It really is difficult to explain this without calling it weird. But that’s par for the course, I think! What a weird concept. Aliens that don’t understand language as spoken by humanoids, but are also nourished by it. And a place where language is weaponized, and, as you might guess from the title and name of the place, a milieu of creatures congregate, it erupts into a wild plot, on top of the ways the species are examined. Another fantastic effort. I do still prefer Perdido Street Station, though, despite this probably being more cerebral.