Josiah Bancroft

Josiah Bancroft is an American fantasy author best known for The Books of Babel series, which begins with Senlin Ascends (2013). He initially self-published his work before being picked up by Orbit Books, which led to wider recognition and commercial success. The Books of Babel series follows Thomas Senlin's journey through the Tower of Babel, a massive structure divided into distinctive ringdoms, each with its own bizarre culture and rules. The series consists of four books: Senlin Ascends, Arm of the Sphinx, The Hod King, and The Fall of Babel. Before his career as a novelist, Bancroft worked as a teacher and published poetry. His writing style is noted for combining elements of steampunk, adventure fiction, and literary prose with detailed worldbuilding. Bancroft's work has received praise from notable authors including Mark Lawrence and has been recognized in various "best of" lists in the fantasy genre. His books have been translated into multiple languages and have found an international audience.

Readers highlight Bancroft's prose style, describing it as poetic and precise. Many reviews note the unique worldbuilding of the Tower of Babel and the character development of Thomas Senlin. Readers appreciate: - Literary quality writing in a fantasy setting - Complex, morally gray characters - Original setting and concepts - Smart dialogue and philosophical elements Common criticisms: - Slow pacing in first third of Senlin Ascends - Some find the narrative too cerebral - Style shifts between books Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: - Senlin Ascends: 4.15/5 (32,000+ ratings) - Arm of the Sphinx: 4.35/5 (18,000+ ratings) - The Hod King: 4.46/5 (12,000+ ratings) - The Fall of Babel: 4.41/5 (7,000+ ratings) Amazon averages 4.4/5 across the series. One reader called it "steampunk Kafka meets Alice in Wonderland." Another noted: "The rare series that improves with each book."

Senlin Ascends - A mild-mannered schoolteacher searches for his missing wife in the Tower of Babel, a vast and mysterious structure of multiple ringdoms populated by distinct and dangerous societies.

Arm of the Sphinx - Thomas Senlin and his small crew aboard the Stone Cloud become sky pirates as they continue searching the Tower while evading the mysterious and powerful Sphinx.

The Hod King - Senlin works as a spy in the ringdom of Pelphia while his crew undertakes separate missions throughout the Tower of Babel.

The Fall of Babel - The final installment brings together all threads of the story as the mysteries of the Tower and the true nature of the Sphinx are revealed.

Jeff VanderMeer creates multi-layered worlds with mysteries that unfold through surreal imagery and complex characters. His Southern Reach trilogy and Ambergris books blend fantasy elements with literary prose in ways that echo Bancroft's style.

China Miéville builds intricate cities and societies with their own rules and peculiarities, similar to Bancroft's Tower of Babel. His works like Perdido Street Station and The City & The City focus on environments that shape their inhabitants' lives and struggles.

Robert Jackson Bennett writes about cities with hidden magical systems and hierarchies of power that characters must navigate to survive. His Divine Cities trilogy features detailed worldbuilding and characters who uncover layers of conspiracy and history.

Scott Lynch crafts detailed fantasy settings with con artists and clever protagonists who use wit to overcome obstacles. The Gentleman Bastard series combines intricate plotting with characters who rely on intelligence rather than traditional fantasy heroics.

Adrian Tchaikovsky develops unique civilizations and technological systems that define how characters interact with their world. His works like Shadows of the Apt and Children of Time focus on societies with distinct rules and hierarchies that characters must understand to progress.