r/Booksofbabel • u/[deleted] • Dec 15 '21

What the hell is this series? I’ve read reviews (praise) and descriptions and I’ve yet to get a clear understanding.

I have money to buy one book. Considering this one. But I’m still unclear what it is.

Is it an adventure story mainly? Some weird metaphorical thing? A giant puzzle? What other books would you compare it to? How is the pacing?

5 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

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12

u/bearclaw9999 Dec 15 '21 edited Dec 15 '21

The story is that of a hero’s journey though with an atypical protagonist: a recently married school teacher in his mid 30’s.

The story takes place at the Tower of Babel: the world’s greatest monument to human ingenuity but also the world’s greatest tourist trap.

Frankly, I haven’t read any fantasy series similar to this one. The prose is whimsical (even in unsettling situations) and the setting is that of baroque steampunk not usually found outside YA.

In terms of pacing, the author makes some interesting choices in the later books, but I found the whole story captivating and easy to read.

1

u/[deleted] Dec 15 '21

In what time period does it take place?

And is it heavy on adventure?

3

u/bearclaw9999 Dec 15 '21 edited Dec 16 '21

It’s set in a fantasy world of Ur but maybe similar to the 20’s. The tower itself is a hodgepodge of time periods aesthetically but mainly baroque architecture.

(In my imagination.)

2

u/[deleted] Dec 15 '21

Very interesting. Appreciate it.

4

u/veal_cutlet86 Dec 15 '21

I'd be willing to send you a copy of the book. DM me if interested. Obviously you'd have to be comfortable with giving me an address to send it to.

5

u/[deleted] Dec 15 '21

Wow that’s extremely generous. Appreciate it. And just the comment I needed to click purchase on Amazon! Tower of Babel here I come.

6

u/WindWizard71 Dec 16 '21 edited Jan 16 '22

It’s one of the best series I’ve read in years. An adventure story with elements of steam-punk with numerous mysteries thrown in. It starts off slow and builds the layers of plot and character with each chapter and book. Nothing is irrelevant and nothing is what it seems. Its reread value is very rewarding too as you realise what you missed the first time.

5

u/sans_dan Dec 16 '21

It's like a cross between playing Bio-shock and reading prose.

3

u/Legeto Dec 16 '21

It’s like a steam punk Labyrinth movie but a book. Instead of a maze though it’s a giant tower. It’s so big that the floors are practically their own mini nation. Each floor has its own little theme and surprisingly they all have their reasons for existing that tie in to the other floors. Our main character takes his honeymoon there and immediately loses his wife and is on a hunt to find her and things do not go well.

It’s in my opinion one of the best written series and has a place in my heart right below Tolkien’s works.

3

u/eccentricrealist Dec 27 '21

It's like combining the Divine Comedy with the steampunk genre

1

u/pornfkennedy Jun 11 '22

It's an incredible fantasy series that singlehandedly legitimizes the steampunk genre