Senlin Ascends

This is one of those books that I kept on hearing about in hushed tones as something of a hidden gem. I was not disappointed by it - it is one of those rare books that truly lives up to it's hype and then exceeds it!

It is hard to really describe what Senlin Ascends is. It is fantasy, but with a reference to ancient myths (the Tower of Babel for example) and reads like a twisted fantasy take on Heart of Darkness or Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. It is a descent (ascent?) into madness and strangeness, defined by this central tower and its different levels. Each level has its own distinct theme, dangers and weirdness. The imagination on display is mind boggling - this is easily one of the most unique takes on the genre I have seen.

The central story follows the quest of one Tom Senlin to find his wife, who goes missing right at the start of the madness that is the Tower of Babel. As we travel and ascend the tower, we follow Tom as he grows as a character through the madcap experiences and dangers in the tower. It is the growth of this character that forms the beating heart of this book.

I also need to give a shout out to the Subterranean Press edition of this. The artwork in this edition is honestly the most beautiful I have seen in a book.

This books was a mad rush of psychedelic craziness, grounded by the quest of its central character. This book is truly unique. If you haven't read it you really should!