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Goliath (Leviathan #3)

by Scott Westerfeld, Keith Thompson (Illustrator)

4.29 of 5 stars 4.29 · rating details · 10,428 ratings · 1,430 reviews

Goliath is a magnetic beam weapon to encourage peace in 1914 alternative WW1 (between German mechanical Clankers and British Darwinist genetic animal/plant fabricators) by Serbian inventor Nicolas Tesla rescued from remote Siberia by organic 1K' British airship Leviathan midshipman Scottish Deryn Sharp, disguised as boy Daryl to join the Air Service, and her romantic inter...more

Hardcover, Simon Pulse, 545 pages

Published September 20th 2011 by Simon Schuster

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Dec 20, 2011 AH rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: History lovers/Steampunk fans

Shelves: young-adult, steampunk, zzread-sept-2011, arc-galley-grab, preorders

4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars

Update 12/20/11 - Bonus chapter to Goliath posted on Scott Westerfeld's blog. Here's the link.

Barking spiders! What a great way to end a series! I want more!

The third and final book in Scott Westerfeld’s Leviathan series did not disappoint. Set during WWI, our heroes Dylan (actually Deryn, a young woman) and Alek are on board the living airship the Leviathan (a giant floating whale!) as it flies eastward towards the orient and beyond. Goliath is an alternative hist...more 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars

Update 12/20/11 - Bonus chapter to Goliath posted on Scott Westerfeld's blog. Here's the link.

Barking spiders! What a great way to end a series! I want more!

The third and final book in Scott Westerfeld’s Leviathan series did not disappoint. Set during WWI, our heroes Dylan (actually Deryn, a young woman) and Alek are on board the living airship the Leviathan (a giant floating whale!) as it flies eastward towards the orient and beyond. Goliath is an alternative history and retelling of WWI. History buffs will enjoy this book as they see some of the historical characters of the period appear in this book. Steampunk fans will marvel at all of the contraptions and gadgets. The book is geared towards young adult readers, but many adults will enjoy this book as well.

Westerfeld builds a unique world where Darwinists create machinery and weapons using DNA to battle against the mechanical steam powered contraptions of the Clankers. The Clankers favor machinery on legs rather than wheels. Whimsical creatures populate the pages. There are beasties such as strafing hawks, flechette bats, fighting bears, message lizards and my favorite: the perspicacious loris.

Beautifully detailed illustrations by Keith Thompson make this world come alive. Thanks to the illustrations, I was able to imagine all of the cool contraptions and gadgets developed by the Clankers and even the strange creatures engineered by the Darwinists. I found myself lingering on these pages. I would read a little, flip back to the illustrations, and just stare at them. I must say that my e-reader did not do justice to these illustrations. I think (and your results may vary depending on your e-reader) that a dead tree book may be preferable for this series.

The story is captivating. There are some pretty intense moments, great on the edge of your seat reading. I enjoyed the astute observations of the perspicacious loris. I loved the specialized vocabulary from this book. I might just have to use some of those words, they may come in handy.
Thank you, Scott Westerfeld for writing such an engaging series. My 12 year old reluctant reader is enjoying this series. I fully expect him to start calling his brothers “bumrags” and “dummkopfs” sometime soon.

*Thank you Simon & Schuster Galley Grab for an advanced reader copy of this book*

Review posted on Baddass Book Reviews

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22 likes · like · see review

Sep 22, 2011 Sam rated it 5 of 5 stars

Now that it's a couple days after this is out, I thought I could write a wonderful spoiler-filled review and we could all fan-girl/boy with each other, but I can't. I don't know how to write a review.
It was awesome.

32 likes · like · see review

Aug 05, 2011 Isamlq rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-galley

Goliath even the title hints at the effort I put into reading it... not necessarily a bad thing just different. Thinking back to Leviathan, I remember having shelved it; only catching on to what others saw half way through, my second time around with it. I'm used to 'give me fast and easy books', Leviathan and Behemoth are not any of those. Instead, I had to pace myself, pay a little more attention to Dylan's and Alek's world. It was a chore at first, for sure... but once the I'd grown accustome...more Goliath even the title hints at the effort I put into reading it... not necessarily a bad thing just different. Thinking back to Leviathan, I remember having shelved it; only catching on to what others saw half way through, my second time around with it. I'm used to 'give me fast and easy books', Leviathan and Behemoth are not any of those. Instead, I had to pace myself, pay a little more attention to Dylan's and Alek's world. It was a chore at first, for sure... but once the I'd grown accustomed to set pace, there was no way I wouldn't see it through. Fast forward to Goliath, and I still got the same feeling of 'I must read carefully.' Because, yes, I couldn't rush through it for fear of missing something big.

