| Leviathan |  | Author: Scott Westerfeld
Creator: Keith Thompson
Publisher: Simon Pulse
List Price: $19.99
Buy New: $7.95
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Seller: amazingsalebooks
Rating:  99 reviews
Sales Rank: 42,361
Media: Hardcover
Edition: First Edition
Reading Level: Young Adult
Pages: 440
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 5.9 x 1.5
ISBN: 1416971734
EAN: 9781416971733
ASIN: 1416971734
Publication Date: October 6, 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| • | ISBN13: 9781416971733 | | • | Condition: New | | • | Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed |
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Product Description
It is the cusp of World War I, and all the European powers are arming up. The Austro-Hungarians and Germans have their Clankers, steam-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. Deryn Sharp is a commoner, a girl 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 the Great War brewing, Alek's and Deryn's paths cross in the most unexpected way...taking them both aboard the Leviathan on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure. One that will change both their lives forever.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 99
 Steam Punk = Awesome August 18, 2010
Daniel Ellsworth (Utah)
I loved this book! I love steam punk illustrations so this was a natural favorite for me.
 Can't Wait for Behemoth to come out in October! August 16, 2010
RandomizeME
I'm a huge fan of Scott Westerfeld, from his Uglies series to the Midnighters series. And he keeps on getting better and better! This time, we get to go back in time to an alternate world that's a World War 1 / Steampunk mash-up. The steampunk element gives Keith Thompson an opportunity to show off his talents with beautiful black-and-white sketches.
The alternate reality in Leviathan is amazingly fascinating. As Westerfeld explains in his author's note, the basic events in the novel are based on history - there was a real Archduke of Austria/Hungary whose assassination precipitated the 1st World War in Europe. But for the rest of the novel, Westerfeld pretty much goes off into a tangent of his own making. The world in Leviathan is divided into the `Clankers' - people with highly advanced machine technology / engineering versus the `Darwinists' - people who have mastered DNA manipulation such that they are able to create bizarre crossbred species called `beasties' or fabricated animals. It is an incredible world wherein there are Stormwalkers (tanks that walk instead of roll - think of steampunk versions of the Imperial Walkers from `Empire Strikes Back') and the Leviathan (a whale that serves as a living airplane) amongst other delights.
These two groups are natural enemies, but an alliance is formed from necessity between a group of `Clankers' - 15-year-old young prince-in-hiding Alek and his loyal band of men and `Darwinists' - 15-year-old Deryn/Dylan (who is masquerading as a boy soldier) and the British Air Service aboard the Leviathan.
Westerfeld has always had a nice touch with young girls as characters. Deryn is no different, she is spirited, spunky and endlessly resourceful, and yes, can be annoying at times with her over-achiever Type-A personality. Another strong female character, the scientist/diplomat Dr. Bowler, serves as a good counter-weight to all the testosterone aboard the Leviathan.
Meanwhile, my 14-year-old self would have had a huge crush on the young prince Aleksandar who has had to grow up really fast due to the total upheaval in his life. Aleksandar shows a lot of growth, going from a much coddled, sheltered, spoilt prince to a level-headed strong young soldier.
I love that at its heart, take away the sci-fi elements, this is an old-fashioned adventure story. There's non-stop action and battle scenes to satisfy anyone, and I was pretty much hooked from the first chapter (where Alek makes his escape from the palace) to the last chapter (where - oops - okay, I won't spoil it!). Suffice it to say that I am highly recommending this book to both the young and old, and I can't wait for Behemoth to come out!
uglies new competitor August 14, 2010
suzann hanley (BROOKLYN, NY, US)
Scott Westerfeld has blown me away many times between Uglies and Peeps (and the last days). But now I believe the Uglies should fear for their postition of favorite book for many Scott Westerfeld fans because of the Leviathan series. What I hear is suppose to be a triology, leviathan is truely spectacular. Driven to continue on reading by constant adventure and suspense, you find yourself in the middle of a highly creavtive steam punk slash sci fi era scott westerfeld has created. With its witty slogan 'd you oil your war machines or feed them?', I never wanted to put it down. As I read I constantly changed from darwinist to clanker, the two sides against each other at war. I found myself even more pleased with leviathan then i was at some points in uglies and its accompaning books. With characters unbelievibly human, not too whinny and prehapes at times just whinny enough you automattically connect with Deryn and Alek. good thing it's a triology because leviathan deffinately leaves you wating more. if you liked uglies and the last days i think you'll love leviathan. i am eagerly awaiting the next book in october.
