Tag: Artwork

BOOKS OF BABEL By JOSIAH BANCROFT

Books of Babel by Josiah Bancroft is an absolutely delightful reading experience. The author has created a marvellous world filled with interesting characters. With top tier world building and character development (all with satisfying story arcs), Books of Babel has very quickly become one of my favourite fantasy series.

While it is classified as fantasy, do not walk into the Tower of Babel expecting orcs and elves, wizards and goblins. This is not typical sword and sorcery. The series has its own special citizens and denizens, personally wordcrafted by Josiah Bancroft. Each individual level, or ringdom, of the Tower has unique characteristics. There’s a bit of sci-fi and steampunk in it as well (you’ll love the aerial warfare). To paraphrase Martin Tyler – “I swear you’ll never read anything like this ever again. So read it, drink it in.” And over time, appreciate how the author cleverly ties it all, and you realise the picturesque features of the Tower are not just there as decorations to inspire awe and wonder. Sinisterness and ominosity lurk beneath all the charming distractions. (Am I making up words now?). The Tower of Babel will equally fascinate and horrify Senlin, as well as the reader.

1. Senlin Ascends

Have I mentioned how these covers are some of the best I’ve seen? Ian Leino also deserves credit for his brilliant artwork. I have written earlier on books with covers you immediately fall in love with, and Books of Babel rates at the very top of that list.

“We shouldn’t have to go around congratulating each other for behaving with basic human dignity.”
SENLIN ASCENDS

“Bribery wins more arguments than reason.”
SENLIN ASCENDS

The story begins with Senlin, a somewhat stuffy orthodox school headmaster, with his former student and newly married wife Marya, on their honeymoon. The author Josiah Bancroft, in a tongue-in-cheek promo for the book describes it as ‘Creepy Disneyland, where you immediately lose your spouse, and no one will help you.’ Having finished the series, I still cannot find a better way to describe it. As Senlin ascends along the Tower of Babel, we are gradually introduced to a world that, as I mentioned earlier, is simply unique in fantasy. Some of my favourite world-building, it’s a wonderland for adults, but creepy and deadly, surreal at times. Senlin, while still sticking to his principles, tries his best to look for his wife, while making a few friends, and more enemies, along the way. The further and deeper into the Tower you go, the more you will appreciate Josiah Bancroft’s clever writing. Senlin meets an amazing cast of characters, including…

2. Arm of the Sphinx

The wonder, awe and excitement of being introduced to the world created by Josiah Bancroft in the first book of the series cannot be matched again. The world-building, the subtle hints towards the bigger picture, the introduction to the characters, the unique features of each level, had me absolutely mesmerised the first time around. Perhaps like Senlin himself, this time I was forced to focus more on the plot, and less on oohing and aahing at the various marvels surrounding us. Until the second half of the book, when you become a Tower fanboy again.

“Of course I have a plan,” he said, clapping his hands. “We are going to die.”
ARM OF THE SPHINX

“A recorder takes things down. A historian makes things up.”
ARM OF THE SPHINX

I mentioned it earlier, and I’ll say it again – Josiah Bancroft is one of the cleverest writers in the genre. Pay attention to everything – he’s almost like a magician at times – seems so simple once it’s all explained. The new character – the Sphinx, is exceptionally well written, and this book adds quite a few memorable characters to its already impressive cast. The action is relentless at times, and the plot takes some unexpected twists and turns that’ll keep you grabbing immediately for the next book, which is…

3. The Hod King

Possibly my favourite overall in the series. The Hod King is absolutely action packed, with some of the most epic moments in the series. It now becomes so difficult to pick a favourite character, as they are all extremely well written. With most books, you have your favourites, and then you have those characters you couldn’t care less about. Books of Babel is a rare series where the author makes you care about every single character, both major and relatively minor. You are concerned about the fates of each and every one. This is not just about Thomas Senlin looking for his missing wife anymore. Things have escalated in a major way. While Senlin is still the main character, the other POVs are brilliantly written, and these characters get a chance to shine.

While the series is not at all grimdark (despite having more than its share of both grim and dark), it does well to illustrate how the world is never black and white, and forces both Senlin, and the reader, to re-evaluate a lot of viewpoints we may take for granted. I wonder how big an influence Lewis Carroll was on Bancroft’s writing, as I was reminded at times not just of Alice in Wonderland, but of Sylvie and Bruno as well. This is such a highly quotable series.

“The rich “learn lessons.” The poor commit crimes. “Mistakes” are generally considered a mark of the middle class.”
THE HOD KING

“All I know is that, at the end of the day, dreams don’t matter, but neither does regret. We aren’t what we want or wish for. We are only what we do.”
THE HOD KING

As we travel through each successive level (ringdom) of the Tower, for each mystery uncovered, it seems like two new ones crop up. Not to worry, it is all perfectly wrapped up in…

4. The Fall of Babel

I have scarcely been able to do this series proper justice so far, as I have had to avoid spoilers. This is now a particularly difficult task, as I am about to describe the final book on the series. No character is ignored, and the author answers almost all our questions. Some are intentionally left more open-ended, so we as readers can reach our own conclusions. Overall, this fourth book, as well as the series overall, is beautifully paced, has wonderful prose, great action sequences, and the best as mentioned already is the world building (which continues through all four books) and the characters.

