Katabasis by R.F. Kuang Summary PDF

Katabasis by R.F. Kuang – Summary and Review

I'm going to give you a spoiler-free review of Katabasis by R.F. Kuang. This is the next highly anticipated book from best-selling author R.F. Kuang, author of Babel and The Poppy War, among others. I have an early copy of it from the publisher, so thank you so much to them for giving it to me. I wanted to read this early, and I was really curious about it.

It's pitched as a sort of retelling of Dante's Inferno and follows two grad students who go on a journey into hell to save the soul of their professor. That is indeed what this is. As somebody who has read all of R.F. Kuang's books, I think this is my favorite one. It might be her best one as well, in my opinion. It is so smart, compelling, and nuanced, with many layers at which you could read it.

If you've never read Dante's Inferno, are not familiar with academia, or haven't read philosophical works, you could still pick this up and have a fantastic story in your hands. You may not fully understand all of the references, but the context provides enough information for it to work. At a deeper level, if you have read some of those things, you will get even more out of the book. Writing a book that is both accessible to readers without context while layering in more depth for those who do have it can be difficult, but Kuang manages it well.

I also think she really sticks the landing in this book. There is a new layer of depth to her character work, especially with the main character, Alice, who feels more fully developed. The story explores the treatment of women and minorities in academia, different philosophies of the afterlife, and offers an interesting take on what hell might be and the role religion plays in it.

This book truly takes you on a journey—literally through hell, but also through Alice’s inner transformation. As she travels, she gains a better understanding of herself, her motivations, and her experiences, ultimately coming out a changed person. The book also deals with difficult content such as abuse covered up in academia, toxic work environments, and the pressure to perform. People with academic experience may get more out of it, but it remains accessible to anyone.

It is a slow-paced book, not something to tear through quickly. It took me a couple of months to read, a little at a time, and I think I loved it even more for that. It is dense and thought-provoking, though there is action at times. This is my favorite book that Kuang has written. It’s going to be on my list of favorite books of the year. You can really see her growth as a writer in terms of characterization, sticking the landing with a strong ending, and balancing accessibility with complex references.

The book is set in an alternate version of our world where there is magic—specifically academic magic. The two characters who go into hell to try to save their advisor’s soul are students of magic working on their dissertations. They fear that without their advisor, they won’t be able to graduate or get jobs. That motivates their descent into hell, and everything unravels in interesting ways.

I truly think this is an incredible book. If you liked Babel, I think this one is even better. I definitely recommend reading it. I don’t think it’s for everyone since it is slow-paced and dense, but many readers will love it. I loved it. There is so much in it I would love to discuss, though it would be spoilery.

Let me know your thoughts. Is this one on your radar? Are you thinking of picking it up? It comes out in August, and I am curious to see what people think. I am glad to have an ARC copy, and I’ll also want a finished edition with its gorgeous sprayed edges.

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