OK so after much thought, I'm going to say that I'm happy where things ended. I really didn't know what I wanted to happen. Prior to reading, I'd imagined the reveals done in the most shocking manner; I'd imagined someone being heartbroken; I'd even considered something tragic taking place. I'd also wondered where the story would take me in terms of them as a couple. Would there be a couple? Would there be an HEA? Did I really want an HEA? Especially since I'd lauded/praised/raved about how different Deryn/Dylan was from her peers with her tough and independent manner? Did I want her girl side to show up? I mean, her girly side was showing with the hints of crushes and love-unlikely. But... did I want an HEA? Or would going there take away the what made Leviathan and Behemoth different?

Anyhoot, I am happy with how things turned out: Dylan/Deryn is still tough and goal oriented. Alek had reverted to the Alek he was in Leviathan, the boy playing at being soldiers because upon his return he was feeling a tad out of place and functionless... and suspicious. Things got even more complicated with the introduction of a new character who'd been alluded to in the previous books: Tesla.

The war between the Clankers vs Darwinists is still in full throttle, but the best thing about this aspect of the story was how it affected Alec. He was so conflicted about his place. There's a lot of indecision from him. To trust or not? To Love or not? To Reveal or not?

This last installment manages to strike a balance between action and emotion.

4/5

Thank you Simon & Schuster!(less)

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Jan 17, 2012 Jo rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, ya, boy-crush, heart-skipped-a-beat, my-favourites, of-epic-proportions, soul-sister-heroine, you-got-a-friend-in-me, when-can-i-move-in

"Reality had no gears, and you never knew what surprises would come spinning out its chaos."

Dear Alek,
I know in my review for Behemoth I told you that I was going to dedicate this final review to you and I would think of a theme tune for you.
Well, I haven’t.
I thought that, instead of writing a proper review that will help readers decide whether to read this book or not (you’d think this was a review site or something), I’d write you a letter.
It’s not going to be a fancy one (or one with para...more

16 likes · like · see review

Mar 21, 2012 Erin rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: everyone should at least give this trilogy a shot

Shelves: action-packed, great-characters, grrl-power, little-romance, love-the-protag, multiple-narrators, sci-fi, talking-cats, want

To everyone who loves a long-secret romance, revealed at last.

Oh, what a beautiful dedication. Just reading it made me more hopeful about the conclusion of the romantic plot, even before reading the first chapter.

This was a great book. I'm unsure how to compare it to its predecessors, but rest assured that it's just as good, if not better. According to me.

So, it has come as a bit of a surprise to me that I've enjoyed the Leviathan trilogy so much. At first glance it doesn't seem like my kind of...more

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Jun 27, 2012 Valerie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: sci-fi, historical-fiction

Well, Deryn and Alec get in a pickle this time. Not that they didn't have a knack for getting in trouble before but it seriously gets complicated between them with all the secrets they have to keep and tension mounting. Our two brave heroes are destined for a disaster.

The course of the Levianth : New York.
The mission : stop WWI.

It was good to see Alec and Deryn again; above all I think they are great friends though Deryn likes Alec more than that. Alec is a character who gives it all he's got....more

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Jun 16, 2011 Looksie (At Looksie Lovitz: Books and Wits Blog) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-recommend

Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan series is a favorite among steampunk fans so it's no surprise that the finale book would set new levels of awesome. I was going to attempt to hold off reviewing this book since it doesn't come out until September but I simply couldn't resist. This is a series that I would liken with Harry Potter because it's very action-adventure, boy/girl friendly and PG. Just because there are historical references in this series doesn't mean it will be boring. In fact, it makes th...more Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan series is a favorite among steampunk fans so it's no surprise that the finale book would set new levels of awesome. I was going to attempt to hold off reviewing this book since it doesn't come out until September but I simply couldn't resist. This is a series that I would liken with Harry Potter because it's very action-adventure, boy/girl friendly and PG. Just because there are historical references in this series doesn't mean it will be boring. In fact, it makes the story more interesting than your average story about genetically engineered beasties or steampunk contraptions. And as the finale book, Goliath had everything it needed to wrap up the the compelling plot in this trilogy and appease fans.

