity of the characters and the diverse cultures and understanding of the characters made you realize he took a lot of time and energy to make this world his own. I will say this is not an easy read and there are a lot of details that need to be considered and taken in to fully understand the story as it unfolds. I can say I do not know if I will be rereading this one but I do know it was not a waste of time and energy to read. If you are into sci-fi fantasy with a splash of folklore and angelology this is the one for you. Do not let the fact it is a series or the fact it is three hundred and sixty-eight pages keep you from enjoying this book. Take the time and pick it up and see if it is worth the time to read it. This is an adult genre book so take that into consideration when choosing to read because it is full of adult topics and situations.
May 2, 2023
In the plausible future of this thrilling dystopia, verbal interaction has become entirely automated – everyone has a neural chip that enables them to speak and understand any language. Learning a language the old-fashioned way – even one’s own native tongue -- is no longer necessary. Without the implant, people become “feral” and unable to communicate with other humans and with the entirely computerized aspects of daily life, all of which now depend on voice commands. When a terrorist attack destroys one of the language streaming networks, much of the population becomes feral. Emyr Morgan, an investigator with Europol, must determine the source with the help of Ebba Black, a prominent academic who has refused and protested the language implant. This exciting opener to the Songs of the Sage series presents a future that seems a logical extension of our wired present, while serving as a warning about our digital vulnerabilities. The author is a professor of linguistics, and his own language is especially impressive here as he describes an utterly automated society with a variety of imaginatively invented terms.
May 10, 2023
“They who control language control everything.”
I loved the premise of this book right away and wanted to see what this world would be like.
It was what the genres promise and so much more, futuristic world with mystery and a thrilling plot that keeps you glued to the page and wanting more with every chapter.
At times I thought book was too smart for me, but every new thing, technology and term was explained almost right away with a smooth inclusion in the conversation or with thoughts from protagonist, Emyr(who BTW wasn't always likeable, but was sometimes relatable)
I couldn't get enough of another main character, Ebba Black, she was more fascinating to me than Emyr, I need a whole book from her POV! It'll definitely be interesting to fully dive in her head.
The ending! I didn't expect it to end that way, I turned the page and it was over and I went back to check if I was missing something, but it makes sense, since it's the first book in a series.
I love Sci-Fi and always expect futuristic worlds to be more vegan, maybe there's a chance in the next book.
I loved the premise of this book right away and wanted to see what this world would be like.
It was what the genres promise and so much more, futuristic world with mystery and a thrilling plot that keeps you glued to the page and wanting more with every chapter.
At times I thought book was too smart for me, but every new thing, technology and term was explained almost right away with a smooth inclusion in the conversation or with thoughts from protagonist, Emyr(who BTW wasn't always likeable, but was sometimes relatable)
I couldn't get enough of another main character, Ebba Black, she was more fascinating to me than Emyr, I need a whole book from her POV! It'll definitely be interesting to fully dive in her head.
The ending! I didn't expect it to end that way, I turned the page and it was over and I went back to check if I was missing something, but it makes sense, since it's the first book in a series.
I love Sci-Fi and always expect futuristic worlds to be more vegan, maybe there's a chance in the next book.
May 8, 2023
In the beginning, I did struggle a bit to find my footing with this book. It took a while before I found myself fully engaging with the story and the characters. However, once that happened, it was like a light bulb turning on. From that point on, I could not stop reading. This book was giving me Black Mirror vibes. That show not everything makes sense but at the same time it does. it makes you really think. that is what speculative fiction does.
Ebba and Emyr are two complete opposites, but they work well together. Ebba believes in technology and therefore has a more open mind, whereas; Emyr questions things with an analytical mind. They work well together due to the balance. You have to have checks and balance or there will be chaos. I look forward to what Mr. Evans comes out with next. The characters in this book may speak different languages but they all say to not miss this book!
Ebba and Emyr are two complete opposites, but they work well together. Ebba believes in technology and therefore has a more open mind, whereas; Emyr questions things with an analytical mind. They work well together due to the balance. You have to have checks and balance or there will be chaos. I look forward to what Mr. Evans comes out with next. The characters in this book may speak different languages but they all say to not miss this book!
May 24, 2023
Vyvyan Evans's "The Babel Apocalypse" is not just a captivating and thought-provoking dystopian science fiction novel; it is a wake-up call that shakes the very foundation of our understanding of language and its power. Through an intricately crafted narrative, Evans plunges us into a haunting vision of a future world where language has been commodified and monopolized by massive tech corporations, resulting in a chillingly divided society where the haves and have-nots are separated by their access to language streaming services.
