Another whole-series review? Well, dear readers, you deserve it. And what a doozy of a series it is!
Titles: 1- Leviathan, 2- Behemoth, 3 - Goliath
Author: Scott Westerfeld
Illustrator: Keith Thompson
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Leviathan Synopsis (from Goodreads) -
Prince Aleksander, would-be heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, is on the run. His own people have turned on him. His title is worthless. All he has is a battletorn war machine and a loyal crew of men.
Deryn Sharp is a commoner, disguised as a boy in the British Air Service. She's a brilliant airman. But her secret is in constant danger of being discovered.
With World War I brewing, Alek and Deryn's paths cross in the most unexpected way…taking them on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure that will change both their lives forever.
My Review:
I know I slagged off Westerfeld for his other-series-that-shall-not-be-named (and rightly so). I was initially hesitant to read another one of his books because of how much I despised that other thing. But my students at the time recommended this series to me and my sister said it was good and it was steampunk rather than dystopian, so I thought maybe a change of genre would be good.
And now, seven months after I began Leviathan, I can honestly say that this is one of the best series that I have read in a freakishly long time. I don't think I have devoured a book - much less three of them - with such ferocity and enjoyment as I did these three. Not since Harry Potter, where I gladly sacrificed sleep to read "just one more chapter," have I been so excited about a book. And I get excited about a lot of books. Seriously - I audibly SQUEE'd when I saw that Goliath was available at the library. Since I started working there, I don't think I've been so careful to avoid accidentally reading a spoiler when I'm checking in a book.
This series takes place in an alternate World War I, which is an interesting setting for an author to go. Most steampunk is in the late 1800s. And honestly, if you want to do a war story, it seems like the easiest place is World War II. But I applaud this move for several reasons - 1) It's a fresh topic to explore. 2) When I was growing up, I heard plenty about World War II and what that was all about. But I seldom heard about World War I. And, in my childlike mind, there must have been a One for there to be a Two. Even the crappiest of sequels had to have an original to follow. So I think it's great for there to be something for kids about World War I. Even if it's not historically accurate (c'mon - they're traveling on an airship grown from a whale, for heaven's sake!) it might pique some kid's interest and want to learn more about that first conflict.
I've got to talk about the Darwinists and the Clankers, which are the two factions at war in this alt-WWI. The Darwinists are the Allied powers - Britain, France, Russia - and they have the ability to build machines out of animals. The Leviathan airship is pretty much a giant whale with bits of other animals genetically built in to the structure. One of their weapons is a flechette bat, which is a genetically modified bat that will eat pieces of iron and the crew lets them out and they... well, they drop what they've eaten and it's like a little flying machine gun (don't think about it too much). The Clankers are the Central Powers - Germany and the Austro-Hungarian empire - and their machines are metal machines, but bigger.
Oh geez - here's the picture from the endsheets of Leviathan. It's easier to understand:
Is it weird that I love how Russia is drawn as a giant rotting bear?
Another thing that made me love this series is the character of Deryn Sharp. Dear Sweet Gallifrey - this kid has so much life and sarcasm and she is totally her own person. I love how she is totally not worried about anyone discovering her secret (as long as she's careful and follows her own plan) she can be a midshipman on a naval airbeast and show up all the boys on the crew. The best, I think, is when Dr. Barlow ("the lady boffin," as Deryn often calls her) comes aboard and Deryn isn't cowed by her authority, even though the Leviathan is charged with taking her to Istanbul as a scientific ambassador. Even when Prince Alek gets thrown into the mix, Deryn holds her own and their friendship is believable. I also love how Deryn doesn't make a big deal about "girls can do anything boys do" and that allows the story to flow and take shape without any sideshow preachiness to slow it down. I mean, I was always one of those girls that wanted to beat the boys in sports and games and things like that, but that doesn't mean I want it shoved in my face every time I try to enjoy a good story.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention the absolutely gorgeous illustrations in this book. When I finally got my copy of Goliath from the library, I was a bit miffed to see that the tech services folks had taped down the book jacket so you couldn't see the endsheet illustrations (I'll probably purchase this set for myself for Christmas - it is definitely worth owning.) Keith Thompson does such an amazing job of creating scenes and characters and they add to the story. As good as the narrative is, it's hard to picture a lot of this stuff when you're just reading the word that describe living airships and enormous metal clanking war machines. The pictures are just a wonderful way to give the reader a good sense of place and how these things would look. My favorite is the one in Leviathan where Deryn is flying on this big jellyfish-looking air balloon and the wind has blown her into the path of the Leviathan airship and the ship is just coming out of the clouds and it looks like a whale flying in the air. If I could have that picture framed on my wall, then I would - it is that neat.
