If you picked this up and read it in 1998 when it was first published, it may have had more relevance to you. But by 2009, Babel Tower has nothing left to offer.

Byatt's Babel Tower gains two stars for the sheer scope of it. Unfortunately, most of the sub-stories, and in particular the defenses of children's education and the tedious court room dramas, were so dry that I skipped through most of them. Most frustrating on this regard was that in the last 20 pages, new scenes and events were constantly being introduced.

A note on the other users comments of the inner book Babbeltower. It is most certainly not a fantasy novel. Unless you continue to call Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight fantasy, rather than to the Lord of the Rings or the Wheel of Time style that marks the genre today.

There is interesting material both in Babbeltower, and the character of Jude Mason but unfortunately, falls apart through the growth of Jude's character. Eccentric, dirty, and still wholly likable, Jude seemed to be a realistic character who degenerated into a 60s artist archetype. Likewise, Paul Ottaker, who is wholly insane and incredibly fascinating just becomes another character willing to dance in pigsblood. Yes, this event actually happens.

I did enjoy the cutting up of the lawyer's letter in Federica's book Laminations.