Goliath - Scott Westerfeld

The Leviathan receives orders to pick up a package from Russia. Once it is on board the crew finds parts to a device hidden within all the meat strips. The device is assembled, but no one seems to know what it does. They then are ordered to pick up Nikola Tesla, the famous inventor. The device is called Goliath, and according to Dr. Tesla it will end the war. The Leviathan escorts Dr. Tesla to Japan, where he demonstrates his device in front of a group of Clankers and Darwinists. During the journey to Japan Prince Alek puts the pieces together to discovers that Dylan is Deryn, a girl. As they reach California, Alek confronts Deryn about her secret. She has wanted to tell him, but was fearful of his reaction when he found out that she isn't a boy at all. After a day at William Randolph Hearst's house the Leviathan heads south through Mexico. This is the only way to get Dr. Tesla to New York, since the United States is a neutral in the war. Once in New York Dr. Tesla gets everything set up to activate Goliath. As the detonation time approaches Deryn gets word of a German plot to attack Goliath. Will the German's succeed in destroying Goliath, or will Dr. Tesla's device end the war between the Clankers and the Darwinists?

I have loved the Leviathan trilogy since I read the first book. Scott Westerfeld has crafted an intriguing alternate reality story of the first World War. I was eagerly awaiting the release of Goliath, and I was not disappointed. I liked the way he wrapped up the story. I had figured out some of the ending as I was reading. I was also surprised about a few of the events that unfolded at the end. I like it when I work out an ending in my head, and the author does a complete turn-a-round of what I think will happen.

T.B. 10/27/11

Behemoth - Scott Westerfeld

The war between the Clankers and Darwinists continues in Behemoth, the second in Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan trilogy. After escaping the mountain with Prince Alek, Count Volger, and Master Klopp the Leviathan heads toward Constantinople. They are attacked as soon as they reach the city by a Tesla cannon, which uses lightning for its blast. The Leviathan avoids destruction, and at the same time Alek and Klopp make their escape into Constantinople. While there they befriend an American news reporter, who eventually figures out who Alek really is. Back on the Leviathan the captain reveals to Deryn the true reason they are in Constantinople. He wants Deryn to take a group of three men and place vitriolic barnacles at the bottom of kraken nets to disolve them, which will take about one month. This will allow the Behemoth to come through, and turn the war in favor of the Darwinists. Deryn succeeds in her mission, but looses her men and becomes stranded in Constantinople. Can Deryn find Alek, who is also in the city, and also get back to the Leviathan?

Behemoth was just as good and fast paced as Leviathan. It continued the story nicely, and left you with ideas where the story might go in the third book. The third book in the Leviathan trilogy called Goliath, will be coming out in October of 2011.

T.B. 12/3/10