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A 2013 {{Steampunk}} novel by Josiah Bancroft, initially self-published and later picked up by Orbit Books, Senlin Ascends follows the story of mild-mannered Thomas Senlin, the schoolteacher of a small seaside town. He comes to the Tower of Babel with his new wife, Marya, for their honeymoon, only to be separated mere minutes after they disembark from the train. Thus begins his long journey to be reunited with Marya and his explorations of the enigmatic Tower.

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A 2013 {{Steampunk}} novel by Josiah Bancroft, initially self-published and later picked up by Orbit Books, Senlin Ascends ''Senlin Ascends'' follows the story of mild-mannered Thomas Senlin, the schoolteacher of a small seaside town. He comes to the Tower of Babel with his new wife, Marya, for their honeymoon, only to be separated mere minutes after they disembark from the train. Thus begins his long journey to be reunited with Marya and his explorations of the enigmatic Tower.



The first of the series, Senlin Ascends, was followed by The Arm of the Sphinx, published 2014, The Hod King, published in 2019, and finally The Fall of Babel in 2021.

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The first of the series, Senlin Ascends, ''Senlin Ascends'' was followed by The ''The Arm of the Sphinx, Sphinx'', published 2014, The ''The Hod King, King'', published in 2019, and finally The ''The Fall of Babel Babel'' in 2021.



* XanatosGambit: [[spoiler: Finn Goll]] employs this tactic, of all things, to recruit Senlin for a job.

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* XanatosGambit: [[spoiler: Finn Goll]] employs this tactic, of all things, to recruit Senlin for a job.job.
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* Xanatos Gambit: [[spoiler: Finn Goll]] employs this tactic, of all things, to recruit Senlin for a job.

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* Xanatos Gambit: XanatosGambit: [[spoiler: Finn Goll]] employs this tactic, of all things, to recruit Senlin for a job.

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* AllPartOfTheShow: The Parlor is a strange place, where tourists flock from all over the world to take on roles and star in perpetual theatre, seemingly with no audience or purpose. It's implied that the natives of the Parlor spend their entire lives embodying their roles, with little distinction between [[MediumAwareness ''being'' something and playing a part]].



* FantasticDrug: White Chrom, colloquially known as Crumb. So named because it "makes the real world seem like the sort of thing a mouse could eat in one bite and still be hungry". Senlin accidentally stumbles into a Crumb den and hallucinates a giant version of Marya.

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* FantasticDrug: White Chrom, colloquially known as Crumb. So named because it "makes the real world seem like the sort of thing a mouse could eat in one bite and still be hungry". Senlin accidentally stumbles into a Crumb den and after partaking, hallucinates a giant version of Marya.Marya.
* FelonyMisdemeanor: Edith Winters gets charged with failing to stoke the fireplaces in addition to playing her role in the Parlor, as ''she's too busy running from an armed drunk'', while Senlin doesn't, as he's a habitual fire stoker. It still doesn't prevent him from being detained.



* IndenturedServitude: The punishment for failing to pay one's debts is being caught, shaved, collared and put to work as a hod, essentially slaves forced to carry goods and do other maintenance throughout the Tower. It's [[spoiler: John Tarrou]]'s eventual fate, when he's caught redhanded aiding Senlin for the theft of a painting, and the authorities stop ignoring his outstanding debts as a result.



* SkyCell: The cell Senlin and Edith are briefly imprisoned in looks like a wire chicken coop jutting from the Tower's façade.



* Xanatos Gambit: [spoiler: Finn Goll] employs this tactic, of all things, to recruit Senlin for a job.

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* Xanatos Gambit: [spoiler: [[spoiler: Finn Goll] Goll]] employs this tactic, of all things, to recruit Senlin for a job.
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* NiceHat: Marya makes a point of wearing a bright red helmet, in case she and Senlin lose sight of one another. It doesn't help.

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* A 2013 {{Steampunk}} novel by Josiah Bancroft, initially self-published and later picked up by Orbit Books, Senlin Ascends follows the story of mild-mannered Thomas Senlin, the schoolteacher of a small seaside town. He comes to the Tower of Babel with his new wife, Marya, for their honeymoon, only to be separated mere minutes after they disembark from the train. Thus begins his long journey to be reunited with Marya and his explorations of the enigmatic Tower.

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* [[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/babel_0.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:The Tower of Babel is sometimes called the Sink of Humanity. Its immensity, the variety of its ringdoms, its mysterious and luxurious heights are irresistible to all corners. We are drawn to it like water to a drain.]]

A 2013 {{Steampunk}} novel by Josiah Bancroft, initially self-published and later picked up by Orbit Books, Senlin Ascends follows the story of mild-mannered Thomas Senlin, the schoolteacher of a small seaside town. He comes to the Tower of Babel with his new wife, Marya, for their honeymoon, only to be separated mere minutes after they disembark from the train. Thus begins his long journey to be reunited with Marya and his explorations of the enigmatic Tower.



