Afterworlds

Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld is a story inside of another story. One is about Darcy Patel who has just signed a contract with a publisher to write two books, one of which has the first draft completed. The other story is the one that Darcy wrote.

Darcy Patel just graduated from high school. Her parents think she is off to college, but she is about to surprise them. She has just signed a contract (for a lot of money) to write two books for Underbridge Publishing. And she is going to defer college, move to New York City and write for the next year. Darcy's sister, Nisha, has created a budget based on her contract salary that will give her a couple of years in the city.

Darcy's first night in NYC she attends a YA authors drinks night. She is shocked to see so many authors she looks up to at the event. And she meets the newly signed authors whose books are yet to be printed - among them Imogen Gray.

The protagonist of Patel's book, Lizzie, is in the opposite chapters. Lizzie is on her way home from visiting her father in New York City, on a layover in Dallas, when terrorists attack the airport. She is far enough away to call 911 and the dispatcher encourages her to play dead. Lizzie plays dead so well she leaves her body and crosses over into the flipside. There she meets Yamaraj who helps her understand what is happening and then guides her back into her body.

Westerfeld has created two stories in one, both with great lead protagonist and a variety of wonderful supporting characters. The descriptions of YA authordom seem real and exciting filled with humor and anecdotes that have likely happened to Westerfeld or his friends. (I know that like one of the characters, author Libba Bray had a friend lock her in the trunk of a car to be able to describe it accurately.) Afterworlds is definitely worth a read.

Westerfeld, Scott. (2014). Afterworlds. New York: Simon Pulse.

Goliath (Leviathan #3)

Goliath by Scott Westerfeld is the conclusion of the Leviathan trilogy (except that his last trilogy ended up having four books, so fans can still hope for more!). The premise of the series is that instead of just discovering evolution, Darwin discovered DNA as well. As a result some countries developed machinery while others used DNA to create new type of beasts.

The Leviathan, the British airship, was created from whale DNA. It is a living, breathing ship that flies it crew around the sky. A whole ecosystem exists inside of it.

In this conclusion to the series, Dylan Sharp (actually Deryn disguised as a boy to join the service) and Prince Alek continue to do their part to help bring the war to an end. The Leviathan will make a detour to rescue a scientist who claims to be able to end the war with his contraption - the Goliath.

In this volume, Alek will discover Deryn's secret. The Leviathan will travel to many foreign lands. And a mad scientist will affect the outcome of the war.

Westerfeld has created a dynamic, steampunk alternative history of the Great War. His characters are compelling and his plot genius. Fans of so many different elements of story will delight in this series.

Westerfeld, Scott. (2011). Goliath. New York: Simon Pulse.

Behemoth (Leviathan #2)

Behemoth is the second book in Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan trilogy - set in an alternate history of WWI.

Dylan Sharp is a midshipman on the airship Leviathan - he is actually Deryn Sharp disguised as a boy to be able to serve in the British forces. Along with her usual middy jobs, she is to keep an eye on their prisoner, Alek - who is Austrian royalty disguised as a commoner.

Together Deryn and Alek will influence the outcome of the war in Europe. They are currently headed toward Istanbul - an neutral nation that may decide the course of the war.

In this alternate history the war is between Clankers - those who use machines - and Darwinists - those who splice DNA into new creatures used for everything from transportation to military.

Westerfeld has more imagination that can be contained in one genre. This brilliant series is a must read for fans of science fiction, history, steampunk, and adventure. Gorgeous illustrations by Keith Thompson help readers with stranger creatures that do not exist in our own time.

Westerfeld, Scott. (2010). Behemoth. New York: Simon Pulse.

Leviathan (book #1)

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld, pictures by Keith Thompson, is an alternative look at history - as if Darwin discovered not only evolution but DNA.

On the eve of WWI, Germany relies on machines while the British use Darwinist fabricated animals as their weaponry. The Leviathan is their largest whaleship.

Alek is a prince in the Austro-Hungarian Empire and he is on the run from his own people. The murder of his parents set off a chain of events that will lead all of Europe into war. He has one Stormwalker and a few loyal men to get him to safety over the Swiss border.

Deryn Sharp is a Scottish lass who has disguised herself as a boy called Dlyan to join the British Air Service. Since she was a kid all she has wanted to do is fly.

Westerfeld's imagination is once again the place where magic happens. Leviathan proves that he can write great speculative fiction in any time period. The book is peppered with gorgeous illustrations by Keith Thompson that help readers grasp the strange and wonderful creations of the Clankers and the Darwinists. I can't wait for the next book!

Westerfeld, Scott. (2009). Leviathan. New York: Simon Pulse.

Midnighters: The Secret Hour (Midnighters #1)

Midnighters: The Secret Hour by Scott Westerfeld is the first book in the Midnighter series.

