Leviathan

By: Scott Westerfeld

Narrated by: Alan Cumming

Length: 8 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

It is the cusp of World War I, and all the European powers are arming up. The Austro-Hungarians and Germans have their Clankers, steam-driven iron machines loaded with guns and ammunition. The British Darwinists employ fabricated animals as their weaponry. The Leviathan is a living airship, the most formidable airbeast in the skies of Europe.

Aleksandar Ferdinand, prince of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, is on the run. His own people have turned on him. His title is worthless. All he has is a battle-torn Stormwalker and a loyal crew of men.

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

©2009 Scott Westerfeld (P)2009 SImon & Schuster

Great adaptation of the Novel

Superb voice acting and narration, im looking forward to the next books in the series.

An amazing well written book!

This book is incredible! It is an excellent introduction to the series and characters. Scott Westerfeld did a superb job of showing the characters personality and thoughts through more than just their words and the sections where their thoughts are written, but also through their actions and interactions with the world and others.

The book is written in such a way that it really allows you to immerse yourself in the story and world. The design of the locations is such that even though it differs from our world it feels real. The words and descriptions he uses to describe the situations and settings allow you to picture everything perfectly. This world and story are ideal for anyone who enjoys alternate history or steam punk stories.

Alan Cumming was a perfect choice for narrator. His voice for each character makes it hard to believe that there aren't multiple voice actors. His speaking is clear and he doesn't repeat or miss read anything, which is a problem I have noticed in other narrators.

The writing, plot line, and narration leave nothing to be desired. I have and will continue to recommend this book to others.

Fantastic narrator

Love Alan Cumming. Words to meet minimum word count one two three for five six seven

Positively Addictive.

Whether or not you are a fan of steampunk, this book is a windfall. (If you were a fan, this book would surely be a *must*.) Loosely based on fact, spruced-up by Westerfeld's dynamo imagination, the examination of a WWI-era Europe full of huge, complex machines whipped up by German engineering, and artfully bizarre 'Darwinist' creations in England will hypnotise you. Considering the further into this book you go, the better the characterization and the plot grows (not to mention the more fascinating the Leviathan becomes), I have extremely high hopes for a follow-up Audible book in this series. It's a fun five-star reading!

Special props to Alan Cumming's Austrian accent and to Westerfeld for speaking for himself in the afterward (it's great to hear from you)!

Listen to this you bumrags.

What did you love best about Leviathan?

I love the scenery, the beasties, the boffins, Deryn Sharp, the alternate steampunk history and everything else about this book.

Any additional comments?

this is something adults and young adults both can love. this is not trash writing and the adventure has so much to offer in terms of getting lost in a story. I feel everything about this story was handled with care. it is not slap-dash. if you need to just get lost for a while, give this a try.

Absolutely fantastic

This amazing novel was impossible to put down and I am now chomping at the bit for the release of Behemoth (OCT??? srsly???). I definately recommend this book to anyone wanting a great read. Maybe start it after Behemoth comes out so you're not left hanging like I feel now.

"Barking spiders!"

Being a big fan of Westerfeld's other series such as the Uglies, Peeps and the Midnighters; it was a about time that I got around to the Leviathan series and as expected, Mr. Westerfeld came through once again. A fascinating read from start to finish, LEVIATHAN is a steampunk/biopunk world loosely based on occurrences that took place in Europe around WWI.

The two major payers that dominate the story are 15 year olds who both are living a secret, that if found out could cost them everything. Deryn is a young British soldier who shows great skill and promise, over and above that of, ehem... his peers, as an airman. Of course there is a catch, well; young Deryn Sharp is actually a girl, only pretending to be a boy to follow her dream of being an airman. Needless to say impersonating a male and deceiving the military is no small offence, if found out. Then there's Aleksandar Ferdinand, the prince of the Austro-Hungarian Empire who finds himself on the run after his parents are assassinated as a trigger to starting the war. Now he and a few loyal staff/friends/family must run; keeping Alek's true identity hidden is a matter of life and death for the young prince, as it seems everyone is out to use him as a political paw or end his existence all together.

Of course the two teen paths cross and that's when things really start to get interesting. LEVIATHAN is a fun fast paced read with bunches of action and in a true blend of steampunk and biopunk, expect to see lots of creative contraptions, living and steam. With the British Darwinist holding Darwinism in high esteem, their impressive airship, the Leviathan, is compiled of "blending" the thread-lifes of multiple animals, creating a living breathing and even eating flying ship, wherein even the weapons are of organic animal makeup. But what's a good steampunk without the steam?.. So then we have the "Clankers" or the German and Austro-Hungarian Empire, who are disgusted by the Darwinian creations, and choose to utilize steam and iron machines and weaponry. For me, that was a unique and really interesting idea on its own; to have two opposing super powers fighting with such completely different sources of ammunition. Which is better?.. Animal-hybrid or Steam-machine??


Alan Cumming's narration is so very impressive, a real treat. With all the different accents and languages, I'm really pleased with my decision to get this book in audio format. I'd recommend LEVIATHAN to anyone looking to embark on an interesting and entertaining adventure of creativity. Now I'm off to get my hands on book #2.

Too much sci-fi, not enough character development

While the author creates a very creative world in which characters live, there’s too much emphasis on the machines and genetically modified creatures and not enough exploration into the human characters. I couldn’t connect to any of the characters and the complain political plot only made this worse.

Big ideas for young folks.

Westerfeld has created a clever amalgam of alternative history and steam/bio punk, all pleasingly presented from the perspective of two charming if improbable young teens. The spectacular Alan Cumming brings this stew to life. The adult reader will likely find the book to juvenile, but the young reader would, I think, be swept up in it. Whatever the reader's literary take, he will be awed by Cumming's ability to create and carry multiple voices and gauge his pace to the urgency of the tale. Overall, I enjoyed the experience, though I'm not sure I'm interested in or convinced enough by the characters to purchase the ensuing two volumes.

Great Listen, esp. for teens

We have all loved this series. So glad we found it when all three books were out. Loved Alan Cumming as the narrator. I'll be watching for more books that he reads. This has been a wonderful introduction to steampunk novels.