Pulp of the Week - Goliath by Scott Westerfeld

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Written by Scott Westerfeld

Illustrated by Keith Thompson

Goliath is the concluding book in the Steampunk alternate history World War I trilogy by Scott Westerfeld and Keith Thompson. Wow is this book good. It is a fantastic conclusion to a marvelous series. This is a great, globe-spanning book. It rivals and perhaps surpasses part one, Leviathan, in quality and imagination.

One of the most satisfying things about the book is how it changes and adds many things (locale, supporting players) but stays true to the heart of the series and truly wraps it us in a way few series manage. I really enjoyed the way that Westerfeld wove additional historic figures into the story. We meet Tesla, William Randolph Hearst, and a certain Mexican outlaw general. Goliath is a top notch book and if you are a reader that doesn't like to start a series until all the books are written, you can dig in now.

Goliath is one of the best books I have read in a long time. I heartily recommend it to anyone interested in  science fiction, steam punk, or adventure fiction. The novel is full of many surprises and twists and turns and some moments of terrific action and emotional resonance. 

Thompson's copious illustrations illuminate and propel the pace of the story. Westerfeld himself has remarked on how seeing the drawings led to changes in the text. This time the drawings don't just sit on one page, but cross two on occasion.

This is a strong contender for best novel in many categories, and I will be adding Goliath to my Pulp Factory, Pulp Ark, Locus, and Hugo nominations.

I hope you enjoyed that fun bit of art. It's is a joke, a gag, a laugh that appeared on Scott Westerfeld's tumblr. It is not a spoiler, but it is a fun piece of art.

If you like adventure, read the Leviathan Trilogy.

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Pulp of the Week - Behemoth

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Written by Scott Westerfeld
Illustrated by Keith Thompson

There is something about finishing the middle book in a trilogy that is so satisfying. I've finished two in the last two weeks - Catching Fire (which you will read about soon) and Behemoth.

Behemoth is part two of Scott Westerfeld's steampunk trilogy following the adventures of Prince Aleksander and Deryn Sharp. In Leviathan, Deryn managed to not get caught in her deception by her own officers, and ends up playing a key role in saving the massive Darwinist bioengineered airship, the aforementioned, Leviathan. Alek, on the other hand has allowed himself to be captured, but only because it is serving his purposes.

Behemoth follows the Leviathan's crew as they head to Istanbul to deliver the reigning Ottoman monarch a gift in exchange for a vital strategic partnership. As Deryn and Alek take to the narrow streets of the crossroads city they find German soldiers in numbers they hadn't imagined, strange bazaars, mechanical elephants, prophets, and most oddly, some Clanker allies.

I attended Westerfeld's San Diego Comic-Con panel and he was as charming in person as his books are. There were no spoilers about volume 3, Goliath, but he did announce the Uglies movie! He also talked about making the choice to have the books illustrated and how that changed his writing process and the text of the book itself. It seems that many of Keith Thompson's drawings either informed the text or in some cases gave Westerfeld ideas of things to add it because of the art. The art also allowed some text to be eliminated because it would be repetitious considering that things were already represented in the art. I love the art and think that the books are far better for it.

As this is the second book, it ends with the promise of much more to follow - but in this case, part three is not out yet - but  it will be soon.

I give this alternate-history/sf/ steampunk trilogy the strongest possible recommendation. They are captivating stories with a solid pulp flavor. I am eagerly awaiting the final volume.

I give Behemoth an 8.5 out of 10.

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