The most imaginative read of 2010 July 14, 2010
Sonia (Boxborough, Morocco)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Before Leviathan, steampunk was obscure to me, nothing more than an undefined sub-genre lurking in the background. Now, this fantastical novel, featuring two heroic protagonists and a living whale airship, has awakened me to the wonders of steampunk fiction, a science fiction/speculative book set in the past, usually in the nineteenth century. Scott Westerfeld exceeded all my expectations by crafting a world interlaced with history and futuristic science, teaching me about the confusions of World War I while sparking ideas about the possibilities of creating artificial life. The alternate history timeline, brimming advances in evolutionary science, one of my favorite things in the world, will rouse the imaginations of readers of all ages.
My most beloved books drip with setting, the plot taking place in vivid or unusual locations. The majority of Leviathan's plot unfolds in a highly unique setting, aboard the Darwinists' massive, hydrogen fueled whale airship, from which the book gets its namesake. It's obvious from the meticulous, facinating descriptions of the airship that Scott Westerfeld knows and loves what he's writing about. The tidbits of military terminology will engross both adults and children alike. While not aboard the Leviathan whale airship, the settings are still rich and stunning; journeying through the frigid, desolate Alps, or soaring through the vast skies of early nineteenth century London. The intricate illustrations, though sometimes slightly childish, assist my imagination in picturing the impossible. Without them, it would be hard for me to visualize correctly a giant soaring, breathing whale airship, complete with balconies and verandas. I might struggle to picture the giant walkers that Alek and his loyal crew men journeyed in. With at least one per chapter, the illustrations appear with frequency and give me flashes of nostalgia, as they remind me of those classic old adventure books that I used to read in my younger days.
Told through the alternating two viewpoints of Deryn and Alek, this book's plot drives on with a fast pace, since action is constantly happening to at least one of the narrators. When they meet in the middle of the book, the plot starts to flow even more smoothly, the two perspectives melding into an even more interesting tale. Imagination, not emotion, has always been Scott Westerfeld's aptitude, so I wasn't surprised to find that the character's emotions do not run very deep. However, the characters are still complex. Both the protagonists have their flaws, though end up being likable. Known to the crew as Dylan, Deryn Sharp, a daring airman with an even more daring secret, is cocky and very real. Aleksander Ferdinand, heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian empire, can be slightly illogical and arrogant at times, exposing himself and his crew of men to danger on numerous occasions, though eventually develops into a likable person. The two build an endearing relationship, setting aside their differences to become trusting friends. Their endless bickering is entertaining, reminding me of Ron and Hermione's relationship in Harry Potter.
Like every good book, readers can learn important things from Leviathan. The stark contrast between the Austro-Hungarian Clankers, who build huge, steam-powered machines for weaponry, and the British Darwinists, who evolve animals for battle purposes, shows a perfect example of two very different cultures, each who finds the other to be very strange. At first, Alek, heir to a Clanker driven empire, recoils at the sight of living Darwinist beasties, finding them to be very disgusting and scary. When Deryn takes him into the Leviathan airship for the first time, Alek exclaims, "This is... disgusting! We're inside an animal!" Deryn laughs and retorts, "Aye, but the skins of your zeppelins are made of cattle gut. That's like being inside an animal, isn't it? And so's wearing a leather jacket!...[B]eing inside a dead animal is much more awful, if you think about it. You Clankers really are an odd bunch." On the other hand, Deryn, a Darwinist, shudders at the thought of manmade, heartless Clanker machines. However, they both come to realize that each group has a lot to learn the other's fortes. In order to achieve their goal, Deryn and Alek must cooperate and use a combination of Darwinist and Clanker technology. This shows that combining the strengths of different cultural groups is a vital idea for a successful modern world, where diversity has never been more important than before.
Overall, Leviathan is an astoundingly hearty and refreshing read that will fuel the daydreams of readers of all ages. With the crisp writing, engaging plot, likable characters, and pure imagination, readers will immerse themselves in this book. It ends satisfyingly, while maintaining enough mystery so that readers will be excited for the sequel Behemoth, releasing in October, 2010. It's one of the books I'm the most excited for this year; I can't wait to dive back into Deryn and Alek's world of Clanker contraptions and Darwinist beasts. Leviathan definitely makes me want to read more steampunk novels!
Not your everyday Steampunk June 21, 2010
Sean Hoade (Tuscaloosa, AL United States)
This book was masterful and a nice break from "everyday" Steampunk (if there is such a thing). Just rousing adventure and completely integrated Steampunk technology. Can't wait for the next one!
Showing reviews 1-5 of 99
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