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In his award winning title Mortal engines, Philip Reeve has built an amazing future world in
which after a huge war, the decimation and scarcity of resources has caused the
cities of Europe to uproot themselves and roam about on wheels hunting for
smaller towns to ‘devour.’ Referred to
as Municipal Darwinism, the idea seems laughable but Reeve has managed to make
the whole structure of society believable and engaging. Thomas, a third-class apprentice to the Guild
of Historians in the moving city of London, hero worships Thaddeus Valentine
the Head Historian, until the day when he prevents Hester Shaw attacking Valentine
and ends up ejected from the city next to her. An unwilling hero he becomes
caught up in her desire for revenge and the struggles of the Anti-Traction
League – those living in the static cities trying to avoid being taken over.
There are many startling ideas raised, the clash of good and evil with a
compelling and action packed storyline, make this is a great read, you won’t
want it to end. Good news is it doesn’t, Predator’s
gold, Infernal devices and A darkling
plain are all as popular as the first in the quartet. There are also a
series of prequels, with different protagonists and different cities but
helping continue the world-building and steam punk style sci- fi of Mortal engines, they are Fever crumb, A web of air and Scrivener’s moon.
A possible movie
adaptation may be on the cards with Peter Jackson said to have bought the
rights.
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