Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

Genre: YA Fantasy/Sci Fi/Steampunk
Series: Leviathan Book 1
Copyright: 2009
Pages: 440
Book Source: Own Purchase

Prince Aleksander, would-be heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, is on the run. His own people have turned on him. His title is worthless. All he has is a battletorn war machine and a loyal crew of men.

Deryn Sharp is a commoner, 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 World War I brewing, Alek and Deryn's paths cross in the most unexpected way…taking them on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure that will change both their lives forever.

Like nothing I've read before, Leviathan was my first foray into Steampunk literature, a sub-genre I didn't know existed until doing a little research. Scott Westerfeld explains steampunk in his afterward as "blending future and past" and oh what an imaginative blending this is. Kind of Star Wars meets Chitty Chitty Bang Bang; slightly weird, fantastical and highly adventurous.

Set at the beginning of WWI, Leviathan showcases the parallel stories of Alek and Deryn, teens on opposite sides in the battle between the Clankers (Germany & Austria-Hungary) and the Darwinists (Britian/France.) I bought this book on a whim & a few rave reviews, and knowing very little about the premise of the novel it took me a while to catch on. A whale airship, messenger lizards, hydrogen sniffing dogs, flying jellyfish, stormwalkers, and zepplins; machines and fabricated beasties, quite the contrast.

In this audio version the narration was captivating. I loved Deryn's accent and amusing eloquence "And a special thanks for not burning up the whole ship. Including yourself, you daft bum-rag" and "barking spiders." For me though, Alek didn't hold the same appeal as a character as Deryn. The long descriptive passages on the workings of machinery and beastie would normally bore me to tears but I guess the novelty factor kept me reading. The audio is possibly not the wisest choice if this is your first experience with this subgenre but that aside this was an entertaining read outside my comfort zone and I'm keenly awaiting the continuation of the story with Behemoth.

Leviathan in paperback is due for release August 2010 and Behemoth the second installment in the trilogy will be out in October 2010. Visit Scott Westerfeld's awesome website to find out more about this author and his work and check out the amazing Leviathan artwork courtesy of illustrator Keith Thompson.

PS: the book trailer is a good one :-)

This month on The Eclectic Reader one lucky reader can win Linger OR Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage OR The Confessions of Catherine de Medici OR Eternal on the Water. Check this blog post for details. International entrants welcome