| Behemoth | |
|---|---|
| Author(s) | Scott Westerfeld |
| Illustrator | Keith Thompson |
| Country | US |
| Language | English |
| Series | Leviathan Trilogy |
| Genre(s) | Steampunk |
| Publisher | Simon Pulse |
| Publication date | October 5, 2010 |
| Media type | print(Hardback) |
| Pages | 496 |
| ISBN | 978-1416971757 |
| Preceded by | Leviathan |
| Followed by | Goliath |
Behemoth is a novel written by Scott Westerfeld. The book is the second installment in the Leviathan series. It picks up where Leviathan ends. It was published on October 5, 2010.[1]
As with Leviathan, the audiobook is read by Alan Cumming.
The sequel, Goliath, was released on September 20, 2011.[2]
Contents |
Behemoth continues an alternate history story begun in Leviathan. It is 1914, and the Darwinist countries of Britain, France, and Russia are on the brink of world war with the Clanker countries of Germany and Austria-Hungary. War has been declared, although the Ottoman Empire has not yet entered. The Darwinists use technology based on genetically manipulated animals, while the Clankers use machinery.
The story starts on the Leviathan when two German Ironclads attack the ship. In the process of the attack Newkirk is almost killed, but is saved by Deryn. Meanwhile, Klopp tried to take over to save the ship, yet Mr. Hirst, the ship's engineer, disagrees. In the process, Alek is shot. After the escape, Deryn and Dr. Barlow visit Alek, and he explains what happened on the ship. When Deryn was delivering a message to Count Volger, he learns that Alek had told her that he is the prince.
After landing in Constantinople, Aleksander plots an escape from the Leviathan. In their escape Volger and Hoffman remain behind in order to allow Alek to flee. The creature from Dr.Barlow's egg hatches, revealing a creature, known as the perspicacious loris, as identified later in the story by Dr. Barlow, that seems to understand and speak English. The creature then latches onto Alek and flees with him. The group manages to head into the city of Constantinople, where they try to remain hidden among the commoners. Alek and Corporal Bauer leave the hotel after laying low for a while with Klopp, one of the masters of mechaniks. Alek discovers a very nosy American reporter by the name of Eddie Malone, in which he discovers some information about the Leviathan that he finds interesting, at that point, a few German soldiers walk in, searching for Bauer. They make a hasty escape only to be caught by Zaven, a leader of one of the resistance against the sultan's rule.
Deryn gets assigned a mission to plant a fabricated barnacle into the Ottoman's Kraken net in order for Britain to attack once the Ottoman empire joins sides with Germany. The mission was successful, but she was the only one to remain free out of the three men she was assigned to lead. Deryn also enters Ottoman territory, curious to find Alek. Meanwhile, a revolution occurs in the Ottoman Empire led by the Committee of Union and Progress. Alek then agrees to join the Committee as an ally, wishing to strike a blow at the Germans. He meets Lilit, Zaven's daughter, and Nene, their grandmother, who lies on a mechanical bed. They then stage a revolt, using a gold bar Alek has saved. They buy up parts and lots of spice at the advice of Deryn, who used it as a weapon against a German agent trying to hijack the British embassy's walker. Her help to the revolution leads to Lilit falling in love with 'Dylan'. They build spice throwing walkers, and successfully pull off a revolt, and the British invade because the barnacles, which have eaten away the the gates have let the behemoth in, destroying the Goben and the Breslau, the two ironclads. Zaven is killed destroying the Tesla canon. Before leaving the cliffs to continue fighting in the revolution, Lilit kisses Deryn, knowing that she is a girl. Then they all escape aboard the Leviathan, and when they find out Alek is a prince, they treat him with great respect. The third novel, Goliath, is set in motion when they find out they are going to the far east.