One of the most striking aspects of the novel is the author's ability to seamlessly blend the familiar with the unsettlingly futuristic. While the setting may seem distant and alien, the underlying themes strike at the heart of our current reality, forcing readers to reflect on the profound influence of language in our lives. Evans challenges us to question our own assumptions and confront the potential consequences of language becoming a mere product controlled by powerful entities.
As a reader who typically gravitates toward different genres, I was pleasantly surprised by how thoroughly engrossed I became in this thrilling tale. The characters, brilliantly crafted and multi-dimensional, resonated with me on a deep level. Their struggles and triumphs served as poignant reminders of the fundamental role language plays in shaping our identities and connecting us to others. Each page turned effortlessly, fueled by a fast-paced narrative that never relinquishes its grip on the reader's attention.
I'm eager to read the next installment in the series and strongly suggest “The Babel Apocalypse” to those seeking a stimulating and gripping read.
One of the most striking aspects of the novel is the author's ability to seamlessly blend the familiar with the unsettlingly futuristic. While the setting may seem distant and alien, the underlying themes strike at the heart of our current reality, forcing readers to reflect on the profound influence of language in our lives. Evans challenges us to question our own assumptions and confront the potential consequences of language becoming a mere product controlled by powerful entities.
As a reader who typically gravitates toward different genres, I was pleasantly surprised by how thoroughly engrossed I became in this thrilling tale. The characters, brilliantly crafted and multi-dimensional, resonated with me on a deep level. Their struggles and triumphs served as poignant reminders of the fundamental role language plays in shaping our identities and connecting us to others. Each page turned effortlessly, fueled by a fast-paced narrative that never relinquishes its grip on the reader's attention.
I'm eager to read the next installment in the series and strongly suggest “The Babel Apocalypse” to those seeking a stimulating and gripping read.
April 24, 2025
The premise of this book is good. The ability to communicate has been monetized and control fell to the governments of the new world countries. There is a major glitch in the technology and billions of people can no longer speak. Nor can they use any security technology like open their house door because they voice markers no longer work.
As we depend more and more on technology to do things for us, how many years away are we from similar things taking place. Constant and mandatory location of each citizen is required and with the FDA wanting to create a data base on autistic people using private medical records we are closer than we realize.
However this book is horribly written. It was like plowing through a middle school’s writing assignment to write science fiction with a dystopian twist. The author is a linguist and he doesn’t want us to forget that information because he use rarely if ever used vocabulary in a non linguists world.
As we depend more and more on technology to do things for us, how many years away are we from similar things taking place. Constant and mandatory location of each citizen is required and with the FDA wanting to create a data base on autistic people using private medical records we are closer than we realize.
However this book is horribly written. It was like plowing through a middle school’s writing assignment to write science fiction with a dystopian twist. The author is a linguist and he doesn’t want us to forget that information because he use rarely if ever used vocabulary in a non linguists world.
May 6, 2023
This book wasted no time getting interesting. Reading about the sudden downfall of an entire language
was truly interesting and although set in the future and fictional, I was able to relate to it well. As I was
reading, I kept thinking of how we are so heavily dependent on the internet and communications and
thinking this all could be a very similar situation with the technology we have now, particularly with
hackers and malware. It was hard to stop reading! It was problem after problem. I was very much
holding my breath through some of it wondering what was going to happen next. At times, some of the
language used tripped me up, but not enough to not understand what the word meant. Even though the
book covers only a short period of time, it packed in a ton of details and action.
was truly interesting and although set in the future and fictional, I was able to relate to it well. As I was
reading, I kept thinking of how we are so heavily dependent on the internet and communications and
thinking this all could be a very similar situation with the technology we have now, particularly with
hackers and malware. It was hard to stop reading! It was problem after problem. I was very much
holding my breath through some of it wondering what was going to happen next. At times, some of the
language used tripped me up, but not enough to not understand what the word meant. Even though the
book covers only a short period of time, it packed in a ton of details and action.
May 12, 2023
I am not usually drawn to science fiction books, and this is not typically the kind of book I would read; HOWEVER, I was fascinated with the topic because it was a completely unique concept. Not only that, but it is very well written, and the characters, settings, and themes are totally plausible. I think we all wonder what our society’s demise will eventually be. The premise of this story is a world where language is not learned but implanted into infants at birth. There’s only one person left on earth who learned language naturally, and the story unfolds from there. I was quickly hooked because so much is said in the beginning chapters, but just enough was left out that I had to keep reading! After that, the pace of mysterious twists and suspense made it nearly impossible to put the book down. I hope there is a sequel or two! I would definitely recommend this book!