Goliath picks up where Behemoth left off. After the revolution in Istanbul, Alek and Deryn find themselves back on the Leviathan and heading east. Alek's princely status has been outted but Deryn is still struggling to keep her gender secret, all while she has feelings for Alek. Even if he knew she was a girl, he couldn't be with a commoner. And when he finds out the secret she has been keeping, he might feel betrayed learning the boy he looked up to, was in fact a girl. Unfortunately Deryn has to contend with Count Volger. He knows her secret and he intends to use that knowledge to black mail her.

Alek is unsure if he will ever be the Archduke regardless of his letter from the now dead pope. Regardless, he feels he is in a position to put an end to the war and when opportunities (and important people) arise, he goes all diplomat. Unfortunately, this puts a rift between him and Deryn whom he doesn't seem to have much time for anymore.

New characters will be introduced like the imposing Mr Tesla and old characters will resurface like the meddling reporter Eddie Malone. Trust me when I say the plot balances the novel perfectly with Scott Westerfeld's outlandishly awesome characters, imaginative world and creative writing. I will read anything he writes because he is just THAT phenom. The ending was nothing short of perfection and I will admit that I did sigh dreamily with satisfaction. Everything comes to a head and no loose ends are left untied including secrets and deceptions. I can't tell you how frustrating it was wanting Deryn's secret out so I was happy to finally see it happen even though it wasn't quite in the way she had hoped.

I loved reading the Author's Notes at the end about the real history that was included. To be honest, I didn't know much about World War One before reading the series and it was like an ingenious way to teach me some history. Who knew I could learn things out side of school? Amazing. And Scott definitely did his research. You can totally tell there was nothing half-done where that was concerned.

This was probably my favorite book in the series and is my favorite steampunk of all time. If you haven't picked up this series please do so we can gush about it together. This finale book will be released September 20th!

For this review and more visit my blog at http://looksielovitz.blogspot.com (less)

10 likes · like · see review

Nov 23, 2011 Brigid *Flying Kick-a-pow!* rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 5-star-books, favorites, badass-ladies, addicting-as-crack, young-adult, robots-and-cyborgs, romance-done-correctly, sci-fi, historical-fiction, romance, adventure, steampunk

SCOTT WESTERFELD, WHY YOU SO AMAZING? Like, seriously. It's not fair.

I don't think I've ever been disappointed by a Scott Westerfeld book. Sure, some are better than others, but they always have such awesome world-building, they're always exciting, and they're always a ton of fun to read. It's hard to beat his previous series like Uglies and Midnighters, but I think he just may have done it with the Leviathan trilogy.

First of all, the premise is so freaking awesome I want to explode when I think...more

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Jul 23, 2011 Catie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, historical, read-in-2011, series, ya, graphic-illustrated-novels, high-seas-adventures, for-review

Fans of Leviathan and Behemoth will be very satisfied with this final installment, which seems to be the end for Alek and Deryn. This book contains, in spades, all of the elements of the previous two books that I adore. Deryn doesn’t brood, she acts! And Alek, well…he might brood just a squitch but that’s barking princes for you! There is a remarkable lack of melodrama here. These books are dynamic and exciting with plenty of action and derring do.

Deryn and Alek are once again aboard the giant l...more Fans of Leviathan and Behemoth will be very satisfied with this final installment, which seems to be the end for Alek and Deryn. This book contains, in spades, all of the elements of the previous two books that I adore. Deryn doesn’t brood, she acts! And Alek, well…he might brood just a squitch but that’s barking princes for you! There is a remarkable lack of melodrama here. These books are dynamic and exciting with plenty of action and derring do.

Deryn and Alek are once again aboard the giant living airship Leviathan, this time on their way to Japan. When the Captain receives a mysterious message from the Russian Tsar, they must make a detour to rescue the magnetic Nikola Tesla who claims to have invented a weapon that is capable of wreaking massive destruction on any city that he chooses to target. He also claims to have peaceful intentions, and the potential to end the war quickly is very attractive to Alek. World War I rages on, and Alek still believes that he has a destiny to hasten its end, but Deryn is far more pragmatic.

I’ve read more than my share of cross-dressing girl adventures, and Deryn will always hold a very special distinction to me. I know that I already mentioned this in my review for Behemoth, but it bears repeating. Deryn is more at home as a boy than any other disguised heroine that I’ve read about. And yes, the relationship between Alek and Deryn does develop in this last installment (don’t worry, I’m not divulging any details here), but my girl Deryn does not let me down, and Alek! Well, let’s just say that he’s honest and faithful and he has a lot of integrity. There are no scenes in any of these books where Deryn suddenly appears bathed, coiffed, and squashed into a fabulous dress. Not only that, but she never has one moment of self-conscious worry about her appearance. That’s not Deryn, and it never will be. Why would she need to worry about silly things like that when she has wings and the air? (And more guts than I’ll ever have.)

