Book 1

Senlin Ascends

by Josiah Bancroft

Published 27 February 2013

The Tower of Babel is the greatest marvel of the Silk Age. Immense as a mountain, the ancient Tower holds unnumbered ringdoms, warring and peaceful, stacked one on the other like the layers of a cake.

Thomas Senlin, the mild-mannered headmaster of a small village school, is drawn to the Tower by scientific curiosity and the grandiose promises of a guidebook. The luxurious Baths of the Tower seem an ideal destination for a honeymoon, but soon after arriving, Senlin loses Marya in the crowd. Senlin’s search for Marya carries him through madhouses, ballrooms, and burlesque theaters. He must survive betrayal, assassination, and the long guns of a flying fortress.

But if he hopes to ever find his wife, Thomas Senlin must do more than survive. This quiet man of letters must become a man of action.


Book 2

Arm of the Sphinx

by Josiah Bancroft

Published 9 April 2015

Forced by necessity into a life of piracy, Senlin and his crew struggle to survive aboard their stolen airship. Senlin’s search for his lost wife continues, even as her ghost hounds his every step. But the Tower of Babel proves to be as difficult to reenter as it was to escape.

While searching for an unguarded port, Senlin encounters the camp of Luc Marat, who seems equal parts bandit and humanitarian. One thing is for certain: his asylum for the downtrodden hods is not as peaceful as it appears.

In desperation, Senlin turns to the mysterious and dangerous Sphinx, with whom Edith shares a terrible bond. They discover the Sphinx’s help does not come cheaply.

Senlin is soon faced with an impossible choice between his friends, his freedom, and his wife.


Book 3

The Hod King

by Josiah Bancroft

Published 22 January 2019

THE THIRD NOVEL IN THE HIGHLY ACCLAIMED BOOKS OF BABEL SERIES, SET IN A LABYRINTHINE WORLD OF MENACE AND WONDER.

Fearing an uprising, the Sphinx sends Senlin to investigate a plot that has taken hold in the ringdom of Pelphia. Alone in the city, Senlin infiltrates a bloody arena where hods battle for the public's entertainment. But his investigation is quickly derailed by a gruesome crime and an unexpected reunion.

Posing as a noble lady and her handmaid, Voleta and Iren attempt to reach Marya, who is isolated by her fame. While navigating the court, Voleta attracts the unwanted attention of a powerful prince whose pursuit of her threatens their plan.

Edith, now captain of the Sphinx's fierce flagship, joins forces with a fellow wakeman to investigate the disappearance of a beloved friend. She must decide who to trust as her desperate search brings her nearer to the Black Trail.

As Senlin and his crew become further mired in the conspiracies of the Tower, everything falls to one question: Who is The Hod King?


Book 4

The Fall of Babel

by Josiah Bancroft

Published 9 November 2021

THE SECRETS OF THE TOWER WILL FINALLY BE REVEALED IN THE REMARKABLE CONCLUSION TO THE HIGHLY ACCLAIMED BOOKS OF BABEL SERIES.

As Marat's siege engine bores through the Tower, Senlin can do nothing but observe the mayhem from inside the belly of the beast. Edith and her crew are forced to face Marat on unequal footing, with Senlin caught in the crossfire, while Adam attempts to unravel the mystery of his fame inside the crowning ringdom. And when the Brick Layer's true ambition is revealed, neither the Tower nor its inhabitants will ever be the same again.

Praise for the Books of Babel

'Josiah Bancroft is a magician. His books are that rare alchemy: gracefully written, deliriously imaginative, action-packed, warm, witty and thought-provoking'
Madeline Miller, author of Circe

'The Books of Babel are something you hope to see perhaps once a decade - future classics, which may be remembered long after the series concludes' LA Times

'It is not merely a five-star book, it's a masterpiece' Mark Lawrence

'A vibrant, wholly original and expertly crafted novel that transcends genre fantasy. It is an instant literary classic' Fantasy Book Review

'It's rare to finad a modern book that feels like a timeless classic. I'm wildly in love with this book' Pierce Brown, author of Red Rising

'One of the most original, intriguing, well written, witty and wondrous fantasy fiction debuts I've ever read' Fantasy Faction

The Books of Babel
Senlin Ascends
The Arm of the Sphinx
The Hod King
The Fall of Babel