May 17, 2023
Science fiction is full of some of the most amazing ideas for what our global future could look like, but Evans’ perspective is one of the most interesting I’ve read in awhile! The idea of using technology to automatically understand others and the combination of languages, social demographics, and geographical regions was an awesome insight to the way the world changed in response to the evolution and creation of the new technology introduced throughout.
I liked Emyr and his straight-laced attitudes toward doing what’s right and doing what’s expected and Ebba’s ownership of her personality and why others might not like her. Throw in all that advanced technology, robots, and our reliance on them, this book adds nuance to the typical thriller and makes it fun and fascinating to read. I’m so excited to find out what happens in the next book because this one was so good.
I liked Emyr and his straight-laced attitudes toward doing what’s right and doing what’s expected and Ebba’s ownership of her personality and why others might not like her. Throw in all that advanced technology, robots, and our reliance on them, this book adds nuance to the typical thriller and makes it fun and fascinating to read. I’m so excited to find out what happens in the next book because this one was so good.
January 15, 2024
The Babel Apocalypse by Vyvyan Evans
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
“They who control language control everything.” A dystopian, cyberpunk, sci-fi odyssey that will make you think about language in a whole new way.
What would happen if everyone could speak any language, where technology could bridge the gap in language.. for a price. That's what happens here but now years later language is dying and they are being controlled with what they can speak.
When everything is controlled by voice commands and suddenly the language chip implemented in their brain stops working... what will they do? Who is behind it and how do they fix it?
I enjoyed this first book in the series, and how the relationships and politics were done. They have betrayal, friendship, and a cyberpunk world. I look forward to book 2!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
“They who control language control everything.” A dystopian, cyberpunk, sci-fi odyssey that will make you think about language in a whole new way.
What would happen if everyone could speak any language, where technology could bridge the gap in language.. for a price. That's what happens here but now years later language is dying and they are being controlled with what they can speak.
When everything is controlled by voice commands and suddenly the language chip implemented in their brain stops working... what will they do? Who is behind it and how do they fix it?
I enjoyed this first book in the series, and how the relationships and politics were done. They have betrayal, friendship, and a cyberpunk world. I look forward to book 2!
April 14, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed The Babel Apocalypse. This is one captivating and though-provoking work of speculative fiction! I carried on thinking about the weighty theme of the power of language that this book is exploring long after I turned the final page. This book has something for everyone, from richly imagined high-tech future world, high-stakes due to human dependence on language streaming technology, to compelling characters. The evolution and development of the two main characters (Emyr and Ebba) is very well done and shows a high level of knowledge of human nature and literary craft by the author. In our current AI-dominated media-discussion-landscape, The Babel Apocalypse stands as an enduring testament to the power of storytelling to warn of the danger of AI and technology, and in the process, revealing the human condition.
May 2, 2023
The Babel Apocalypse opens with an amazing bang. Ebba Black, the last person in the world who is not dependent on language translation tech, is visited by a mysterious time-traveler known as Lilith with instructions for killing Marc Barron, a man with enormous political clout and financial power. With such an intense and exciting prologue, by the time I got to the first chapter I was hooked. As the book continues, we meet Emyr Morgan, who Lilith said will help Ebba in the wake of a language blackout that wreaks chaos of all sorts. The twists and turns in this book are amazing, the premise is unique, and the writing is fantastic. I highly recommend this book!
May 5, 2023
Few recent books can match the imagination, drive, and compelling plot of Babel Apocalypse. The world that Vyvyan Evan constructs is believable and intriguing in equal measure from the first page, pulling the reader in so completely and not letting go. With elements of sci-fi, cyberpunk, noir, and good old-fashioned detective thriller, the story moves like a freight train. The characters may be the best part, rich in quirks and flaws that make them easy to hate or love. Professor Ebba Black in particular could have stepped from the pages of a Raymond Chandler story. Highly recommended for genre fans or anyone looking for a well-written, fast-paced ride.
May 9, 2023
4.5🌟
Literature is my first love followed closely by Philology (study of the history of language) so to find a book that combines my love for sci-fi and language is a match made in heaven.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the book is the way it examines the potential implications of language evolution for human society. The author explores a future in which language has become so complex and diverse that it becomes almost impossible for different communities to communicate with each other, leading to the fragmentation and disintegration of global society
It's a thought provoking read for sure that will leave you thinking through the pieces and how the book will end.
Literature is my first love followed closely by Philology (study of the history of language) so to find a book that combines my love for sci-fi and language is a match made in heaven.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the book is the way it examines the potential implications of language evolution for human society. The author explores a future in which language has become so complex and diverse that it becomes almost impossible for different communities to communicate with each other, leading to the fragmentation and disintegration of global society
It's a thought provoking read for sure that will leave you thinking through the pieces and how the book will end.
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