Book Club Meeting: Babylon: The Hidden History

The upcoming science fiction meeting will feature a discussion of Rebecca Kuang’s book Babylon: The Hidden History in Russian.

1828. After the cholera epidemic that devastated Canton, the orphaned Robin Swift finds himself in London with the enigmatic Professor Lovell. For many years, he studies Latin, Ancient Greek, and Chinese, preparing to enroll in the prestigious Royal Institute of Translation at the University of Oxford, also known as Babylon. Its tower and its students are the world center of translation and, more importantly, of magic. The art of revealing meanings lost in translation, with the help of enchanted silver ingots. It is this magic that made the British Empire invincible, and Babylon’s research in the field of foreign languages serves the Empire’s foreign policy.

For Robin, Oxford is a utopia dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge. But knowledge is subservient to power, and, being of Chinese descent, Robin realizes that serving Babylon means betraying his own homeland. As his training progresses, the young man finds himself torn between the interests of Babylon and the secret society “Hermes,” which seeks to halt imperial expansion. When Great Britain launches a war of conquest against China for silver and opium, Robin must make a decision…

Is it possible to change powerful institutions of power from within, without unnecessary sacrifices, or does revolution always require violence? (c)

2022, 690 pages, ~23 hours.

The meeting will take place on July 7 at 8:30 PM. Axess Workspace coworking space (Konstantinou Palaiologou 28, Nicosia 1015).

Tea and coffee are available at the coworking space. Please bring your own wine and snacks.
The fee is 5 euros per person. Payment in cash or via Revolut on site.