Why the ‘Books of Babel’ is the Best Fantasy Series I’ve Read in Months
How a blend of history, fantasy, and a killer setting make for a phenomenal set of stories
One of my favorite ways to find a new book or series to read is by browsing Amazon’s Sunday Kindle deals, picking out two or three books that look interesting, and seeing what people on the subreddits I frequent have to say about them. Since I like to read a lot of fantasy novels, I usually check the r/fantasy listings first, which is where I found several full-throated recommendations for Josiah Bancroft’s Senlin Ascends. The $2 I spent soon after was one of the best purchases I’ve made in months.
The Books of Babel, (the name for Senlin Ascends and its sequels, The Arm of the Sphinx and The Hod King), are incredible books. The writing itself is excellent, but the sense of imagination running through each book in the series is Bancroft’s greatest strength as an author. I want more books like these: more stories that meld fantasy and history to create something unique.
Senlin Ascends takes place in a world where the Tower of Babel was fully built. Separated into discrete floors called “ringdoms,” it houses countless thousands (perhaps millions?) of people spread across an unknown number of sections. It’s a home for some, a tourist attraction for many, and the setting for each one of the three books in the Books of Babel (the fourth and final one is on the way).
The protagonist is a school headmaster named Thomas Senlin, who loses his wife, Marya, on their honeymoon to the tower. Senlin searches for her throughout the course of the first novel, scouring the first few floors for her trail. Along the way, he meets a colorful cast of friends and enemies as Bancroft gradually unravels the plot.
The tower itself is by far the most interesting part of these books. It’s a place of political intrigue, beautiful scenery, and characters who are equal parts charming and chilling. It lures travelers and tourists from across the civilization of Mesopotamia, usually forcing them to some untimely demise or purpose.
As a locale, the tower also boasts a great deal of variety. Each floor has its own theme, or setting. For example, the second floor is a playhouse, where each guest has to play a role in a story before going to the next area. The third floor is a giant bathhouse, with an elaborate series of mirrors that bring in sunlight from the outside world. And crucially, there’s a dark underbelly of the tower that — very quickly — undercuts its benign first appearance. There’s treachery and danger around every corner.
In many ways, the Books of Babel remind me of the Bioshock video game series (a high compliment). Both stories take place in fictional utopias, or at least areas that were designed as such. Both stories also involve tangled plots and webs of deceit, complete with a full complement of dangers for the protagonist to handle. But the most striking similarity is how much thought went into the design of each world. The themes and intricacy of each are stunning.
It also helps that Bancroft is a talented wordsmith. Part of the reason that the setting is so compelling is because his descriptions are usually perfect. They’re wordy enough to paint a complete picture but not so verbose as to take away from the action that soon follows. Senlin’s story of chasing his lost wife is heartbreaking at times, and the emotional depth comes from Bancroft’s skill in framing his despair. As the plot gradually thickens (in ways I don’t want to spoil), that skill is even more evident.
The characters are also worth a mention. Senlin himself is fascinating, a desperate, but timid, man with clear flaws and strengths. He changes perceptibly through the course of the three books, going from an almost passive observer to someone with his own assortment of plots and designs by the end of The Hod King.
The rest of the cast is interesting as well. The secondary characters don’t quite match Senlin’s depth or complexity, but they’re still enjoyable and round the story out in believable ways. As a group, they’re more than good enough.
The plot itself takes a backseat to the setting and the writing, in my opinion, but it’s also one of the strengths of the Books of Babel. What starts out as the story of a confused, timid man looking for his wife quickly evolves as Bancroft reveals more of the tower’s secrets and machinations. There’s a complex (but clear) story waiting for readers to uncover that’s worth the time it takes to get there. And since these books are relatively short by fantasy standards, it’s not as big of a time commitment as many other series may be.
The books aren’t perfect, as much as I like them. The second book, Army of the Sphinx is a noticeable step down from Senlin Ascends, with pronounced pacing issues in its third act. It’s still a good book though, and I thankfully found the pace of The Hod King to be much more enjoyable. As a whole, these issues are minor and didn’t take away much from my overall opinion of them.
Whenever I think about the Books of Babel, I don’t think about the pacing issues. Instead, I think about how interesting the world is. How many other fantasy novels are set in ancient Mesopotamia? With trains, guns, and floating airships that ride currents in the sky like ships? And that’s to say nothing of the tower itself, easily the most inventive setting for a novel that I’ve read in the last 12 months. I want more books like this. I want more stories that pull from an imagination as interesting as Bancroft’s.
According to the series’ website, book four of the Books of Babel is due out sometime next year. I’m not usually one who will wait breathlessly for a new novel to come out, largely since there’s such an enormous catalog of good stories out there already and I know I can always come back to a series after a year or two. But I can’t wait for this one. I really want to see how Bancroft ends this tangled story he has designed.
The views expressed are mine alone and do not represent the views of my employer or any other person or organization.