On a personal note - It's funny after having come back from a trip that took me to Vienna and Serbia, which are the two main places that got World War I going in the first place (and hearing so much about Nikola Tesla in Serbia - and he turns out to be a complete loon in Goliath). Now, I just have to add Britain to that list and I will be a satisfied little world traveler.
Speaking of Tesla - just because I can and because it's Back to the Future day - here's a video of Tesla coils playing the theme song from BttF -
Ah - nerds. Don'cha just love 'em?
As I look at this review thus far, I notice that I didn't give too much mention of Behemoth. I will say that the second book was good - it just has the difficult task of being the second book in a trilogy. By this point, the story has already started and it's not going to finish here. The whole "Mr. Sharp is really a girl" plot continues on, as does Alek's continued hiding from the Clankers. Their relationship grows to where it needs to be at the beginning of Goliath and the reader is constantly wondering when the heck is Alek going to figure out that "Dylan" Sharp is actually female (because you know that's going to happen at some point. It always does). But it's still interesting and enjoyable and Deryn and Alek are just a joy to follow, no matter what's going on in the rest of the story.
(Oh, and there's no crappily fabricated love-triangle that seems to be all the rage in YA fiction these days. There is one moment in Behemoth where it comes close, but it mercifully skulks back into the shadows and lets the rest of the story move along in peace).
Bottom Line - I could gush more about these books, but then you wouldn't have time to go read them yourself (I haven't even mentioned how adorable Alek is through the whole series. And that picture of him on the cover of Goliath? Da-yum). This trilogy more than makes up for Westerfeld's previous botched attempt at YA fiction. Even without that hanging over his head, he deserves much praise for Leviathan, Behemoth and Goliath. This just a fantastic story and anyone who enjoys steampunk or alternate history or even historical fiction will enjoy these books.
Author: Scott Westerfeld
Illustrator: Keith Thompson
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Leviathan Synopsis (from Goodreads) -
Prince Aleksander, would-be heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, is on the run. His own people have turned on him. His title is worthless. All he has is a battletorn war machine and a loyal crew of men.
Deryn Sharp is a commoner, disguised as a boy in the British Air Service. She's a brilliant airman. But her secret is in constant danger of being discovered.
With World War I brewing, Alek and Deryn's paths cross in the most unexpected way…taking them on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure that will change both their lives forever.
My Review:
I know I slagged off Westerfeld for his other-series-that-shall-not-be-named (and rightly so). I was initially hesitant to read another one of his books because of how much I despised that other thing. But my students at the time recommended this series to me and my sister said it was good and it was steampunk rather than dystopian, so I thought maybe a change of genre would be good.
And now, seven months after I began Leviathan, I can honestly say that this is one of the best series that I have read in a freakishly long time. I don't think I have devoured a book - much less three of them - with such ferocity and enjoyment as I did these three. Not since Harry Potter, where I gladly sacrificed sleep to read "just one more chapter," have I been so excited about a book. And I get excited about a lot of books. Seriously - I audibly SQUEE'd when I saw that Goliath was available at the library. Since I started working there, I don't think I've been so careful to avoid accidentally reading a spoiler when I'm checking in a book.
This series takes place in an alternate World War I, which is an interesting setting for an author to go. Most steampunk is in the late 1800s. And honestly, if you want to do a war story, it seems like the easiest place is World War II. But I applaud this move for several reasons - 1) It's a fresh topic to explore. 2) When I was growing up, I heard plenty about World War II and what that was all about. But I seldom heard about World War I. And, in my childlike mind, there must have been a One for there to be a Two. Even the crappiest of sequels had to have an original to follow. So I think it's great for there to be something for kids about World War I. Even if it's not historically accurate (c'mon - they're traveling on an airship grown from a whale, for heaven's sake!) it might pique some kid's interest and want to learn more about that first conflict.
