The year is 1914. Europe is on the cusp of war. Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie have just been assassinated.
And Prince Aleksander of the Austria-Hungary Empire is right in the middle of it.
Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, Deryn Sharp stands in line with the other recruits for the Royal Air Service, trying hard to get into the military.
Only problem is, Deryn is a girl. And girls are not allowed in the military.
The meeting of the two will forever change history.
---
This trilogy by Scott Westerfeld, set at the very beginning of World War I, is every steampunk-loving history-fanatic's dream. Westerfeld's world, an alternate history of our own, is set between two clashing ideals: "clankers", the nations using mechs, giant metal warriors and the "land dreadnaughts" to fight their wars (Germany and Austria-Hungary), and "Darwinists", who use Darwin's studies of evolution and DNA to literally create war machines out of animals.
Westerfeld weaves true historical facts in with his own science and mechanical world. Wonderfully written, often switching between Deryn and Alek's point of view, this novel will give you a little more insight as to what happened at the dawn of World War I.
The author teases the avid 'shippers throughout the entire first two books with Deryn's developing feelings towards Alek.
Featuring a variety of characters, ranging from teenage rebel to archduke to scientist, Leviathan is certain not your average historical fiction. It feels somewhat reminiscent of works by Dianna Wynne Jones (Howl's Moving Castle, Castle in the Air, House of Many Ways) or some of acclaimed director Hayao Miyazai's films (Castle in the Sky, Porco Rosso, Kiki's Delivery Service).
The last book of the trilogy, "Goliath," is set for US release in October of 2011.
EDITOR'S UPDATE: New release date is September 20, 2011
Pros:
-science
-flying whales
-Westerfeld's characteristically wonderful world building
-...and great invented dialect
-fencing
-gorgeous illustrations
Cons:
-minor language
-some sexual situations that are fairly minor but, ah, not mainstream
-some violence (not really graphic or disturbing)
-evolutionary theory may not sit well with some
And Prince Aleksander of the Austria-Hungary Empire is right in the middle of it.
Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, Deryn Sharp stands in line with the other recruits for the Royal Air Service, trying hard to get into the military.
Only problem is, Deryn is a girl. And girls are not allowed in the military.
The meeting of the two will forever change history.
---
This trilogy by Scott Westerfeld, set at the very beginning of World War I, is every steampunk-loving history-fanatic's dream. Westerfeld's world, an alternate history of our own, is set between two clashing ideals: "clankers", the nations using mechs, giant metal warriors and the "land dreadnaughts" to fight their wars (Germany and Austria-Hungary), and "Darwinists", who use Darwin's studies of evolution and DNA to literally create war machines out of animals.
Westerfeld weaves true historical facts in with his own science and mechanical world. Wonderfully written, often switching between Deryn and Alek's point of view, this novel will give you a little more insight as to what happened at the dawn of World War I.
The author teases the avid 'shippers throughout the entire first two books with Deryn's developing feelings towards Alek.
Featuring a variety of characters, ranging from teenage rebel to archduke to scientist, Leviathan is certain not your average historical fiction. It feels somewhat reminiscent of works by Dianna Wynne Jones (Howl's Moving Castle, Castle in the Air, House of Many Ways) or some of acclaimed director Hayao Miyazai's films (Castle in the Sky, Porco Rosso, Kiki's Delivery Service).
The last book of the trilogy, "Goliath," is set for US release in October of 2011.
EDITOR'S UPDATE: New release date is September 20, 2011
Pros:
-science
-flying whales
-Westerfeld's characteristically wonderful world building
-...and great invented dialect
-fencing
-gorgeous illustrations
Cons:
-minor language
-some sexual situations that are fairly minor but, ah, not mainstream
-some violence (not really graphic or disturbing)
-evolutionary theory may not sit well with some
I'd read it just for the flying whales....
ReplyDeleteDo it. It's so worth it.
ReplyDelete