Welcome to the World of Westerfeld

by Nikki Tate

It’s always fun to discover a new genre of writing. Until recently I had never heard of steampunk, a type of science fiction often set in a Victorian-esque era. Steam-driven machines are common but so are fantasy or sci-fi elements. Steampunk may also blend speculative elements with alternate versions of history. Scott Westerfeld, one of my favourite novelists for teens, does all of the above in Leviathan, a novel that opens in Europe immediately after the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand.

One of two central characters is the Archduke’s son, Prince Aleksandar. Following the deaths of his parents, Alek is whisked away in the middle of the night by his handlers and protectors. While it isn’t clear who is trustworthy and who isn’t, what is quickly apparent is that the world in which Alek lives isn’t quite the same as the one we learned about in history books. The world in Westerfeld’s novel includes two polarized camps. The Clankers (roughly encompassing the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Germany) are geniuses at creating steam-powered machinery. Their mechanical inventions include airplanes, artillery, and walkers (tank-like fortified military vehicles, bristling with guns but which “walk” on long legs rather than travel on rolling treads).

The second group, the Darwinists, includes the British Empire and France. Having cracked the genetic code, the Darwinists have discovered how to fabricate hybridized creatures that serve specific purposes. One of the most amazing of these inventions is the Leviathan, a massive airship that is housed in the body of a whale and which operates with the help of many component creature parts. Microscopic hydrogen-breathers generate sufficient hydrogen to keep the airship afloat and various other “beasties” provide the steering system, communications system (message lizards carry information back and forth between the bridge and crew members), and weaponry (likewise, creative blends of creature and scientific tinkering).

The second main character in the book belongs to the Darwinist camp. A crew member aboard the Leviathan, Deryn (Dylan) Sharp is actually a girl in disguise. The way her story intersects with that of the fleeing prince provides plenty of opportunity for bringing these two completely different societies together in a tale of adventure and political intrigue.

As with Westerfeld’s Uglies series, the author is brilliant at creating a world that is at once strange and familiar. Westerfeld extrapolates beyond the limits of what science and society currently condone, but never loses sight of where current technologies might go, if taken to the extreme. It is there, on the outer edges of possibility, that Westerfeld sets up his moral dilemmas and grand adventures, taking readers along for the ride of a lifetime.

Striking illustrations by Keith Thompson are included throughout the book. I remember loving the supplemental illustrations in the children’s novels of my youth, and I hope that we see more of this type of format in fiction for children and teens. This is a striking book, appealing both visually and for its storytelling. A sequel, titled Behemoth, is due out in 2010 (though not until October!) Meanwhile, www.scottwesterfeld.com is well worth a visit. Artwork samples, the first chapter of the audio book, neat video clips of Westerfeld talking about collaborating with the illustrator and flying around in an airship over Germany, and more await the curious. For budding writers, Westerfeld has also posted a good series of entries on his blog during NANOWRIMO (National Novel Writing Month, which takes place every November).

Yes, I am an unapologetic Westerfeld fan. I appreciate not only the care with which he researches and writes his books but also the way he has embraced the web as a way to connect with readers the world over. What I didn’t know (until I started poking around his website) is that Westerfeld also dabbles in funky music compositions. Several mp3s (commissioned by a dancer) are available for download on Westerfeld’s website. And, of course, there’s also information about the author’s other books.

Westerfeld is the author of Peeps (a captivating vampire novel/medical thriller), the Midnighters trilogy (several special teenagers are able to experience the 25th hour of each day, which begins at midnight), the Risen Empire series (science fiction space opera), and So Yesterday (about trend setters and those who abhor consumerism).

Nikki Tate is an author who lives on Vancouver Island. Kids who like to write should visit Nikki’s website at www.tarragonisland.com or www.stablemates.net.