Two opposing forces are on the brink of war. The Clankers - who put their faith in machinery - and the Darwinists - who have begun evolving living creatures into tools. Prince Aleksandar, the would-be heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, comes from a family of Clankers, and travels the country in a walker, a heavily-fortified tank on legs. Meanwhile Deryn Sharp, a girl disguised as a boy, works for the British Empire, crewing the ultimate flying machine: an airship made of living animals. Now, as Alek flees from his own people, and Deryn crash-lands in enemy territory, their lives are about to collide...
Leviathan
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Review
Two Imperial forces meet, one built with steam and the other built with DNA, producing rich, vivid descriptions of the technologies that divide a continent. The setting begs comparisons to Hayao Miyazaki, Kenneth Oppel and Naomi Novik, but this work will stand -- or fly -- on its own.
--Starred Review in Kirkus Reviews, September 2009 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
--Starred Review in Kirkus Reviews, September 2009 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
About the Author
'YA's hippest author' Scott Westerfeld is the author of the hugely popular Uglies series. As well as the Midnighters series and three stand alone YA novels, he has written five science fiction novels for adults. He and his wife, Justine, divide their time between Sydney and New York.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Scott Westerfeld already has one amazing world he created, the sci-fi world of his Uglies series, and now he's gone ahead and made a world that's even cooler. Not only is this an excellent alternate history or steampunk book, but it's filled with absolutely stunning illustrations by artist Keith Thompson, though unfortunately the UK version doesn't have them. Boo!
Scott Westerfeld does an excellent, succinct job of summarizing his world in a short interview he did on John Scalzi's blog, Whatever. He states, "In the world of Leviathan, technology has split into two tribes: the Germanic Clankers, who are machine lovers, and the British-led Darwinists, who weave the life-threads of natural creatures into fabricated beasts. (To put it simply, in this world, Origins of Species was an instruction manual.)" In this book, there are tidbits of actual history, strange creatures, amazing technology, strong characters, and a truly original setting.
Alek is the son of the Austrian-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand. His parents have been assassinated (though in a slightly different manner than actually happened in history.) His son, though he is unable to inherit his father's role because his mother was not of royal enough blood, is on the run for his life along with some bodyguards that I imagine look and sound like Arnold Schwarznegger. Deryn is a young Scottish girl who desperately wants to join the air force. She ends up joining and cross-dressing as a man to do so. I love me some crossdressing in novels, and this works really well.
Eventually, of course, Deryn and Alek end up meeting in a strange turn of events and begin to grow close despite being on opposite sides of a brewing war. They both must re-evaluate their prejudices about the other and have interesting debates about nature vs machines. I also enjoy that they both keep a secret - one is royalty and one is a girl. I won't go into too many plot points because I'm wary of spoilers, but is is definitely an excellent book by one of my favourite young adult authors. I appreciate it when those writing for a younger audience make it fun, but sneak in good life lessons and values. Westerfeld wrote an afterward clearing up was was history and what was fantasy for readers not familiar with WWI. This is one of my favourite reads of the year.
Scott Westerfeld does an excellent, succinct job of summarizing his world in a short interview he did on John Scalzi's blog, Whatever. He states, "In the world of Leviathan, technology has split into two tribes: the Germanic Clankers, who are machine lovers, and the British-led Darwinists, who weave the life-threads of natural creatures into fabricated beasts. (To put it simply, in this world, Origins of Species was an instruction manual.)" In this book, there are tidbits of actual history, strange creatures, amazing technology, strong characters, and a truly original setting.
Alek is the son of the Austrian-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand. His parents have been assassinated (though in a slightly different manner than actually happened in history.) His son, though he is unable to inherit his father's role because his mother was not of royal enough blood, is on the run for his life along with some bodyguards that I imagine look and sound like Arnold Schwarznegger. Deryn is a young Scottish girl who desperately wants to join the air force. She ends up joining and cross-dressing as a man to do so. I love me some crossdressing in novels, and this works really well.
Eventually, of course, Deryn and Alek end up meeting in a strange turn of events and begin to grow close despite being on opposite sides of a brewing war. They both must re-evaluate their prejudices about the other and have interesting debates about nature vs machines. I also enjoy that they both keep a secret - one is royalty and one is a girl. I won't go into too many plot points because I'm wary of spoilers, but is is definitely an excellent book by one of my favourite young adult authors. I appreciate it when those writing for a younger audience make it fun, but sneak in good life lessons and values. Westerfeld wrote an afterward clearing up was was history and what was fantasy for readers not familiar with WWI. This is one of my favourite reads of the year.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Pikah
Format:Hardcover
I bought this for my boyfriend, he'd added it to his wishlist (thinking it was a graphic novel), he really enjoyed reading it. Suitable for all ages apparently and fantastic illustrations.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By TeensReadToo
TOP 100 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover
LEVIATHAN is a novel of alternate history. More specifically, it can be classified as steampunk, which depending on what definition you read, is an extension of science fiction and fantasy. Westerfeld decides to reinvent the era of World War I in his latest novel. While he maintains some of the actual events of the war, he creates and alters many.
