Goliath
109. Scott Westerfeld, Goliath
Warning: minor spoilers for previous books in the series.
In this final installment of the Leviathan series, Alek and Deryn continue to search for a way to put an end to World War I. After the events of Behemoth, they are both back on the Leviathan and flying over the wastelands of northern Russia. Suddenly the ship is ordered to change its course and pick up a renowned Clanker scientist, who turns out to be none other than Nikola Tesla. Tesla claims to have invented a new weapon called Goliath that is capable of laying waste to an entire city, and he hopes to end the war by essentially scaring both sides into peace. The crew of the Leviathan humors him in the hope of keeping him on the side of the Darwinists. Meanwhile, Alek is struggling to make sense of his destiny, and Deryn is finding it harder and harder to maintain her disguise, especially in front of the boy she’s grown to love.
Fans of the first two books in this series will not be disappointed by the finale. There’s just as much adventure in this book as in the previous two, and the Leviathan’s crew travels to even more exotic destinations around the world, including Siberia, Tokyo, California, Mexico, and New York City. One of my favorite aspects of the book was Alek’s and Deryn’s reactions to all the publicity they encounter in America, with rival newspapermen clamoring for the biggest scoop. Also, Alek grows substantially as a character in this book, as he ponders his destiny and finally makes a decision about his role in the world. I was also happy to see the resolution of Alek and Deryn’s relationship, although it was a bit more “told” than “shown.” Overall, the book manages to provide a satisfying ending while still leaving some unanswered questions. For example, just what is the purpose of the perspicacious lorises? What is Dr. Barlow’s agenda? And what will happen to Alek and Deryn going forward? Although this book is the last in the series, I hope that Westerfeld will return to this world, perhaps with a new trilogy!