Sunday, February 7, 2010
Leviathan - animated book trailer
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.
