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Worldshaker #1
Worldshaker
Col is a wealthy child of privilege. Raised to succeed his grandfather as the Supreme Commander of the juggernaut Worldshaker, he has lived a pampered life on the Upper Decks. He has never questioned his place in the world or his bright and illustrious future. But when a Filthy girl stows away in his cabin, suddenly nothing is clear anymore. Quick and clever, Riff is nothing like the Filthies that Col always learned about—the dumb, slow, less-than-human folk who toil away Below, keeping Worldshaker moving. Filthies are supposed to be animal-like, without the power of speech or the ability to think for themselves—but Riff is clever and quick and outspoken, and Col is drawn to her despite himself.
As Col begins to secretly spend more time with Riff, he begins to question everything he was raised to believe was true, and realizes that if Riff is right, then everything he was raised to believe is a lie. And Col himself may be the only person in a position to do something about it—even if it means risking his future.
As Col begins to secretly spend more time with Riff, he begins to question everything he was raised to believe was true, and realizes that if Riff is right, then everything he was raised to believe is a lie. And Col himself may be the only person in a position to do something about it—even if it means risking his future.
416 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
65 people are currently reading
3097 people want to read
About the author
Richard Harland
70 books124 followersI was born in Yorkshire, England, then migrated to Australia at the age of twenty-one. I was always trying to write, but could never finish the stories I began. Instead I drifted around as a singer, songwriter and poet, then became a university tutor and finally a university lecturer. But after twenty-five years of writer’s block, I finally finished the cult novel, The Vicar of Morbing Vyle, and resigned my lectureship to follow my original dream.
Since then, I've had seventeen books published, all fantasy, SF or horror/supernatural, ranging from Children’s to Young Adult to Adult. My biggest success internationally has come with my YA steampunk fantasies, Worldshaker and its sequels. I've won six Aurealis Awards (Australia's Nebulas) and the Prix Tam-tam du Livre Jeunesse for Le Worldshaker.
I live with partner Aileen near Wollongong, south of Sydney, between golden beaches and green escarpment. Walking Yogi the Labrador while listening to music is my favourite relaxation—when I'm not writing like a mad workaholic, catching up on those wasted twenty-five years …
My website for The Ferren Trilogy and other books is at www.ferren.com.au. I've also put up a comprehensive 145-page guide of tips for writing fantasy fiction at www.writingtips.com.au.
Since then, I've had seventeen books published, all fantasy, SF or horror/supernatural, ranging from Children’s to Young Adult to Adult. My biggest success internationally has come with my YA steampunk fantasies, Worldshaker and its sequels. I've won six Aurealis Awards (Australia's Nebulas) and the Prix Tam-tam du Livre Jeunesse for Le Worldshaker.
I live with partner Aileen near Wollongong, south of Sydney, between golden beaches and green escarpment. Walking Yogi the Labrador while listening to music is my favourite relaxation—when I'm not writing like a mad workaholic, catching up on those wasted twenty-five years …
My website for The Ferren Trilogy and other books is at www.ferren.com.au. I've also put up a comprehensive 145-page guide of tips for writing fantasy fiction at www.writingtips.com.au.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 290 reviews
May 8, 2019
I really liked this book it had a really interesting concept it was well written I enjoyed all parts of this book. I really liked the characters especially Col and Riff I liked their interactions and how they met which was her hiding under his bed because of her Col started seeing things how they really were and not how he had thought they were. I really liked the plot of this book it was very compelling I loved everything about it from start to finish. I liked how the plot unraveled gradually with Col figuring out things were not quite right and figuring how horrible many of the people around him actually were. I liked how it came to a head and everything started to be resolved it was a really good read. So overall I loved this book I will finish the series soon.
August 28, 2011
http://www.rantingdragon.com/worldsha...
Richard Harland’s Worldshaker is a dystopian steampunk adventure aimed at young adult readers. Although it is targeted at a younger audience, I found this novel to be an entertaining and worthwhile read that I finished in one sitting.
