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Behemoth  By  cover art

Behemoth

By: Scott Westerfeld
Narrated by: Alan Cumming
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Editorial reviews

Set during World War I, Behemoth tells a steampunk-esque alternate history. As in real life, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand triggers the conflict, but in Behemoth, the archduke has a secret heir whose life must be preserved at all costs. That is not the only historical divergence from reality, however not by a long shot. Behemoth features a familiar sociopolitical landscape but radically different scientific one. In this world, the British and other Allies are known as “Darwinists”, as their knowledge of biological sciences is super-advanced, to the point where instead of airplanes, they have giant, living airships (such as the eponymous Behemoth), and instead of something like walkie-talkies, they have messenger lizards. The Germans, meanwhile, are known as the “Clankers”, and they have eschewed the use of the biological creatures in favor of mechanical might; so where the Darwinists might have a giant, living airship, the Clankers would have giant mechs and other mechanical marvels.

Behemoth, the second book in the series (following 2009’s Leviathan), takes the protagonists British midshipman Deryn Sharp, and Prince Alek, heir to the throne of Austria to Constantinople, a city where the Darwinist and Clanker philosophies collide. There, the two are thrust into an explosive political machine that threatens to destroy all they’ve worked for, even as both Darwinist and Clanker factions attempt to sway the Ottoman Empire into joining their side in the conflict.

Every bit as full of a sense of wonder as its predecessor, Behemoth is a thrilling, masterful piece of fiction, a sterling example of what alternate history, steampunk, and speculative fiction is capable of. Peppered with enough details from real history to lend the book a rich authenticity, Westerfeld spins the story in wildly new directions at the same time. Although Behemoth is categorized as a young adult novel, it’s really a must-listen for anyone who enjoys speculative and/or historical fiction no matter their age.

Veteran and highly regarded actor of the stage and screen Alan Cumming’s performance is nothing short of enthralling. His Scottish brogue lightly accents his narration, but disappears or transforms into something else entirely when voicing the dialogue of the Austrian Prince Alek and the German Clankers and the other characters. Likewise, he does an excellent job portraying the teenage Deryn, a girl passing herself off as a boy. Somewhat subdued, without much vocal trickery, Cumming’s narration is simply a pleasure to listen to.

A brilliant book plus brilliant narration equals a surefire contender for audiobook of the year. John Joseph Adams

Publisher's summary

The behemoth is the fiercest creature in the British navy. It can swallow enemy battleships with one bite. The Darwinists will need it, now that they are at war with the Clanker powers.

Deryn is a girl posing as a boy in the British Air Service, and Alek is the heir to an empire posing as a commoner. Finally together aboard the airship Leviathan, they hope to bring the war to a halt. But when disaster strikes the Leviathan's peacekeeping mission, they find themselves alone and hunted in enemy territory.

Alek and Deryn will need great skill, new allies, and brave hearts to face what's ahead.

©2010 Scott Westerfeld (P)2010 Simon and Schuster Audio

What listeners say about Behemoth

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Great Trilogy!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

My family and I love this series so far! We started the 1st in the trilogy on vacation drive, and when each book ended we couldn't wait to get on to the next one. Great for adults and kids! My twin girls are 10 years old and love it, though, it did take them a bit to get into the first book.

Any additional comments?

Can't wait to see how the final book in the trilogy ends!

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excellent storyline

great book for the family. no gore or sexual weirdness...nice for this day and age

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addicted.

I can't get enough. buying the next right now. Best steampunk novel ever. 5 stars

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Behemoth is a amazing second book to the series.

Behemoth is a amazing second book to the series. can't wait to listen to the third book

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love this series so far

lots of imagination. totally out of the box thinking. very origional. I am going to read all of this authors books.

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  • Overall
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A nice follow up to Leviathan

What made the experience of listening to Behemoth the most enjoyable?

The incredible characters were the best part of Behemoth. All the folks in Instanbul who Deryn and Alek meet are pretty cool, and the rebellion which they ferment is well brought off.

What other book might you compare Behemoth to and why?

It fits right into the rest of the trilogy. Since each ends on a bit of a cliff hanger, you will want to listen to each one!

Which character – as performed by Alan Cumming – was your favorite?

i rather liked Volger - he's rascally & pretty cool as narrated here.

Any additional comments?

On to book 3!

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Amazing

This book was captivating. I loved it from start to finish. One of my favorite parts was when Deryn was kissed because she made a dashing boy. The narrator made it, at times, difficult to listen easily, because of the heavy accent. Other than that, I have no complaints.
The story follows our two main characters Alex and Deryn as they continue the amazing adventure on the airship Leviathan. Through dangerous diplomatic missions, daring escapes, and assisting a rebellion, these two have plenty in store for them! Alex collects a strange fabricated beastie, while Deryn has trouble with her secrets and the ones given to her by Alex. The strange but interesting relationship between the two characters deepens, as does the plot, in this thrilling sequel to the amazing Leviathan.

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another stellar performance by Alan Cumming!

A fantastic second installment to this exciting steampunk/biopunk series that is just bursting with action, more beasties and more Clanker contraptions! I enjoyed BEHMOTH nearly as much as LEVIATHAN and am anxious to get started on the final book, GOLIATH... to find out what the future holds for Deryn and Alek.

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Don't miss the Afterword!

I really enjoyed this book, the second in a 3-book series. It's an alternate history based on actual events that happened in WWI, but in an interesting twist on the Steampunk genre.
I enjoy historical fiction, and the Afterword tied the events in the book with actual events - giving the book weight despite the JA category, and making WWI much more interesting and personal.
The "Darwinist" ideas in the book are fascinating and, I think, not so far from reality in some aspects.
I highly recommend this series.

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Empire Strikes Back for the Leviathan Trilogy

Behemoth manages to flesh out the world of Leviathan and up the stakes from the previous outing while growing the characters in interesting ways. The only major defect is Cumming's decision to rotate characters accents when switching between them, causing everyone to sound similar after a while

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