This post was updated Aug. 30 at 12:58 p.m.
Warning: Spoilers for R.F. Kuang’s “Katabasis” ahead.
“Katabasis” is an intriguing book for academics but possibly a challenging journey for casual readers.
Author R.F. Kuang takes readers on an epic adventure with two graduate students at the University of Cambridge, Alice Law and Peter Murdoch, to the depths of the underworld. Both are intent on entering hell to save their deceased advisor, Professor Jacob Grimes, so that he can write them letters of recommendation. Alice notes that hell is a mirror, and fittingly, their hell is academia. The author’s background as an alumna of the University of Oxford and Cambridge has aided her in depicting two academics’ difficult pursuit of knowledge.
Throughout the novel, Kuang has a noticeable tendency to compile a list of other authors’ discussions of hell. She communicates her knowledge on stories of people navigating hell in various cultures through Alice’s or Peter’s dialogue, or Alice’s inner monologue. Kuang’s constant mentions of other writers – especially Dante – may unfortunately remind some readers of information-heavy history textbooks. Proponents of her style may argue that it helps characterize Alice and Peter as dedicated students, as they researched these stories in preparation for their journey and discuss their interpretations of them throughout the book. Others may point out that Kuang’s academic background helps her integrate theory in ways other writers would struggle to. Yet, repeated discussions of other texts can be distracting from Kuang’s original story. In one paragraph, the author discusses Plato, Confucius, Augustine and Pope Gregory, in addition to her own plot.
To logicians’ delight or exasperation, and to many casual readers’ dismay, formal logic is present in the novel. Peter grumbles about how one of the most common argument structures, modus ponens, cannot be proven. Logicians may laugh or join Peter in his complaint. However, the sections involving logic may be dreaded by the casual reader or slightly boring to the formally trained logician. Casual readers may be frustrated by Alice explicitly forming an argument using “Premise A,” “Premise B,” and so on. The fundamental logical principles discussed in the novel may also come off as a bit juvenile for readers who have a thorough understanding of the topic.
When other texts and logic are not the focus, Kuang excels at captivating the reader. The bickering between Alice and Peter feels real, and the tender moments when one guides the other in a moment of panic or stress can make the reader forget about their struggles with logic, math or references to historical or classical texts. When Peter faces his fear of heights, his panic shakes the reader into the main characters’ new reality, which is that they are on the brink of death and must support each other. Alice encourages him to continue climbing, telling him, “You’ve just got to finish out.” Later in the novel, Alice finds herself in a precarious situation, and Peter repeats the exact same sentence to her. Attentive readers can appreciate how the two characters learn from each other, as evidenced by their dialogue in emotional and intellectual times of difficulty.
Additionally, Alice and Peter’s journey to hell is made more complicated and intriguing to the reader by their complex relationship dynamic. Are they enemies? Friendly colleagues? Lovers? Kuang expertly changes the reader’s understanding of their dynamic by including flashbacks from Alice and, much later, Peter. Alice recalls her tense introduction to Peter, how she thinks she might have later fallen in love with him while working on a project and how he insulted her without realizing she was in the room. In a pivotal moment in their partnership, Alice fixates on the negatives of their relationship and chooses to act against Peter. Peter’s shock is likely to become the reader’s as Alice’s betrayal is at such a crucial point of their journey.
Peter’s death is also likely to deeply surprise readers, given how essential he is to the plot. His sacrifice for Alice, despite her earlier betrayal, further motivates Alice to continue on her journey and creates emotional turmoil that both the reader and she will have to face for the remainder of the book. Alice later exchanges Professor Grimes’ soul for Peter’s, effectively reviving him. While some readers may feel this is a cheap move from the author, Alice was only capable of making the exchange using Peter’s notes on logic that she saw earlier in the novel. Kuang is able to show, not tell, the reader that Alice is intelligent and capable, and saving Peter highlights Alice’s growth.
While some of the literary and philosophical references can feel rewarding for readers already acquainted with the texts, others may feel as though they create a barrier between them and the plot. Brief references, such as those to Aristotle and Nietzsche, bypass this issue by being quick, sporadic comments instead of long interruptions to Kuang’s unique story.
As strenuous as the logic and theory can be for some readers, Alice and Peter’s journey to hell is most certainly worth the try for those intrigued by intellectual challenges.