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So, you know what I did today? Basically nothing. By which I mean, I attacked my pile of Christmas books. One down!
Title: Leviathan
Author: Scott Westerfeld
Genre: YA steampunk (alt WWI)
Thingummies: 5
Synopsis: The heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire flees assassins in a mech and runs into a girl masquerading as a boy to be a midshipman on a British airship that's actually a genetically engineered flying whale, starting World War I. What's not to like here?
Thoughts: Westerfield's Europe has more understandable reasons for who is an enemy and an ally than the real world did. Since the Central Powers have insane mechanical monstrosities clanking around and the Allies had Darwin's genetic manipulation experiments lead to bioengineered nightmares like personal jellyfish balloons, and each think the other's technology is anathema, you can see why some of the various treaties would have been made. Like Catholics versus Protestants, only with mechanized walkers and bats that poop shrapnal.
It's an understatement to say that there's some impressive world building going on here. (Although the map in the front is rather confusing and looks like it should have been in color for the key to make sense.) But there's also a compelling plot, some great action sequences, and a bunch of characters I just love. Alek and Deryn are appealing protagonists who make some serious mistakes, but continue trying to find solutions. Dr. Barlow and Volger serve as semi-mentors for the two teenagers, both meaning well but unreliable due to their own secrets. You can't help but root for all of them, despite the fact they're on opposite sides.
The tension is artfully built, with the stakes raised naturally and logically from preceding decisions. It's a hard thing to pull off.
Really, my only complaint is that this is very much the first book in the series and while the conflict of the moment is resolved, the overall arc of the story makes me terribly annoyed with myself that I don't have the other two books here in my apartment so I can read them right this minute.
Title: Leviathan
Author: Scott Westerfeld
Genre: YA steampunk (alt WWI)
Thingummies: 5
Synopsis: The heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire flees assassins in a mech and runs into a girl masquerading as a boy to be a midshipman on a British airship that's actually a genetically engineered flying whale, starting World War I. What's not to like here?
Thoughts: Westerfield's Europe has more understandable reasons for who is an enemy and an ally than the real world did. Since the Central Powers have insane mechanical monstrosities clanking around and the Allies had Darwin's genetic manipulation experiments lead to bioengineered nightmares like personal jellyfish balloons, and each think the other's technology is anathema, you can see why some of the various treaties would have been made. Like Catholics versus Protestants, only with mechanized walkers and bats that poop shrapnal.
It's an understatement to say that there's some impressive world building going on here. (Although the map in the front is rather confusing and looks like it should have been in color for the key to make sense.) But there's also a compelling plot, some great action sequences, and a bunch of characters I just love. Alek and Deryn are appealing protagonists who make some serious mistakes, but continue trying to find solutions. Dr. Barlow and Volger serve as semi-mentors for the two teenagers, both meaning well but unreliable due to their own secrets. You can't help but root for all of them, despite the fact they're on opposite sides.
The tension is artfully built, with the stakes raised naturally and logically from preceding decisions. It's a hard thing to pull off.
Really, my only complaint is that this is very much the first book in the series and while the conflict of the moment is resolved, the overall arc of the story makes me terribly annoyed with myself that I don't have the other two books here in my apartment so I can read them right this minute.
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Date: 2012-01-02 05:52 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2012-01-02 07:35 pm (UTC)From:These books are awesome, though it took me a while to warm to Alek. I love Deryn though, and the series gets even better as it progresses. I can loan you books 2 and 3 next weekend, if you want, and I remember to bring them.