All of my favorite characters are back, along with some new ones including a few distastefully aggressive American women, and fun cameos from William Randolph Hearst and Pancho Villa. My favorite “characters” by far in this last installment are the highly entertaining Perspicacious loris twins, whose little side-commentaries add so much insight and wit. As with the previous installments, the Clanker inventions and Darwinist monsters are highly imaginative and detailed, and the illustrations are wonderful.

Perfect Musical Pairing

Ben Folds Five – Don’t Change Your Plans

This is a love song about two people who have destinies and plans that conflict with their relationship, and the sadness of not being able to be together. I’m not saying any more than that! You’ll have to read this book to find out how it all ends!
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Aug 22, 2012 Freckles rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2historical, 1alternative-pov

Ne tak dobré jako Behemoth, ale rozhodně ne nuda :) Kdyby to byla nuda, nepřečetla bych 444 stran za méně než 24 hodin :))

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Dec 02, 2011 Samantha The Escapist rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favourites, steampunk

"I sure did like the first cover of Leviathan without the kids' faces on it more than these other ones."

I do still agree that this cover doesn't hold a candle to the first book (before they put on the face) But this book in almost every other way is just as good, better in a few respects. Actually, it's been quite some time since I nearly cried at the end of a book simply because it was over. I was very excited to read this but I didn't realize until halfway through (as the book seemed to simply...more "I sure did like the first cover of Leviathan without the kids' faces on it more than these other ones."

I do still agree that this cover doesn't hold a candle to the first book (before they put on the face) But this book in almost every other way is just as good, better in a few respects. Actually, it's been quite some time since I nearly cried at the end of a book simply because it was over. I was very excited to read this but I didn't realize until halfway through (as the book seemed to simply MELT into my brain I was reading so fast) how entirely un-ready I was for it to conclude.

If I could kiss Scott Westerfield's feet for one reason only it would be that he never betrayed any of the characters or themes that we all adored. Maybe that is a pretty cynical view of story-telling at large on my part given that I always expect the things I love to be ruined by their own creators but I'm so jaded when it comes to falling in love with my heroes and heroines because there will always come a moment where the girl in drag gets stuffed into a corsett and dress or the dashing prince with a heavy concience gets petulant and whiney.

This actually doesn't happen. I should think it's hardly a spoiler that Alek does discover Daeryn's secret but what is so shocking is that, unlike anything before it and most impressively unlike what the actual characters in the book predicted themselves, he deals quite well. He loses none of his integrity, doesn't dwell TOO much on the girl thing (aside from a few genuinely cute notions) and it doesn't get stupid dramatic. These two young characters have their entire relationship rocked to its foundation but the never forget they're still in the middle of a barking war.

Additionaly, we NEVER find out how pretty Daeryn is. There is breif mention of the unfortunate existence of her breasts (from a practical stand-point) and otherwise the nicest compliment she gets (aside from valour) is that she makes quite a dashing boy.

I simply cannot get over how supremely satisfied I feel right now.

OH and of course the little stars of the show. When the Lorises first hatched in the second book I wasn't really sure what sort of tool they'd be to the story or how they'd be treated. Lets just say the Disney ages has taught me to be wary of talking animals. But they were perfect, adorable even. The two lorises may actually have been my favourite characters, and Westerfield did a fantastic job of including them JUST enough. They provided no major plotpoints but injected steady doses of entertainment in every scene and helped very much to paint us a mental picture for the moments that did not already have an illustration. Additionally they ARE important in a few ways and they always carry an air of mystery given that Alek basicaly owns one and does not entirely know just how smart they get.

Looking back I guess you could argue that there is a little less action in this one, at least less important action. Even the final climactic scene feels a little muted compared to the Ottoman revolution. I guess I could consider this point a little negative. I also feel the final book used Tesla as just a tiny bit too much but I love the ultimate role he plaeyed.

Finally and mostly I adored how the author treated our main characters. As I said, they were never ruined or betrayed and finally the fact that the two loved the adventure about as much as they loved each other, finally a novel with a love story that isn't the backbone of the characters' motivation. Normally I roll my eyes and scoff when an author decided to make a series longer than they planned (though on a whole I understand how stories can change when you get into them and it's not always possible to tell how long it will be) but in this case at the final pages continued melt before my eyes I found myself frequenting the front cover to verify that it does, indeed, say "The conclusion of the Leviathan Trilogy" And it does conclude...but I would be so happy to find out that he decided to do another trilogy in the same world following the leviathan story.(less)

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Dec 15, 2011 Issam rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: steampunk, historical-fiction, illustrated-novels, young-adult

Excellent.

