Behemoth (novel)
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | October 5, 2010 |
| Founder | Scott Westerfeld |
| Products | Fiction novel |
Behemoth represents the second entry in Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan series, released on October 5, 2010. The audiobook version, consistent with its predecessor Leviathan, features narration by Alan Cumming. Its follow-up, Goliath, was published on September 20, 2011.
Plot
Set against the backdrop of an alternate version of World War I, Behemoth depicts Austro-Hungarian and German forces utilizing diesel-powered mechanical war machines known as "Clankers," while the British rely on genetically engineered "fabricated" creatures. Leading the British fleet is the Leviathan, a massive whale-shaped airship.
Continuing from the events of Leviathan, the narrative follows Deryn Sharp, a commoner disguised as a boy to serve in the British Navy, alongside Aleksandar "Alek" of Hohenberg, an exiled prince from Austro-Hungary.
Early in the story, the Leviathan confronts two German vessels, including one equipped with a Tesla cannon capable of inflicting severe damage. During this encounter, Alek and his mechanic Klopp oversee engine operations; Klopp’s unauthorized withdrawal causes friction with chief engineer Mr. Hirst. Alek sustains injuries while shielding Hirst from an air pistol shot. Despite suffering damage from the Tesla weapon, the Leviathan manages to escape.
Following this event, Alek is visited by Deryn and Dr. Barlow, a renowned British scientist who introduces a "perspicacious" loris that hatches aboard and forms a bond with Alek. Alek plans an escape in Istanbul with help from his former tutor Count Volger and mechanic Klopp; Volger and Hoffman remain behind to cover their retreat.
While in Istanbul, Alek blends in with local commoners and befriends American journalist Eddie Malone. They narrowly avoid capture by German soldiers searching for Corporal Bauer but are eventually seized by Zaven, leader of a resistance faction opposing Ottoman Sultan Mehmed V and the Committee of Union and Progress.
Meanwhile aboard the Leviathan, Deryn reluctantly assists Volger’s escape after he threatens to expose her true identity to Malone. She undertakes a secret mission on the Gallipoli peninsula to sabotage Ottoman defenses by planting fabricated barnacles that corrode metal—successfully enabling a British offensive despite significant casualties among her team.
Alek joins forces with Zaven’s revolutionary Committee, organizing an uprising financed by Alek’s gold bar savings and guided by Deryn’s tactical deployment of spice bombs against German operatives. Their objective is to destroy a large Tesla cannon in Istanbul; although Zaven dies destroying it, their revolt significantly undermines German authority.
Capitalizing on this turmoil, the British deploy the Behemoth sea creature to eliminate German ironclads Goebon and Breslau. Before departing Istanbul via body kite to continue supporting revolutionaries, Lilit—Zaven’s daughter—reveals her knowledge of Deryn's true identity as "Dylan."
Back aboard the Leviathan, Alek’s royal lineage becomes public knowledge through Malone’s reporting, earning him newfound respect among the crew. The story sets the stage for the third installment, Goliath, as preparations begin for missions in the Far East.
Publishers Weekly commended the work as "a thrilling and imaginative narrative of warfare and reinterpreted history" that resonates with a wide readership, emphasizing Thompson's intricate spot illustrations and eye-catching endpapers. Common Sense Media labeled it a "notable science fiction adventure featuring compelling characters and intense excitement."