Thu 6 Oct 2011 @ 08:15
Scott WesterfeldgoliathleviathanBehemothsteampunkbooks
I have just finished reading the long-awaited Goliath by Scott Westerfeld, the conclusion to his wonderful alternative history steampunk adventure YA series Leviathan. I’ve written about the series a few times before, when I read the first two books, Leviathan and Behemoth, and then reread them both. But to reiterate, the series is an alternative history of World War I in which the Germans and their allies rely on mechaniks, while the British side have developed genetically engineered creatures, including the titular Leviathan, a massive whale-based airship. The book follows two main characters, one from either side of the conflict, alternating between their viewpoints. One is Alek, the son of the murdered Austrian archduke who has fled his country and wants to stop the war and claim his place on the throne. The other is Deryn, a Scottish girl who wants to serve in the British Air Service, and to do so has disguised herself as a boy named Dylan. The first book sets up the story and ends with Alek and Dylan travelling together on the Leviathan after it had crashed and then been rescued by Alek and his men, including the scheming Count Volger, who were on the run from the Germans. The ship was on its way to deliver a special cargo, under the care of British scientist Dr Nora Barlow, a descendent of Charles Darwin. The second book sees them arrive in Constantinople, where it turns out that the cargo is a genetically engineered creature, but just a distraction from the real mission of stopping Turkey from joining with Germany. Alek and Dylan end up teaming up with some local revolutionaries to overthrow the government and prevent them entering the war. It ends with Alek giving up his chance to escape the British and returning to the Leviathan. This third book continues their round-the-world tour. They pick up scientist Nikola Tesla in Tunguska, Siberia, where they learn that he has developed a massively destructive weapon which could bring about the end of the war. They travel to America, trying to get the USA to join the British side of the war, getting publicity for their cause from newspaper mogul Randolph Hearst. There is also a brief detour into Mexico where they have a run in with Pancho Villa! But there are complications, as Alek learns the truth about Deryn. I won’t spoil the plot by revealing anything else… One of the things I love about the book, and the whole series, is how it combines those real historical figures and events with the fictionalised setting. The setting itself is incredibly inventive and with so many cool ideas to it, it is really excellently executed. On top of all that, the plot itself is brilliant, exactly what you want from this kind of fun, exciting adventure type book (not all fiction has to be high brow and serious to be good!). The characters too are great, throughout the series you are fully engaged in their lives, and Deryn in particular is a fantastic young female protagonist. The whole series is brilliant, and this particular book, Goliath, is an excellent conclusion, just as good as the previous entries, and it managed to get the balance right between having its own strong plot, wrapping things up, but leaving some mystery. Overall I am quite unabashed in my love for this series, and to the people who share my taste for this kind of fiction, I cannot recommend it highly enough.

I have just finished reading the long-awaited Goliath by Scott Westerfeld, the conclusion to his wonderful alternative history steampunk adventure YA series Leviathan. I’ve written about the series a few times before, when I read the first two books, Leviathan and Behemoth, and then reread them both. But to reiterate, the series is an alternative history of World War I in which the Germans and their allies rely on mechaniks, while the British side have developed genetically engineered creatures, including the titular Leviathan, a massive whale-based airship.

The book follows two main characters, one from either side of the conflict, alternating between their viewpoints. One is Alek, the son of the murdered Austrian archduke who has fled his country and wants to stop the war and claim his place on the throne. The other is Deryn, a Scottish girl who wants to serve in the British Air Service, and to do so has disguised herself as a boy named Dylan.

The first book sets up the story and ends with Alek and Dylan travelling together on the Leviathan after it had crashed and then been rescued by Alek and his men, including the scheming Count Volger, who were on the run from the Germans. The ship was on its way to deliver a special cargo, under the care of British scientist Dr Nora Barlow, a descendent of Charles Darwin. The second book sees them arrive in Constantinople, where it turns out that the cargo is a genetically engineered creature, but just a distraction from the real mission of stopping Turkey from joining with Germany. Alek and Dylan end up teaming up with some local revolutionaries to overthrow the government and prevent them entering the war. It ends with Alek giving up his chance to escape the British and returning to the Leviathan.

This third book continues their round-the-world tour. They pick up scientist Nikola Tesla in Tunguska, Siberia, where they learn that he has developed a massively destructive weapon which could bring about the end of the war. They travel to America, trying to get the USA to join the British side of the war, getting publicity for their cause from newspaper mogul Randolph Hearst. There is also a brief detour into Mexico where they have a run in with Pancho Villa! But there are complications, as Alek learns the truth about Deryn. I won’t spoil the plot by revealing anything else…

One of the things I love about the book, and the whole series, is how it combines those real historical figures and events with the fictionalised setting. The setting itself is incredibly inventive and with so many cool ideas to it, it is really excellently executed. On top of all that, the plot itself is brilliant, exactly what you want from this kind of fun, exciting adventure type book (not all fiction has to be high brow and serious to be good!). The characters too are great, throughout the series you are fully engaged in their lives, and Deryn in particular is a fantastic young female protagonist.

The whole series is brilliant, and this particular book, Goliath, is an excellent conclusion, just as good as the previous entries, and it managed to get the balance right between having its own strong plot, wrapping things up, but leaving some mystery. Overall I am quite unabashed in my love for this series, and to the people who share my taste for this kind of fiction, I cannot recommend it highly enough.