Highest possible recommendation. In an ideal world, the adventure would never end, but in the meantime, we can look forward to Josiah Bancroft’s next big project. I do hope, though, similar to what Sebastien de Castell has done with his Greatcoats series, Bancroft returns to the Tower of Babel with a few novellas and short stories, as there is still so much to the Tower that remains hidden from us.

Also special thanks to Allen, aka Library of Allenxandria on Booktube, whose reviews convinced me to read this series. A bit like The Everyman’s Guide attracts people to the Tower of Babel, I hope his reviews encourage more people to read this book.

Mirror Mirror on the Wall Which is the Fairest Cover of Them All?

By shawkat.farhad

On September 27, 2020

In Reading

Don’t judge a book by its cover. How accurate is that really? 90% of the time, I buy books based on recommendations. My friend Shakib has recommended some of the best books I have ever read. The Discworld series, for example. Identity Crisis, one of the best yet heart wrenching comics I have ever read. A masterpiece by Brad Meltzer.

Then there’s the booktubers, and Mike’s Book Reviews in particular. Hasn’t let me down yet. But the remaining 10% of the time? When I’m in a bookstore, there are certain books I’ve picked up and purchased, just based on the cover itself. The cover may not even have anything to do with the storyline. But it’s just too alluring, too fascinating to resist. Works the other way as well. For years, I have avoided Jim Butcher’s Dresden series based on the covers. Now, having read the first few books, I actually kind of like the covers, to be honest. But at first sight, didn’t do anything for me.

Certain books (and I’m specifically going to quote examples from the fantasy genre here) have absolutely beautiful covers, and while they are on my TBR, I’m buying them now more for my collection. But don’t be mistaken, all these series have been slowly sneaking up my TBR, and while the fantastic reviews have also played a big part, it’s the covers that intrigued me in the first place. I read books almost entirely on Kindle these days, but am gradually building up my collection of physical books as well.

The Greatcoats series is a good example. While this is a series that I’ve started reading already, as part of a read along on Mike’s channel, the covers did influence me somewhat to start in the first place. Think of the series as Three Musketeers, but written by a modern-day author. Then read the series itself, and enjoy the world of Greatcoats, with a great cast of characters, Falcio, the leader of the Greatcoats (the entire series, or at least the two books I’ve read so far, are written in his POV), and his two companions, Kest (silent but badass), and Brasti (outspoken yet loveable). Not a spoiler really, but the premise is that the King has been assassinated by the Dukes, and the King’s Greatcoats (magistrates and protector of his laws) are now living as personal bodyguards, outlaws, or worse. There is an element of mystery, a bit of magic, and the most amazing swordfights you will possibly ever read. The author, Sebastien de Castell, is a real life fight choreographer, so makes sense that he writes action sequences so well.

The other series I’ll be mentioning here are ones I haven’t read, but wish to read asap, depending on how much time I have left each month after reading Wheel of Time, The Dark Tower, and the First Law Trilogy.

Books of Babel have covers that can’t fail to get you interested in the series. The author Josiah Bancroft describes the first book as ““Creepy Disneyland, where you immediately lose your spouse, and no one will help you.” Watch this video to get some more insight into the author and his works – Why You Should Read Senlin Ascends.

S.A. Chakraborty’s Daevabad Trilogy books are also irresistible, and I believe the stories will be just as brilliant. Here’s a couple of pictures I collected from the Discord channel, posted by one of the readers.

Finally, Brian McClellan’s flintlock fantasy series Powder Mage Trilogy also has me intrigued, and the covers are just part of it. When I finally get a chance to add these books to my collection, and read them, is anybody’s guess.

If you’re wondering, this is what my TBR looks like:

The next 149 (odd number yes) books I plan to read, and when. Fantasy only, of course. I will be reading other genres, but that’s a much more flexible schedule. This entire TBR is subject to change. As mentioned earlier, some books will definitely sneak up.

Finally, two series where the covers might seem extremely cheesy, but I absolutely love them, and make it a point to own books with these older covers. Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time MMPB covers, exhibit A and B:

And Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series, Exhibit C and D

While the newer (HC) Discworld covers are pretty good too:

Wheel of Time new covers are just too bland, and hardly encourage one to pick up for a second look, browsing in a bookstore.

And I dread the new covers that’ll come out once the series is out on Amazon Prime, with those NOW A MAJOR TV SHOW stickers. Please stop with those stickers. Please. Stop.

Finally, feel free to go through my Excel screenshots as it’s a pretty comprehensive list of fantasy books that are very highly rated in the community (You may have noticed no Discworld there, I’ve read and reread the series multiple times, and will continue to do so. Don’t need reminders on Excel). Also, if you feel as though I’ve missed any major series, do let me know. Notable absentees may be the recently departed Terry Goodkind’s Wizard’s First Rule, which I am actually planning to read some time this year. If I like the first book, that’ll really mess up my TBR. Other notable absentees are most glaringly, A Song of Ice and Fire, a series which I started reading and then decided to wait for George R.R. Martin to finish writing (no pressure, take your time, you’re a lovely man with a lovely laugh, enjoy your hobbies, and I’m serious about his laugh, watch some of his interviews, one with Stephen King in particular). Memory, Sorrow and Thorn, the series that actually inspired George R.R. Martin, is also absent, but will be added to the list. So while it’s missing from my Excel list, do not hesitate to read this series if you loved Game of Thrones.