The Fall of Babel
Ratings45
Average rating4
The incredible final book in the phenomenon fantasy series described as “future classics" follows one man's dangerous journey through a labyrinthine world and the mysteries he uncovers along the way. (Los Angeles Times). "Josiah Bancroft is a magician. His books are that rare alchemy: gracefully written, deliriously imaginative, action packed, warm, witty, and thought provoking." —Madeline Miller, New York Times bestselling author of Circe As Marat's siege engine bores through the Tower, erupting inside ringdoms and leaving chaos in its wake, Senlin can do nothing but observe the mayhem from inside the belly of the beast. Caught in a charade, Senlin desperately tries to sabotage the rampaging Hod King, even as Marat's objective grows increasingly clear. The leader of the zealots is bound for the Sphinx's lair and the unimaginable power it contains. In the city under glass at the Tower's summit, Adam discovers a utopia where everyone inexplicably knows the details of his past. As Adam unravels the mystery of his fame, he soon discovers the crowning ringdom conceals a much darker secret. Aboard the State of Art, Edith and her crew adjust to the reality that Voleta has awoken from death changed. She seems to share more in common with the Red Hand now than her former self. While Edith wars for the soul of the young woman, a greater crisis looms: They will have to face Marat on unequal footing and with Senlin caught in the crossfire. And when the Bridge of Babel is finally opened, and the Brick Layer's true ambition revealed, neither they nor the Tower will ever be the same again. Also by Josiah Bancroft: The Books of Babel Senlin Ascends Arm of the Sphinx The Hod King The Fall of Babel
Series
Featured Series
4 primary books6 released booksThe Books of Babel
The Books of Babel is a 6-book series with 4 primary works first released in 2013 with contributions by Josiah Bancroft.
Series
4 primary booksBabel
Babel is a 4-book series with 4 primary works first released in 2013 with contributions by Josiah Bancroft.
Reviews
Popular Reviews
Reviews with the most likes.
The Fall of Babel provides a dramatic finale to the Books of Babel. The cast of characters that had been dispersed are brought back together, the machinations of the Bricklayer, the Sphinx and Luc Marat are all brought to their conclusion. This book does a good job in tying together all of these ends in a mostly satisfying way. There are some occasional miss-steps: I am not sure about the ultimate purpose of Nebos - it feels a bit of a cop out in some ways and the resolution between Marya and Tom is not as satisfying as I had hoped. But on the whole, the characters feel like they get what they deserve. Wrapping it up is an expansive operation though - this is by far the longest book in the series.
The Books of Babel feel like some kind of fever dream, unlike anything else in modern fantasy I have read. Do the later books hold up to the initial promise of the first book? I am not sure - the problem with this type of weird and wonderful pastiche is that the longer you stay in it the less it surprises you. This is not to diminish these works in any shape or form - this is wildly creative genre bending stuff - but perhaps the chonkiness of the series is to its detriment.
More is still to come - there is a short story collection that I will definitely pick up. This is one of the most bonkers fantasy stories you will ever encounter and it is definitely worth the trip down the Carrollesque rabbit hole.
With the final page turned and the curtain now closed, I'm happy to report that The Books of Babel is one of the greatest fantasy series I've ever read. Bancroft's prose continues to possess a unique flavor with dashes of charm, wit, biting humor, and heart that are unmatched by others in the genre.
Throughout this final book, I cared about certain characters more than others, found some story threads more compelling than others, and preferred the quieter, more contemplative moments to the dizzying action sequences and set pieces. Despite my mileage varying on certain aspects of the novel itself, all of the elements coalesced into something wondrous and satisfying in the end.
We've been taken on a wild ride since Thomas Senlin first set foot in the magnificent and mysterious Tower of Babel. And while I'm sad to leave this world and cast of characters behind, I'm excited to see what else can be plumbed from the depths of Josiah Bancroft's imagination. Frankly, I'd devour whatever he writes next – whether that's a shopping list, appliance manual, esoteric textbook, or (ideally) a new novel!
My thanks to NetGalley and Orbit for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
See this review and others at The Speculative Shelf.