I've got to talk about the Darwinists and the Clankers, which are the two factions at war in this alt-WWI. The Darwinists are the Allied powers - Britain, France, Russia - and they have the ability to build machines out of animals. The Leviathan airship is pretty much a giant whale with bits of other animals genetically built in to the structure. One of their weapons is a flechette bat, which is a genetically modified bat that will eat pieces of iron and the crew lets them out and they... well, they drop what they've eaten and it's like a little flying machine gun (don't think about it too much). The Clankers are the Central Powers - Germany and the Austro-Hungarian empire - and their machines are metal machines, but bigger.
Oh geez - here's the picture from the endsheets of Leviathan. It's easier to understand:
 |
| Click to embiggen |
Another thing that made me love this series is the character of Deryn Sharp. Dear Sweet Gallifrey - this kid has so much life and sarcasm and she is totally her own person. I love how she is totally not worried about anyone discovering her secret (as long as she's careful and follows her own plan) she can be a midshipman on a naval airbeast and show up all the boys on the crew. The best, I think, is when Dr. Barlow ("the lady boffin," as Deryn often calls her) comes aboard and Deryn isn't cowed by her authority, even though the Leviathan is charged with taking her to Istanbul as a scientific ambassador. Even when Prince Alek gets thrown into the mix, Deryn holds her own and their friendship is believable. I also love how Deryn doesn't make a big deal about "girls can do anything boys do" and that allows the story to flow and take shape without any sideshow preachiness to slow it down. I mean, I was always one of those girls that wanted to beat the boys in sports and games and things like that, but that doesn't mean I want it shoved in my face every time I try to enjoy a good story.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention the absolutely gorgeous illustrations in this book. When I finally got my copy of Goliath from the library, I was a bit miffed to see that the tech services folks had taped down the book jacket so you couldn't see the endsheet illustrations (I'll probably purchase this set for myself for Christmas - it is definitely worth owning.) Keith Thompson does such an amazing job of creating scenes and characters and they add to the story. As good as the narrative is, it's hard to picture a lot of this stuff when you're just reading the word that describe living airships and enormous metal clanking war machines. The pictures are just a wonderful way to give the reader a good sense of place and how these things would look. My favorite is the one in Leviathan where Deryn is flying on this big jellyfish-looking air balloon and the wind has blown her into the path of the Leviathan airship and the ship is just coming out of the clouds and it looks like a whale flying in the air. If I could have that picture framed on my wall, then I would - it is that neat.
On a personal note - It's funny after having come back from a trip that took me to Vienna and Serbia, which are the two main places that got World War I going in the first place (and hearing so much about Nikola Tesla in Serbia - and he turns out to be a complete loon in Goliath). Now, I just have to add Britain to that list and I will be a satisfied little world traveler.
Speaking of Tesla - just because I can and because it's Back to the Future day - here's a video of Tesla coils playing the theme song from BttF -
Ah - nerds. Don'cha just love 'em?
As I look at this review thus far, I notice that I didn't give too much mention of Behemoth. I will say that the second book was good - it just has the difficult task of being the second book in a trilogy. By this point, the story has already started and it's not going to finish here. The whole "Mr. Sharp is really a girl" plot continues on, as does Alek's continued hiding from the Clankers. Their relationship grows to where it needs to be at the beginning of Goliath and the reader is constantly wondering when the heck is Alek going to figure out that "Dylan" Sharp is actually female (because you know that's going to happen at some point. It always does). But it's still interesting and enjoyable and Deryn and Alek are just a joy to follow, no matter what's going on in the rest of the story.
(Oh, and there's no crappily fabricated love-triangle that seems to be all the rage in YA fiction these days. There is one moment in Behemoth where it comes close, but it mercifully skulks back into the shadows and lets the rest of the story move along in peace).
Bottom Line - I could gush more about these books, but then you wouldn't have time to go read them yourself (I haven't even mentioned how adorable Alek is through the whole series. And that picture of him on the cover of Goliath? Da-yum). This trilogy more than makes up for Westerfeld's previous botched attempt at YA fiction. Even without that hanging over his head, he deserves much praise for Leviathan, Behemoth and Goliath. This just a fantastic story and anyone who enjoys steampunk or alternate history or even historical fiction will enjoy these books.
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