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    Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld is a worthwhile read because of its very interesting setting and its unique way of presenting this setting. The book shares the causes and events of the war but in this universe the military powers of the two sides is much different. Interesting uses of the setting include creatures such as the Leviathan, message lizards that deliver messages by running along cables and bats that can hold small razors in their mouths.

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    Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld is a worthwhile read because of its very interesting setting and its unique way of presenting this setting. The book shares the causes and events of the war but in this universe the military powers of the two sides is much different. Interesting uses of the setting include creatures such as the Leviathan, message lizards that deliver messages by running along cables and bats that can hold small razors in their mouths.

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    12 views3 pages

    Whyitmattersessay

    Uploaded by

    api-319827734
    Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld is a worthwhile read because of its very interesting setting and its unique way of presenting this setting. The book shares the causes and events of the war but in this universe the military powers of the two sides is much different. Interesting uses of the setting include creatures such as the Leviathan, message lizards that deliver messages by running along cables and bats that can hold small razors in their mouths.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 3

    AbelDelPino

    Period1
    WhyItMattersLeviathanbyScottWesterfeld

    LeviathanbyScottWesterfeldisaworthwhilereadbecauseofitsveryinterestingsetting
    anditsuniquewayofpresentingthissetting.LeviathanssettingtakesplaceinWorldWarI.It
    sharesthecausesandeventsofthewarbutinthisuniversethemilitarypowersofthetwosides
    ismuchdifferent.Thesettingispresentedthroughtheeyesoftwopeoplewhostartofon
    differentsidesandeventuallyendupmeetingeachother.
    InthisuniversethealliedpowersofthewarareknownasDarwinistsandthecentral
    powersareknownasclankers.Theclankershaveaverysteampunkfeeltothem.Theirarmies
    consistoflargemetalmachines.CharlesDarwinmademuchmorediscoveriesanddiscovered
    howtoevolveandmixanimals.TheDarwinistsusehisdiscoveriesintheirarmiesbyhaving
    largecreaturesthataresometimesmixesofothercreaturesandaircraftsuchastheLeviathan
    whichisamassivewhalelikecreaturethatcanfly.Thecontrastbetweenthetwoarmies
    createsaninterestingsetting.Anotherappealingpartofthesettingisthepotentialofwherethe
    storycantakethesettingandwhatcanbedonewiththecontextofthisalternatehistory.The
    authorcangetverycreativewiththecreaturesandmachinesthatexistinthisworldandcan
    builduptobigrevealsofnewcreaturesandmachines.Interestingusesofthesettinginclude
    creaturessuchastheLeviathan,messagelizardsthatdelivermessagesbyrunningalong
    cablesandbatsthatcanholdsmallrazorsintheirmouthsanddropthemdownovertargets.In
    thecaseofthemachines,machinescalledwalkersareintroducedthatarelargelandmachines
    thatwalkontwolegsandlargeblimpsarealsoused.Theauthoralsocreatessuspenseand
    curiosityusingthissettinginabackgroundstorythatgetsmoreandmoreimportantovertime.
    Theshipthatoneofthemaincharactersison,picksupascientistwhoisdeliveringlargeeggs
    totheOttomanEmpire.Moreimportanceisgiventotheprotectionoftheeggsespeciallyafter
    mostofthemaredestroyedaftertheLeviathangoesdown.Itisnotexplainedwhatisthe

    reasonfortakingtheeggsasidefromthethedestinationanditisnotsaidwhatisinsidethe
    eggs.Thiscreatesalotofcuriosityforwhatisinsidetheeggsandtheirpurpose.Unfortunately,
    thebookdoesnotanswerthequestionbutdoesgivesomereasontothereadertoreadthe
    sequelinordertofindout.
    Likethesettingofthebook,thetwomaincharactersofthebookhavecontrasting
    elements.Oneofthemaincharacters,isAlek,thesonofthearchdukeofAustria.Heisa
    personofroyaltyandbecomesheirtothethroneafterhisparentsdie.Thisplacesatargeton
    hisbackbytheGermansandheisforcedtoescapewiththehelpofthoseclosetohiminorder
    tostayalive.TheothermaincharacterisDeryn,agirlwhodisguisesherselfinordertojointhe
    Darwinistarmy.Duetoherbraveryandothercircumstancessheisinstantlyplacedononeof
    theflagshipsoftheDarwinistarmy,theLeviathan.Thesecharacterscontrastbysocialstatus,
    genderandoneofthemisforcedtorunawayfromtroublewhiletheotherisseeminglyrunning
    towardstrouble.Thiscontrastinthetwocharactersaddstotheuniquenessandinterestinthe
    twocharacters.But,thetwocharactersaredevelopedinawaythatmakesthemseemnotso
    muchdifferentasitwouldseemthebeginning.Thebookswitchesbetweenthetwocharacters
    pointsofviews.Butmidwaythroughthebook,theirtwopathscrosswhentheLeviathancrashes
    whereAlekishidingoutintheAlps.Thetwocharactersendupmeetingeachotherand
    eventuallybecomefriends.Thoughbothcharactersareseenasnotsodifferentbecausebothof
    themarehidingabigsecretfromtheotheroneandtheothersaroundthem.Derynishidingthe
    factthesheisagirlfromAlekandhidingthisandhernotbeingoldenoughfromeveryoneelse
    becauseshewouldnothavehadtheopportunitytobewhereshewasifshewasknowntobea
    girlandunderagesincethearmywouldnothaveallowedhertojoin.ThesecretthatAlekhides
    isthefactthatheisthesonoftheArchdukewhohasahugetargetonhim.Sothecharacters
    arenotsodifferentasitinitiallyseemed.

    Thebookdoesagoodjobofdevelopinganinterestingsettingthroughtheuseof
    contrastingideasandusingtheuniquesettingtocreatecuriosityandsuspense.Alsothebook
    usestwouniquecharactersthatarefirstportrayedascontrastingtooneanotherbutarethen
    developedinawaythatshowsthattheyarenotsodifferentafterall.Thisuniquenessaspectof
    thebookdefinitelymakesitaworthwhileread.

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