Scott Westerfeld is the king of YA, and he shows us why with the conclusion to his newest series, Leviathan.

Goliath roars with a strong momentum from the previous installment, offering some of the best creative world-building I've ever seen, mixed in with strong male and female characters, intense action, a believable romance, and an unpredictable story. And, as always, Keith Thompson's highly detailed artwork accompanying this novel is simply gorgeous, making this series not only wor...more

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Sep 25, 2011 Lauren rated it 4 of 5 stars

I've really enjoyed all three installments of this trilogy. The alternate history is clever and very well integrated with actual World Ward I events and historical figures. Both of the main characters are interesting, likable, and react reasonably to events (which is not always true of YA characters). The action is always exciting and manages to remain relevant to the story, and while there is a romance it does not dominate the plot to an unreasonable degree. Goliath is a fitting conclusion to a...more

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Apr 10, 2012 Beth Cato rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: in, 2011, young-adult, steampunk, leviathan, trilogy

This trilogy has been very up and down for me. The first book grabbed me because of the vivid world, with its rival steampunk Clankers and genetically-altered Darwinist creatures. The characters didn't appeal to me that much. That changed in the second book, as Alek and Deryn each grew up in different ways. My initial thought of the third book? It's long. It feels unnecessarily dragged out so that it can show half of the planet and cameos of famous people of the 1910s, though I did appreciate th...more

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May 18, 2013 Julia rated it 5 of 5 stars

So. I got these books on a Thursday, and kinda got sidetracked, whatever, and on Tuesday, I started reading the first book, Leviathan. The beginning was a bit slow, but when Alek and Deryn finally met, I was so very happy. Then, when I finished the book on Thursday, I got the second one done on Friday, and now, today, on Saturday, I have finished the last one. So, yeah, I tore through these books.
And HOLY CRAP THEY WERE SO AMAZING. Seriously, if you haven't read these books, go out and do it now...more

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May 14, 2013 Hnnah Phllps rated it 4 of 5 stars

As much as I enjoyed the series, I felt that the ending itself was quite anti-climatic. I guess love for your girl can take away any resolve to participate in the war brewing around you. Still, it was a smart thing to do, but not really the exciting thing to do.

Over all, the story was creative and the artwork was inspiring, and as unenthusiastic I seem about the ending, it wasn't all that bad. It was actually really good. I love how close readers can feel to the two protagonists, and we get to...more

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Apr 30, 2013 Kaitlin Bevis rated it 5 of 5 stars

I didn't like this series as much as Uglies (of course). I was a little underwhelmed and it took me a bit to get into, but once I got into it it kept me reading. The characters were interesting and the plot kept me guessing but it felt very gimmicky. I think it was maybe intended for the younger spectrum of the YA audience so that might have had something to do with it.

I was underwhelmed by this series, but I'd still be hard pressed to write something better. Westerfeld is a master of world buil...more

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Mar 27, 2013 Dorothy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, steampunk, ya, female-protagonist, historical-setting

This is the third book in the “Leviathan” trilogy, written by well-known YA author Scott Westerfeld. I have positively reviewed the first book (Leviathan) and the second book (Behemoth) in previous blog posts. Well-written and fast-paced, I was engaged in his steampunk world, and anxious to know how his main protagonist (Deryn) has fared.

Set shortly after Behemoth, the British Air Service’s airship Leviathan is given orders to pick up “special cargo” in Russia as the war between the Darwinists (...more This is the third book in the “Leviathan” trilogy, written by well-known YA author Scott Westerfeld. I have positively reviewed the first book (Leviathan) and the second book (Behemoth) in previous blog posts. Well-written and fast-paced, I was engaged in his steampunk world, and anxious to know how his main protagonist (Deryn) has fared.

Set shortly after Behemoth, the British Air Service’s airship Leviathan is given orders to pick up “special cargo” in Russia as the war between the Darwinists (Britain, France, Russia) and the Clankers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Serbia) rages on. It is rumoured to be a formidable weapon that could irrevocably change the balance of power throughout the world.

Once the package is acquired, the orders are now to sail across the Pacific ocean and the United States (who are not yet involved in this war) to deliver it to New York. The Hearst media empire and Mexico’s Pancho Villa figure into the story in both a believable and cynical way.