The story follows the lives of Deryn and Alek. Deryn is a young woman desperate to join the Air Men of the Darwinists Army (British Empire/France). With the help of her brother, she disguises herself as a boy and joins the fight. She has excellent Air Sense, which is a must for the Darwinists, since their main type of weaponry are flying airships made of living animals, with each animal in the ecosystem playing its part. The Leviathan is an airship made up of a countless number of animals - from the smallest microscopic animal to a giant whale that contains everything.
Alek's parents, the Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, have been assassinated, leaving Alek on the run for his life. The Austro-Hungarian Empire/Germany wants him dead in order to ensure the end of the bloodline to the throne. Alek's people are referred to as the Clankers because of the loud noises that come from their form of weaponry - swords, cannons, aeroplanes, and, most exciting, walkers. Picture a huge tank with legs instead of treads.
Both Deryn and Alek are dedicated to their causes, and when they are thrust into the same fight and forced to work together, both must take a look at the world around them and see things from the other's perspective.
The ending really leaves the reader hanging, and not necessarily in a good way. I felt like it cut off right when we needed some important information, but I guess Westerfeld is leaving that for the sequel.
The book contains several beautiful black-and-white illustrations by Keith Thompson. I really enjoyed coming across those throughout the story.
Even though LEVIATHAN took me a while to get through, I still enjoyed it and look forward to the sequel.
Reviewed by: Karin Librarian
The story follows the lives of Deryn and Alek. Deryn is a young woman desperate to join the Air Men of the Darwinists Army (British Empire/France). With the help of her brother, she disguises herself as a boy and joins the fight. She has excellent Air Sense, which is a must for the Darwinists, since their main type of weaponry are flying airships made of living animals, with each animal in the ecosystem playing its part. The Leviathan is an airship made up of a countless number of animals - from the smallest microscopic animal to a giant whale that contains everything.
Alek's parents, the Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, have been assassinated, leaving Alek on the run for his life. The Austro-Hungarian Empire/Germany wants him dead in order to ensure the end of the bloodline to the throne. Alek's people are referred to as the Clankers because of the loud noises that come from their form of weaponry - swords, cannons, aeroplanes, and, most exciting, walkers. Picture a huge tank with legs instead of treads.
Both Deryn and Alek are dedicated to their causes, and when they are thrust into the same fight and forced to work together, both must take a look at the world around them and see things from the other's perspective.
The ending really leaves the reader hanging, and not necessarily in a good way. I felt like it cut off right when we needed some important information, but I guess Westerfeld is leaving that for the sequel.
The book contains several beautiful black-and-white illustrations by Keith Thompson. I really enjoyed coming across those throughout the story.
Even though LEVIATHAN took me a while to get through, I still enjoyed it and look forward to the sequel.
Reviewed by: Karin Librarian
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
A futuristic twist on 1914 Europe that unusually merges together war...
Set within an alternate Europe this supremely singular story re-tells the war with machines and genetically-engineered beasts from outer space. Read more
Published 22 days ago by Lucinda
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Past is the future and the future is the past
Take two important events from the past. Darwin's theory of evolution and the Industrial Revolution and mix well together, Add some true historical facts, and a good pinch of... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Stephen Halstead - The Leptonian
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good for YA
I mistook this for an an adult SF/Steampunk novel which it is most certainly not. However it was still an enjoyable if slightly juvenile read. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Ruth Lee
3.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting
An enjoyable and easy read. Steampunk is the genre, a mixture of history and fantasy. I also loved the illustrations.
Published 1 month ago by Peter
4.0 out of 5 stars
Mechaniks
A very good story, I like that it was set in an alternate ww 1, especially the diesel punk blankets, very good read interesting setting as well, I hope to read the next book
Published 2 months ago by Henry
5.0 out of 5 stars
Steam Punk
Amazing!!!!
Fast paced. Alternate history. A real what if? Book.
Follows two young adventures, thrust into action by miss dead's tragedy and betrayal. Read more
Fast paced. Alternate history. A real what if? Book.
Follows two young adventures, thrust into action by miss dead's tragedy and betrayal. Read more
Published 2 months ago by James Priestley
4.0 out of 5 stars
Steampunk 1st world war alternative history
Not the heavy duty philosophy of Thomas Hobbes but a Steampunk 1st world war alternative history - Archduke Franz Ferdinand is assassinated in Sarajevo - but in our world he never... Read more
Published 2 months ago by jacw2000
4.0 out of 5 stars
A different take on a part of history
Looking at the start of world war one but through different eyes..clankers and Darwinism intertwine in a story of two young people working together to form an alliance to... Read more
Published 2 months ago by A. hulbert
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good fun, but errors
... and well-written, but spoilt for me by silly errors: *Mr* Spencer Churchill MP was First Lord of the Admiralty in 1914, he was never 'Lord' Churchill; a 'Chief Constable' is... Read more
Published 2 months ago by English bloke
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fast delivery
I brought this product for my daughter who is very pleased with it
And said she would recommend to one of her friends
And said she would recommend to one of her friends
Published 2 months ago by tracy
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