Leviathan (Westerfeld novel)
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| Author | Scott Westerfeld |
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| Illustrator | Keith Thompson |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Leviathan Trilogy |
| Genre | Steampunk, Biopunk, Alternate history |
| Publisher | Simon Pulse |
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Publication date
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October 6, 2009 |
| Media type | print (hardback) |
| Pages | 434 (USA Version) |
| ISBN | |
| OCLC | 290477162 |
| Followed by | Behemoth |
Leviathan is a biopunk/steampunk novel written by Scott Westerfeld and illustrated by Keith Thompson. It was released on October 6, 2009.
First of a young adult fiction trilogy set in alternative version of World War I, it has Central Powers (Clankers) using mechanized war machines opposed by Entente Powers (Darwinists) who fabricate living creatures genetically. The heroes are teens Aleksander, son of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, and Deryn, Scottish girl with dreams of joining the British Air Service with her brother. The sequels are Behemoth and Goliath. The first two chapters of this book were released with Bogus to Bubbly: Insider's Guide to the World of Uglies.
The book was named the Best Young Adult Novel by the Aurealis Award in 2009,Locus in 2010, and Mir Fantastiki in 2011.
It is the cusp of World War I, and all the European powers are arming up. The Austro-Hungarians and Germans have their Clankers, diesel-driven iron machines loaded with guns and ammunition. The British Darwinists employ fabricated animals as their weaponry. Their Leviathan is a whale airship, and the most masterful beast in the British fleet.
Aleksandar Ferdinand, prince of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, is on the run. His own people have turned on him. His title is worthless. All he has is a battle-torn Stormwalker and a loyal crew of men.
Meanwhile, Deryn, a commoner girl is staying with her brother Jaspert in London. Her father died in a ballooning accident and her mother and aunts want her to grow up as a proper lady. Deryn dreams of joining the British Air Service and to serve on one of the great air beasts. In order to do so, she must pose as a boy ("Dylan Sharp"). To pass the starting exam, she goes aloft with a Huxley (a jellyfish-like creature which uses hydrogen to float) to prove her air-worthiness. However, a storm hits while she is aloft, severely tossing Deryn and the Huxley about, and they narrowly survive—she is forced to cut the Huxley loose from its mooring in order to avoid crashing into a nearby building. This results in Deryn and the Huxley being blown out over the North Sea; she is thrilled when she and the Huxley are rescued by the Leviathan, the most famous of the air-beasts, a massive ecosystem comprising many different animals but based largely on a whale. She is inducted into the crew of the Leviathan, and makes friends with the Monkey Luddite Newkirk. The Leviathan's mission is to transport a top British boffin (a scientist) and a secret package to Constantinople. Deryn is surprised to learn the boffin is a woman, Dr. Nora Barlow, and is afraid Barlow will discover her secret.
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