Up to her usual heroics, Deryn finally gets seriously hurt after performing a daring feat of flying. Knowing it is the last book in the series, we feel real peril on her behalf. After all she has gone through in order to be in the British Air Service, is this now the end of her career? Will she cause the disgrace of her family and the entire British Admiralty when her secret is discovered?

Alek is pursuing his own single-minded agenda to end the war. He feels the personal responsibility deeply and does not consider either the counsel of his advisor Count Volger or the concerns of his men. He is also quite oblivious to Deryn’s affection for him.

In addition to the usual cast of characters, we are reintroduced to several of the characters from earlier in the series, each playing a pivotal role at points throughout the book.

In the first book, Dr. Barlow – granddaughter of Charles Darwin – is carefully nursing a set of eggs. In the second book, the eggs hatch and one of the animals “imprints” onto Alek. In this book, the animal, a perspicacious loris, is a prominent character never far from Alek’s side. It regularly repeats a word it has recently heard, chatters with the other loris, but has no effective contribution to the plot. These utterances, while occasionally interesting, rarely provide usable clues to what is going on or about to happen. As they are used it is more of a distraction to the reader.

This is the weakest of the three books, throwing improbable obstacles in the way of our two heroes. The resolution of the potential romance between Deryn and Alek is handled unevenly and given a hurried-feeling and a contrived resolution. Whereas the first two books were strongly character-driven, this has them act not in ways they normally would, but in ways they had to for the story.

I heartily recommend the series for any YA readers, steampunk fans, and lovers of intelligent, adventurous female heroes.(less)

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Mar 12, 2013 An-chan rated it 4 of 5 stars

A little bit predictable, a little bit naive, but all in all a very excellent book. The pacing was just right, all of the characters were interesting, the plot was mostly sufficiently complicated and surprising, and the technology - as in the earlier two books - was incredibly engaging. I wished there would have been more Darwinist fabrications in this book (maybe something about the South of USA?) and more about Leviathan, but it introduced its fair share of magnificent inventions, both dieselp...more

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Feb 15, 2013 Maythavee rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

You know that feeling when you’re both happy and sad at the same time when you finished the last book of your favourite series? That’s the feeling I had when I finished Goliath. It was great to see the series end on a happy note but it was also sad to see a great series come to an end.

Well, I was not disappointed with Goliath at all. It was a fantastic ending to one of my favourite steam punk series. Alek and Deryn were fantastic characters as always! Aww, Alek! He can be so daft sometimes but...more

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Feb 10, 2013 Anastasia202 rated it 5 of 5 stars

Each book in the Leviathan trilogy has a little of everything- love, adventure, history, suspense, action, inspiration and an amazing plot.
Though I'm not even halfway through the book, I can tell it's a 5-star novel. Why? Because it was difficult to put down (I was forced by myself to take it with me to Montreal, to skiing, school and practically everywhere). Because it had inspiring quotes. Because it was a pleasant process to read this specific book. Because it was compelling, coercive and e...more

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Feb 07, 2013 Nofuture rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Steampunks

Shelves: analogova-kniha, steampunk

Tak a je to tu. Záverečná. Leviathan ukončil svoju demonštratívnu púť okolo sveta. Bohužiaľ mu na posledných míľach postupne dochádzala para...

V poslednej časti sa stretnete s pánom Teslom, dostanete do Ameriky ovládanej mediálnymi spoločnosťami a dočkáte ukončenia jednotlivých dejových línii. Dylanovo tajomstvo odhaľuje stále viac ľudí, vrátane Aleka, a väčší priestor dostáva aj rozvíjajúca sa zakázaná láska. Bohužiaľ je to celé také nejaké pomalé, kostrbaté, nemastné a neslané. Občas sa nájde...more

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Jan 02, 2013 Marie-Claire rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Nach ihren Abenteuern im Osmanischen Reich sind Alek und Deryn wieder auf der Leviathan, die jetzt die Neue Welt ansteuert: New York, Kalifornien und Mexiko lauten die Ziele. Und noch jemand ist mit an Bord: Tesla, ein russischer Erfinder, der eine Maschine namens Goliath entwickelt hat, die angeblich die Macht besitzt, die halbe Welt zu zerstören. Aleks Bemühungen, den Krieg zu beenden, scheinen mehr denn je zum Scheitern verurteilt. Inmitten tödlicher Intrigen und verwirrender Geheimnisse müss...more Nach ihren Abenteuern im Osmanischen Reich sind Alek und Deryn wieder auf der Leviathan, die jetzt die Neue Welt ansteuert: New York, Kalifornien und Mexiko lauten die Ziele. Und noch jemand ist mit an Bord: Tesla, ein russischer Erfinder, der eine Maschine namens Goliath entwickelt hat, die angeblich die Macht besitzt, die halbe Welt zu zerstören. Aleks Bemühungen, den Krieg zu beenden, scheinen mehr denn je zum Scheitern verurteilt. Inmitten tödlicher Intrigen und verwirrender Geheimnisse müssen er und die als Junge verkleidete Deryn sich schließlich dem Letzten stellen: der Stunde der Wahrheit.

