The Language Of Liars – The Truth Hurts

I read The Language of Liars by S. L. Huang in one sitting, fearing I would miss a word if I set it down. And words are what’s important in this story because language is a portal to the stars, quite literally in Ro’s case.

Star Eaters are the only alien species that can locate and mine a special element required for space travel. They are a mysterious and unknowable race. But others have learned that a psychic connection, established through the Star Eater’s language, can give a being the ability to jump into a Star Eater’s body. This rare connection is highly sought after because it helps the other alien species learn about the Star Eaters and the important role they play in supporting space civilizations. Ro, a brilliant linguistic enthusiast, dreams of achieving that perfect connection required to join the Star Eaters. He wants to know them, understand them, and use his abilities for the greater good. But when Ro makes the jump and lives among the Star Eaters, he fears that everything he knows is a lie. 

Huang made a great choice to tell this story from a wholly alien perspective. Huang strips away familiarity and doesn’t just give us a humanoid, bipedal alien to find common ground with. While descriptions are vague, we know that Ro walks on four legs and seems to be similar to a dog or wolf-type creature. Seeing the world through his eyes immediately takes us out of our element, which is exactly the state Huang needs us to be in for this story. We enter the story confused and overwhelmed as we try to center ourselves within the world, and this is how Ro feels when he jumps into a Star Eater. This perspective helped us understand and empathize with Ro’s own disorientation, and it also heightens the difficulty of trying to assimilate into a new culture. As the reader, we’re off-kilter and experiencing the same unfamiliar territory that Ro eventually ends up in while a Star Eater. 

Language shapes the narrative, both figuratively and narratively, in this case. Ro’s knowledge of the Star Eaters consists of the experiences and stories passed on by others who have made the jump. And the entire galaxy has created its own narrative, from both the limited interactions with Star Eaters and the jumpers who have joined their ranks. Ro’s entire perception of this elusive alien race is that they are single-minded workers who thrive in the monotony of mining in space. But when Ro enters their world, he begins to question the information he’s been told. And here is where Huang challenges us to think critically and reflect on our own experiences. What information is being shared, who is sharing that information, and where is it coming from? Is the person credible? Are they creating a narrative that serves the Star Eaters? The galaxy? Themselves? Huang demonstrates in horrifying ways just how easily the narrative is warped to serve selfish needs, and how language can be powerful enough to turn the most unbelievable lies into truths.

If it isn’t obvious yet, language is THE theme of this story. Huang’s powerful tale shows how complex, powerful, and difficult language can be. There are many, many layers within The Language of Liars to explore. All of which I have spent weeks sitting with and parsing through as the story relates to our own world of misinformation. What I’ve taken away from Huang’s lesson on language is that words have multiple meanings, which change by tone or situational context. Words don’t have 1:1 translations across languages, and they vary for each culture. Furthermore, each use of that word has to be measured and understood in relation to the unique perspective that it’s coming from. Words and language are critical to understanding another being, but it doesn’t guarantee clarity or accuracy. Words define us, shape us, and ultimately, hurt us.

One of the more harsh and extremely complicated ideas that Huang confronts us with is the corruption of culture. An undiscovered culture is when it’s most pure, and when people seek it out to understand it better, they ultimately corrupt it. The culture changes, for good or bad. The simple, and often innocent desire to learn about something is also the inciting incident that changes that thing irrevocably. People bring their own influences, knowledge, and perspectives that clash and force the once pure thing to evolve into something entirely new. Through the Star Eaters, Huang shows us how much a culture can change until it’s something unrecognizable. 

My simple words are no match for how much I love The Language of Liars. Thoughtful, poignant, and devastating, this is a book that uses fewer than 200 pages to deliver many hard truths. While we’re told to shoot for the stars, Huang reminds us there are consequences to reaching too far. 

Rating: The Language of Liars – 10/10
-Brandee 

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. The thoughts on this story are my own.