R.F. Kuang says there’s 'quite a lot' of herself in 'Katabasis' protagonist Alice

*Katabasis* reimagines magic as a demanding, logic-based academic discipline, reflecting the grueling and often hopeless nature of doctoral research. Author R.F. Kuang draws from her own experiences during a period of severe personal and academic hardship, using her characters' descent into hell to process the trauma of that time. The narrative explores the toxic "myth of the male genius" in academia, examining why students remain tethered to abusive mentors despite the significant psychological toll. By centering characters whose identities are woven into their lived experiences rather than treated as performative markers, the book offers a grounded look at the friction between personal ambition and institutional reality. Ultimately, the story serves as a cathartic exploration of surviving the chaotic, often overwhelming demands of both the human mind and the ivory tower.