"Goliath- Die Stunde der Wahrheit" ist der dritte und somit finale Band der "Leviathan"- Trilogie von Scott Westerfeld.
Der Autor vermischt auch hier wieder gekonnt das Steampunk- Genre mit viel Fantasie und Abenteuern, wodurch eine etwas andere Lektüre entsteht, die Alt und Jung zu begeistern weiß. Man ist ab der ersten Seiten sofort wieder im Geschehen und ebenso schnell gefesselt von der von Scott Westerfeld erdachten Materie, in der historische Gegebenheiten mit Fiktion verknüpft werden und zu einer alternativen Vergangenheit verschmolzen sind. Während die historischen Tatsachen größtenteils auf wahren Ereignissen beruhen, wird der Rest dieser Geschichte von einer fiktiven Rahmenhandlung umhüllt, die die typischen Aspekte des Steampunk- Genres aufweist, dabei aber von neuartigen Ideen getragen wird.
Die Handlung wird aus zwei unterschiedlichen Sichtweisen erzählt, wodurch ein besserer Einblick in die beiden unterschiedlichen Fraktionen dieser Welt gegeben ist. Während auf der einen Seite die Darwinisten stehen, finden sich auf der anderen Seite die Mechanisten wieder; bei der Ausarbeitung beider Seiten hat der Autor viel Kreativität in der Umsetzung seiner Maschinen und Wesenheiten bewiesen, wodurch man dieses Buch in keinster Weise mit anderen Büchern dieses Genres vergleichen kann, denn diese Trilogie ist ebenso einzigartig wie originell.
Die Geschichte dabei ist so spannend, dass man sie am liebsten in einem Zug durchlesen möchte, da die Spannungskurve sehr hoch gehalten wurde und durch viele überraschende Wendungen zusätzlich an Fahrt hinzugewinnt.
Dabei ist "Goliath" stets atmosphärisch dicht und schlüssig erzählt, was aufgrund der komplexen Handlungsstruktur der vorherigen Bände keine Selbstverständlichkeit ist. So werden nun alle Handlungsstränge zufriedenstellend zusammengeführt und bieten ein packendes Finale mit einer schönen Schluss.
Im Nachwort erläutert der Autor noch einmal, welche Begebenheiten seiner Geschichte real und welche Fiktion sind, wodurch noch einmal ein spannender Exkurs in die Geschichte der damaligen Zeit geliefert wird.

Neben den fiktiven Charakteren, die man größtenteils aus den ersten beiden Bänden kennt, treten auch einige reale historische Persönlichkeiten auf den Plan. Auch wenn ihre Taten teilweise der Handlung dieses Buches angepasst sind, so kommt doch ihr historisches Leitmotiv und ihr Platz in der Geschichte des ersten Weltkrieges sehr gut zum Tragen.
Dabei sind alle auftretenden Figuren ausgeklügelt und zutiefst durchdacht ausgearbeitet und bestechen durch eine unglaubliche Brillanz innerhalb der Geschichte, wodurch ein äußerst passender Charakterstab gewährleistet ist und alle ihre Handlungen authentisch erscheinen.

Scott Westerfeld bedient sich einer bildhaften Sprache, die noch zusätzlich durch die vielen Zeichnungen und Illustrationen innerhalb des Buches unterstrichen wird. Dadurch kann sich der Leser all diese Geschehenisse, Wesen und Maschinen besser vorstellen und bekommt ein besseres Gefühl für die Handlung.
Durch den flüssigen und dramatisch packenden Schreibstil fließt die Zeit nur so dahin und bietet dem Leser äußerst unterhaltsame Lesestunden, die nun leider mit diesem finalen Band ein Ende finden.
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Dec 29, 2012 Alan rated it 4 of 5 stars

There were some good surprises in Westerfeld's steampunk alternative history telling of WWI. Among those is that the war doesn't end with this book, and events are left open ended enough for Alek and Deryn's adventures to continue. I would not have been surprised if he had ended the war, but I like the portrayal of two people against the larger backdrop of the war better. Their actions will have a huge implications for the war's final outcome, but the outcome remains undecided at the book's end....more

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Dec 20, 2012 Kate rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: different

The third book of Scott Westerfeld's steampunk-bioengineering Leviathan series, a re-imagining of the events of World War I, was an exciting and satisfying end to the series.