Jessica Day just moved to Bixby, Oklahoma from Chicago. Since they moved she has been having strange dreams. Only they are not dreams.

There is an extra hour in the night but only for those who can see it. Most people do not notice any disturbance but they are frozen in time for 60 minutes each night. For those like Jessica, when in proximity to a special site - in this case Bixby - there is a blue hour at midnight.

Bixby already has some midnighters - those who can move around in the midnight hour - four students at her new school who have different powers at night. There is a Seer, a Mindcaster, an Acrobat, and a Polymath.

Now that Jessica has met them, they must find out what Jessica's power is and why the creatures who share the hour with them are following Jessica around town.

Westerfeld, Scott. (2004). Midnighters: The Secret Hour. New York: EOS.

So Yesterday

So Yesterday by Scott Westerfeld is about trends. Hunter Braque is a Trendsetter. He does not start new trends, he spots them on Innovators and passes them up the line to the companies who spread them. Mostly he works in shoes. And is paid in shoes.

While spotting a new shoelace trend, he meets Jen. Jen is definitely an Innovator. She does not follow what is cool, but makes her own cool.

Together Hunter and Jen follow the trail of a missing colleague of Hunter's. She disappeared when trying to show them the coolest shoe ever. The trail leads them to a group that is trying to bring the downfall of consumerism as we know it.

So Yesterday is an interesting look at trends and brands that we see everyday and probably don't even think about. The book takes place in New York City and has a unique view of the city that only someone who lives here will fully appreciate.

Westerfeld, Scott. (2004). So Yesterday. New York: Razor Bill.

Extras (Uglies series #4)

Extras is the fourth book in Scott Westerfeld's Uglies series. It begins three years after Tally, Shay and David helped to bring the bubbleheaded time to an end.

The world has changed a great deal since then. One city has installed a system where you fame ranking is what decides your status in the economic ranking as well. The higher your face rank, the bigger your apartment, the more merits you have to spend. This economy leads to "kickers." Kickers spread gossip and stories to gain fame.

Aya Fuse is a fifteen year old ugly who wants to raise her face rank. Right now she is at 451,369. A nobody. An extra.

Then Aya meets a group of girls who pull great stunts. The strange thing about them is that they want to be anonymous. But if Aya can become one and then kick the story she might be famous enough to break out of the extras.

Though this book features other characters, Scott Westerfeld stayed true to the vision he began with Uglies. Extras is just as exciting as the first three books. I can't wait for the next one!

Westerfeld, Scott. (2007). Extras. New York: Simon Pulse.

Specials (Uglies Trilogy #3)

Specials is the third book in Scott Westerfeld's Uglies Trilogy.

Tally has been an ugly, a pretty, and now she will become a special. How will she react to being on the other side of the battle for freedom? Will she, like other specials, capture the pretties who are trying to escape the city?

Specials are super fighting machines. They are created to keep the uglies and pretties in line with the dogma of the city. They have strength, speed, clarity and focus. And Tally feels better than she ever thought possible. Being icy makes everything clear at last.

She has the chance to stop the New Smokies once and for all. As soon as she can make Zane into a special she will do whatever is asked of her...

This is an awesome trilogy! Go read it! Now!

Westerfeld, Scott. (2006). Specials. New York: Simon Pulse.

Pretties (Uglies Trilogy #2)

Pretties is the second book in Scott Westerfeld's Uglies Trilogy. The trilogy takes place in a world where everyone has an operation when s/he turns 16. An operation to become pretty.

There are those who try to fight against becoming pretty. Those who escape the city to live in the wild. Because there are those who believe that along with changing bodies, the operations alter personalities - a way to control the population.

But for those who have already had the operation, is there any escape? Or are they to "pretty-minded" to care about anything other than the next party?

Westerfeld, Scott. (2005). Pretties. New York: Simon Pulse.

Uglies (Uglies Trilogy #1)

Uglies is the first book in Scott Westerfeld's Uglies trilogy. It is partly a social commentary on the superficialness of society.

Tally is about to turn 16. On her birthday she will have an operation that will change her from an "ugly" to a "pretty." Her time living in the dorms in Uglyville will come to an end. New Pretty Town, here she comes... or not.

A few months before her birthday she meets Shay - another 15 year old who shares her birthday. Shay tries to convince her not to become a pretty - a concept that goes against everything they have been programed to believe.

Shay is convinced that outside of the city there is a place where people go who do not want to have their faces and bodies altered to look like everyone else. Tally is sure it does not exist.

Just before their birthday, Shay runs away. She leaves Tally a cryptic note she can follow if she want to join her.

On her birthday, the authorities - Special Circumstances - informs Tally that she will not be able to become a pretty unless she helps them find Shay and the others who have run away.

This is a great book! I cannot wait to read the next one - Pretties.

Westerfeld, Scott. (2005). Uglies. New York: Simon Pulse.