* AdventureFriendlyWorld: The Tower certainly advertises itself as such. The Baths and The Parlor make valiant attempts to fulfill the promise.



* ArtificialLimbs: An unknown inventor replaces missing limbs through mysterious, highly advanced science.

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* ArtificialLimbs: An unknown inventor replaces missing limbs through mysterious, highly advanced science.science, powered by a glass vial filled with a glowing red substance.


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* FantasticDrug: White Chrom, colloquially known as Crumb. So named because it "makes the real world seem like the sort of thing a mouse could eat in one bite and still be hungry". Senlin accidentally stumbles into a Crumb den and hallucinates a giant version of Marya.
* TheGadfly: As a teen, Marya goes out of her way to annoy and otherwise hog the attention of her teachers. The very last words the old headmaster says to the young Senlin consist of warning him about the troublesome student.

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A 2013 {{Steampunk}} novel by Josiah Bancroft, initially self-published and later picked up by Orbit Books, Senlin Ascends follows the story of mild-mannered Thomas Senlin, the schoolteacher of a small seaside town. He comes to the Tower of Babel with his new wife, Marya, for their honeymoon, only to be separated mere minutes after they disembark from the train. Thus begins his long journey to be reunited with Marya and his explorations of the enigmatic Tower.

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A *A 2013 {{Steampunk}} novel by Josiah Bancroft, initially self-published and later picked up by Orbit Books, Senlin Ascends follows the story of mild-mannered Thomas Senlin, the schoolteacher of a small seaside town. He comes to the Tower of Babel with his new wife, Marya, for their honeymoon, only to be separated mere minutes after they disembark from the train. Thus begins his long journey to be reunited with Marya and his explorations of the enigmatic Tower.



* [=AgeGapRomance=]: Senlin and Marya have about ten years between them. They first met as Senlin first took over teaching duties at the village school.
* [=ArtificialLimbs=]: An unknown inventor replaces missing limbs through mysterious, highly advanced science.
* [=ObstructiveBureaucrat=]: Senlin runs into a few of these in The Parlor.
* [=Xanatos Gambit=]: [spoiler: Finn Goll] employs this tactic, of all things, to recruit Senlin for a job.

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* [=AgeGapRomance=]: AgeGapRomance: Senlin and Marya have about ten years between them. They first met as Senlin first took over teaching duties at the village school.
* [=ArtificialLimbs=]: ArtificialLimbs: An unknown inventor replaces missing limbs through mysterious, highly advanced science.
* [=ObstructiveBureaucrat=]: ButIReadABookAboutIt: Senlin runs into a few and Marya are lured to the Tower by the ''Everyman's Guide to the Tower of these in The Parlor.Babel''.
* [=Xanatos Gambit=]: NaiveNewcomer: Every tourist to the Tower of Babel, and every new arrival to a new ringdom besides.
* NiceHat: Marya makes a point of wearing a bright red helmet, in case she and Senlin lose sight of one another. It doesn't help.
* ObstructiveBureaucrat: Senlin runs into a few of these in The Parlor.
* TowerOfBabel: The titular tower. There are hints that this is ''the'' Tower, albeit in a parallel universe.
* Xanatos Gambit:
[spoiler: Finn Goll] employs this tactic, of all things, to recruit Senlin for a job.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

A 2013 {{Steampunk}} novel by Josiah Bancroft, initially self-published and later picked up by Orbit Books, Senlin Ascends follows the story of mild-mannered Thomas Senlin, the schoolteacher of a small seaside town. He comes to the Tower of Babel with his new wife, Marya, for their honeymoon, only to be separated mere minutes after they disembark from the train. Thus begins his long journey to be reunited with Marya and his explorations of the enigmatic Tower.

The Tower of Babel is an immense structure rising up to the heavens from what is thought to be the center of the world. It has an unknown number of ringdoms, more or less sovereign city-states occupying each floor with its own customs, ways of life and dangers. Senlin must ascend them in the hopes of catching up to Marya. On the way he will step on the toes of various authority figures and villains, make a few friends and go through many changes. Throughout, a nagging worry occupies the back of his mind: will Marya recognize the man he’s become?

The first of the series, Senlin Ascends, was followed by The Arm of the Sphinx, published 2014, The Hod King, published in 2019, and finally The Fall of Babel in 2021.

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!! This book provides examples of:
* [=AgeGapRomance=]: Senlin and Marya have about ten years between them. They first met as Senlin first took over teaching duties at the village school.
* [=ArtificialLimbs=]: An unknown inventor replaces missing limbs through mysterious, highly advanced science.
* [=ObstructiveBureaucrat=]: Senlin runs into a few of these in The Parlor.
* [=Xanatos Gambit=]: [spoiler: Finn Goll] employs this tactic, of all things, to recruit Senlin for a job.

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