I like the mixture of real figures from history and the infusion of new characters that Westerfeld brings to the forefront to tell the story. The Great War era was a clever backdrop to the personal struggles of the characters. The attitudes and norms of society were beginning to change drastically, the age of ruling European...more

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Dec 16, 2012 Peter rated it 5 of 5 stars

Product Description

Alek and Deryn are on the last leg of their round-the-world quest to end World War I, reclaim Alek’s throne as prince of Austria, and finally fall in love. The first two objectives are complicated by the fact that their ship, the Leviathan, continues to detour farther away from the heart of the war (and crown). And the love thing would be a lot easier if Alek knew Deryn was a girl. (She has to pose as a boy in order to serve in the British Air Service.) And if they weren’t

...more

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Nov 24, 2012 Ramon Sunico rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: american, europe, fantasy-sf, fiction, historical-fiction, modern, novel, series, ya

Quite a satisfying end to the trilogy. Westerfeld ties all the loose ends up pretty nicely. Am quite happy with the return of a couple of my favorite characters.

My notes from Leviathan, the first title in the series:
The first of a trilogy about an alternative history of the World War I, where the world is divided between two approaches to technology. There are the Clankers who follow a mechanical, steampunk approach to technology (Germany and the Austro-Hungarian empire) and the Darwinists how f...more

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Sep 18, 2012 Nicole Gozdek rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historische-fantasy, steampunk

"Goliath" ist leider schon der 3. und letzte Band von Scott Westerfelds großartiger Steampunk-Trilogie. Die Romane sind zu Beginn des 1. Weltkriegs angesiedelt und spielen in einer alternativen Welt, wo die Darwinisten (z.B. Großbritannien) mit ihren Tierschöpfungen und die Mechanisten (z.B. Deutschland, Österreich-Ungarn) mit ihren mechanischen Erfindungen die Welt unter sich aufgeteilt haben. Doch nicht nur die Idee ist großartig, sondern auch die Umsetzung mit den vielen unterschiedlichen Mas...more

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Aug 09, 2012 Maddy Leonard rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow. I just finished the book a few hours ago and it's still sinking in. Let me start off by saying first, that this is one of the best series I've read in a really long time and that I almost cried when it ended. I wanted so badly to hear more! Thankfully there is a "secret" end chapter on Scott Westerfelds website http://scottwesterfeld.com/blog/2011/...

Secondly, the characters. Deryn and Alek were the most likable characters a person could ask for when reading! They weren't annoying or conce...more

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Jul 17, 2012 Kaitlyn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: my-favorite-author, favorites

After final chapter: AHHHHHH!!! (A million things that I want to know!!) Cliff. Hanger!!! Although this left a lot of questions, it was very very good. Probably the best end to a series I've ever read. Okay, my brain is all mush right now because I can't get over *SPOILER*, so I will sum up the book very quickly: Fast-paced, full of action and romance, did not disappoint. And so many questions! Ahh! But boy, Westerfeld sure knows how to write them! Just, WOW. I cannot even properly review this b...more

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Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
Clanker or Darwinist	19	52	May 15, 2013 02:44pm
Amazing Series--steampunk	17	25	Apr 18, 2013 08:13pm
Word Game	2	4	Apr 09, 2013 09:29pm
How much do you love Alek? SPOILERS	18	72	Oct 24, 2012 08:58am
Who loved the not-so-fanfic by Mr. Westerfeld...	5	60	Jan 21, 2012 03:38pm

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About Scott Westerfeld

Scott Westerfeld is a New York Times bestselling American-born author of YA sci-fi literature. He was born in the Texas and now lives in Sydney and New York City. In 2001, Westerfeld married fellow author Justine Larbalestier.
His book Evolution's Darling was a New York Times Notable Book, and won a Special Citation for the 2000 Philip K. Dick Award. So Yesterday won a Victorian Premier's Award and...more

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Quotes from Goliath

“Let others wage war. You, lucky Austria, shall marry.” — 93 people liked it

“Have a little faith in me, Volger."
"I have great faith, tempered with vast annoyance.” — 65 people liked it

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Goliath (Leviathan #3)

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