LEVIATHAN By Scott Westerfeld

Illustrations are beautiful and overall work well with the story. The map endpapers are very cool in how the countries are depicted, but a little hard to see the shading differences. Some knowledge of who was actually allied and neutral in real WWI is helpful.

We liked the integration of using real historical oddities with the fictional fabrications. Although we aren’t sure that a Tasmanian Tiger, which once really existed, would have really made a good pet.

One way that series were often critiqued was whether or not they could stand on their own as well as in a series. The main issue would be resolved (even if temporarily) by the end of a single book. There may be some unanswered questions that keep you wondering and may be answered or more important in the next book. However, we found Leviathan’s ending unsatisfying, but at least you know there’s a next book. No resolution of anything at the end seems to be the trend with series books these days – both adult and YA. The next book due out in October.

We also discussed the mystery at the end of what’s in the eggs? Our thoughts: Kracken/Squid? Shark? Based on illustration in Ch. 24 we are guessing perhaps a Giant Sea Turtle. A mighty warship made of?....

The steam punk genre seems to be really on the rise and may be jumping genres soon. Main characteristics of steam punk: Mechanical components with historical fiction elements, often with an alternative history twist.

Characters, Quotes & Descriptions:

“Steam punk” – a genre name that has been created to sound “cool”; came from a play on cyber-punk which came from characters who really were more punk.

“It’s barking hard to be a boy” – great quote

Really liked Deryn. – Her spunk, her intelligence, she passes as an underage boy. Loved it when she’s trying to be a boy and she talks about needing a “swagger”; later Alek comments on that Dylan’s “swagger”. Starts having crush on Alek. Where will this go, since she hasn’t revealed her true identity to him.

Monkey Ludites – luddites are afraid of technology, but the Clankers aren’t afraid of technology they are more afraid of the whole biological sciences. Hence Monkey Ludites refers to someone afraid of biological science.

Bats guano carries metal shards: Using bodily functions for weaponry and transportation.

We also liked Alek. His self awareness comes naturally, not contrived.

Other thoughts related to the book and author:

Scott Westerfeld – US/Texas boy spends much of time in Sydney Australia (married to an Australian)

He seems to have been very influenced by several sci-fi books/movies that already exist. There are parallels to Star Wars with the Storm Walkers. Furthermore, creating an ecosystem based on living creatures is a theme in several sci-fi shows as well. The sci-fi show Farscape has a character named Moya of the Leviathan race. Grows other creatures that help function to maintain her. Could it be an infringement of these types of sci-fi characteristics? We’re not the only ones making these comparisons and drawing these parallels which isn’t surprising knowing how into Sci-fi people can get.

We would recommend it for Middle School through High School; a precocious reader could read it in upper elementary. This book is a good intro to genre of steam punk to readers, and can be easily pitched to either gender. It can also be pitched to people with varied interests: historical-fiction readers, sci-fi readers, push fantasy, etc.

Other books using this genre that our group recommends:
Boneshaker by Cherie Priest another Steam punk that may be up for Alex Award
Solace by Gayle Carringer