Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld
Sorry, I had to delay the Caudills for another day. Behemoth demanded my attention and why wouldn’t it? It’s HUGE. ENORMOUS. GARGANTUAN.
As you may remember from my review of Leviathan, this is the story of an alternate history. The setting is beginning of The Great War. The majority of this second book takes place in, above, and around Istanbul, which was Constantinople ... Momentary pause for singing.
The Ottoman Empire has not yet taken sides in the War. It would look to be primarily Clanker as it relies heavily upon steam-powered machinery. In fact, you would not find any fabricated beasts. More than likely, you would be entranced by its automatons.
If you know your history, you might remember that the Ottoman Empire purchased a warship, the Sultan Osman I, from the British. However, Churchill confiscated it when the War began in order to prevent the Ottomans from using it against the British Empire if they chose to side with the Germans. This is exactly what has happened in this book EXCEPT that the Osman is a fabricated beast.
The Leviathan was on its way to Istanbul to work towards peace with the Ottomans through a great and unusual gift to replace the Osman, when it was crippled and forced to land in Switzerland. Austrian Prince Alek and his men came to their aid. Even though the Austrians were able to help put the Leviathan back into the air, once the ship was underway with its new passengers, these new passengers were considered Prisoners of War.
As the Leviathan continues its journey to the Middle East, our two protagonists, Alek and Midshipman Dylan/Deryn Sharp become friends out of unusual circumstances. In the process, Alek falls in love with the “abomination,” Leviathan, and Deryn, perhaps, falls for Alek. While Alek shares his secret identity with Dylan, Deryn is not quite able to share hers.
Alek’s main goal, as insisted upon by his men, continues to be his safety and therefore escape from the British before they realize who he is. Deryn’s main goal has always been to prove her worth as an airshipman and to do everything that the men and boys do, only better. But Alek is beginning to see that his life is not worth much if the entire world is at war. And Deryn is finding that she keeps committing acts of treason on behalf of the Prince and his men – traitorous acts that could not only cost her her tenuous position, but also her head.
What they both discover ... is a whole new world full of people. Istanbul is home to Turks, Jews, Vlachs, Greeks, Kurds, Germans and even an American. And sometimes the people you can most truly trust are not the ones you would expect – anarchists, monkey luddites and even revolutionaries and committees of Iron Golems.
LOVE IT! LOVE IT! LOVE IT!
Sorry, I had to delay the Caudills for another day. Behemoth demanded my attention and why wouldn’t it? It’s HUGE. ENORMOUS. GARGANTUAN.
As you may remember from my review of Leviathan, this is the story of an alternate history. The setting is beginning of The Great War. The majority of this second book takes place in, above, and around Istanbul, which was Constantinople ... Momentary pause for singing.
The Ottoman Empire has not yet taken sides in the War. It would look to be primarily Clanker as it relies heavily upon steam-powered machinery. In fact, you would not find any fabricated beasts. More than likely, you would be entranced by its automatons.
If you know your history, you might remember that the Ottoman Empire purchased a warship, the Sultan Osman I, from the British. However, Churchill confiscated it when the War began in order to prevent the Ottomans from using it against the British Empire if they chose to side with the Germans. This is exactly what has happened in this book EXCEPT that the Osman is a fabricated beast.
The Leviathan was on its way to Istanbul to work towards peace with the Ottomans through a great and unusual gift to replace the Osman, when it was crippled and forced to land in Switzerland. Austrian Prince Alek and his men came to their aid. Even though the Austrians were able to help put the Leviathan back into the air, once the ship was underway with its new passengers, these new passengers were considered Prisoners of War.
As the Leviathan continues its journey to the Middle East, our two protagonists, Alek and Midshipman Dylan/Deryn Sharp become friends out of unusual circumstances. In the process, Alek falls in love with the “abomination,” Leviathan, and Deryn, perhaps, falls for Alek. While Alek shares his secret identity with Dylan, Deryn is not quite able to share hers.
Alek’s main goal, as insisted upon by his men, continues to be his safety and therefore escape from the British before they realize who he is. Deryn’s main goal has always been to prove her worth as an airshipman and to do everything that the men and boys do, only better. But Alek is beginning to see that his life is not worth much if the entire world is at war. And Deryn is finding that she keeps committing acts of treason on behalf of the Prince and his men – traitorous acts that could not only cost her her tenuous position, but also her head.
What they both discover ... is a whole new world full of people. Istanbul is home to Turks, Jews, Vlachs, Greeks, Kurds, Germans and even an American. And sometimes the people you can most truly trust are not the ones you would expect – anarchists, monkey luddites and even revolutionaries and committees of Iron Golems.
LOVE IT! LOVE IT! LOVE IT!
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