'Senlin Ascends' is a fantastically gripping and satirical tale of the titular hero's quest to find his vanished wife. Being parted from each other on their honeymoon to the popular tourist destination of the Tower of Babel, Senlin has to ascend through the ringdoms of each level of the tower to search for his beloved. He faces obstacles and challenges which make him increasingly self-aware. Bancroft is an exciting and refreshing new voice in the sci-fi genre and I can't wait for the sequel to this accomplished debut!

Paul Smyth at Middlesbrough
“A wonderful debut, and a fine example of world-building.”
Paperback edition

by Paul Smyth at Middlesbrough
I used to be a huge Steampunk fan. Loved everything about it - the aesthetic, the ideas, the ingenuity. But, after a while, they all got a bit same-y. Often, it felt like the plot and characters were the last things to be worked on, as so much focus was spent on the minutiae of the genre. I was *delighted* when I discovered that none of these problems exist in 'Senlin Ascends', the first installment of the 'Books of Babel' series.

We join Thomas Senlin and his lovely wife Marya on honeymoon, as they journey to The Tower of Babel - a once-in-a-lifetime destination for which Thomas holds a fascination. Sadly, Thomas (something of a wet kipper of a man) manages to lose his wife in the hustle and bustle of a crowd. Here begins his journey up the Tower, in order to find her once more. But each level of the tower (or 'Ringdom') is, in essence, its own principality - with its own rules and rulers who seem determined to stand between Thomas and his beloved.

The development of Thomas throughout his quest is a delight to behold, as are the supporting cast around him. As mentioned previously, the Steampunk elements are there, but not overtly so.

To say much more would be to say too much. The joy comes from taking the journey to the top with our intrepid hero.