DIGIPENDENCE - declare yours!

Scott Westerfeld is a popular ‘young adult’ novelist in the science-fiction genre. His book, Leviathan, published in October of 2009, is the first of a trilogy set in an alternate history World War I universe. View the book trailer.

Illustrator Keith Thompson has created a “sort of “Victorian manga” style, part steampunk and part old-fashioned biotech”. Apparently, the plan is to include 50 pieces of art in each book, and most of them will be full page! Beautiful high-quality prints are available for purchase for U$30 and U$50 from the Leviathan section of his site.

Scott Westerfeld is a popular ‘young adult’ novelist in the science-fiction genre. His book, Leviathan, published in October of 2009, is the first of a trilogy set in an alternate history World War I universe. View the book trailer.

Illustrator Keith Thompson has created a “sort of “Victorian manga” style, part steampunk and part old-fashioned biotech”. Apparently, the plan is to include 50 pieces of art in each book, and most of them will be full page! Beautiful high-quality prints are available for purchase for U$30 and U$50 from the Leviathan section of his site.

Scott Westerfeld is a popular ‘young adult’ novelist in the science-fiction genre. His book, Leviathan, published in October of 2009, is the first of a trilogy set in an alternate history World War I universe. View the book trailer.

illustrator: Keith Thompson

Central Powers (Clankers):

Germany is a massive military machine with weapons aimed outwards to all surrounding countries. It points threateningly at Britain, not so much as a sign of direct aggression, but more as an indicator that it was now Germany’s turn to start a grand global Empire to challenge the world’s current one.

Austria Hungary is an aggressive armoured giant, teetering on shoddy foundations. It is also the primary aggressor in a land grab against Serbia, with two bayonets piercing the border.

The Ottoman empire is a teetering automaton, collapsing under the weight of a paranoid and ungainly spying network that gazes at Europe through many lenses and spy glasses. Istanbul is labeled Constantinople following the period’s English naming conventions.

The Swiss watch ticks away the time, comfortable to wait it all out.

Entente Powers (Darwinists):

Britain is an militaristic lion with a Roman Imperial italic-type helmet. It sits upon a mound of riches gathered from its Empire.

France’s elephant beast (wearing the French kepi they started the war with before adapting their firefighter helmets) is influenced by the Elephantine Collossus built for the Universal Exhibition of 1889 in Paris (later it ended up going to the Moulin Rouge.)

Russia is a huge imperialist bear, rotting and filled with maggots.

Serbia’s imagery is an indicator of the huge amounts of civilian deaths and suffering they’ll find themselves subject to.

Norway and Sweden are both Scandinavian trolls in the style of John Bauer, an inspirational illustrator from the era who produced a lot of phenomenal work during the war.

Portugal is a parrot for the Entente trying to goad a slumbering Spain into the war.

Ireland looks askance to Britain and brandishes a shillelagh. An indicator of their very rough relationship at the time, and of their upcoming involvement with the Central powers.

Italy is a clutch of snakes with intents on the Central powers despite existing agreements. A foreshadowing of their arrangements at the secret 1915 Treaty of London where they were promised land in exchange for involvement. It was heavily influenced by Italian Prime Minister, Antonio Salandra’s open policy of serving Italy’s “divine self-interest.”

Scott Westerfeld is a popular ‘young adult’ novelist in the science-fiction genre. His book, Leviathan, published in October of 2009, is the first of a trilogy set in an alternate history World War I universe.

Illustrator Keith Thompson has created a “sort of “Victorian manga” style, part steampunk and part old-fashioned biotech”. Apparently, the plan is to include 50 pieces of art in each book, and most of them will be full page! Beautiful high-quality prints are available for purchase for U$30 and U$50 from the Leviathan section of his site.

Plot 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 wayÉtaking them both aboard the Leviathan on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure. One that will change both their lives forever

Read the first chapter (PDF). The second book, Behemoth, is set to be released in October 2010.