A steampunk coming of age story
Worldshaker tells the story of Col Porpentine, grandson of Sir Mormus Porpentine, Supreme Commander of the industrial juggernaut Worldshaker. Col lives a privileged yet sheltered life on the elite upper decks of the immense moving city while sub-human workers known as Filthies toil below. Chosen to succeed his grandfather one day and bring honor to his family, Col’s life seems to be on track. However, unbeknownst to him, his safe, stable world is doomed to fall apart when an escaped female Filthy chooses his cabin as a hiding place. Despite her wild appearance and lack of personal hygiene, the Filthy, called Riff, doesn’t seem that different from anyone else and, most shocking of all, she can speak! No matter how hard he tries, Col cannot escape the knowledge that life as he knows it is based on a lie. Furthermore, he hasn’t seen the last of the Filthies, and the events that follow will have him questioning everything he once believed in, both about his society, and himself .
A familiar tale with a refreshing twist
Combining elements of romance, satire and adventure, Worldshaker focuses on the relationship between the protagonists, Col and Riff, and Col’s resultant awakening to the rampant injustice within his society. While the concepts of star-crossed love and a challenge to an individual’s preconceived worldviews are hardly new to literature, Harland writes with such wit and humor that these familiar concepts feel fresh and exciting. He also adds his own surprising twists to the familiar tale, ranging from the inevitable to the downright bizarre.
Col and Riff are likeable yet believably flawed and are supported by a colorful cast of quirky secondary characters, each with their own unique charm. Undoubtedly some exist more for the sake of parody than others, drawing attention to various follies within society and human nature. Nevertheless, while they may initially seem more like humorous caricatures than real people, most develop greater depth as the story progresses, becoming much more relatable as a result. I also thought it was nice to see a Romeo and Juliet story where the traditional roles are reversed and Riff is the streetwise, kick-ass heroine and Col, while educated and intelligent, is comparatively naïve in the ways of the world. While Harland may not be the only writer to explore this variation on traditional gender roles, I thought it added another layer to the narrative and fit in well with the rest of the story.
A quirky world with plenty of surprises
Worldshaker’s setting is unique and fascinating despite the fact that the story takes place entirely within the self contained world of the industrial behemoth. The upper decks are populated by stuffy upper-class English society with stiff manners and a rigid social class system. In contrast, the lower decks are a perilous wasteland of coal, machinery and furnaces where a single slip could cost one their life. We are also given some intriguing hints as to the history of Harland’s world and the existence of similar moving cities, manned by the populations of different developed countries. Overall, I was left with a strong desire to learn more about the world outside Worldshaker which, without giving away too much, happily features more prominently in the sequel Liberator. Readers who prefer all aspects worldbuilding to be backed up with scientific explanation may be in for an unpleasant surprise, but those willing to suspend disbelief and have a bit of fun will enjoy the quirky humor and sharp, slightly satirical wit. Much like the maze of hidden compartments and secret rooms that characterize Harland’s juggernaut, the story itself contains some genuine surprises. The plot itself is not shy in taking unforeseen directions, and characters you thought you knew frequently reveal new aspects of their personalities, both for the better and the worse.
On a slightly darker note…
Don’t make the mistake, however, of thinking that Worldshaker is nothing but a lighthearted romp. There are more serious concepts explored and darker moments throughout the novel. Themes of betrayal, prejudice, revolution and oppression underlie the plot and even the more humorous parts of the novel have a slightly darker edge than you might find in most books aimed at a similar age group.
Why should you read this book?
I recommend Worldshaker to anyone with an interest in the steampunk genre, anyone who enjoys quirky stories with a healthy dose of humor, and more conventional fantasy fans looking for a change of pace. While the plot may seem a little simple for some older readers, I believe the unique writing style and wit provide adequate compensation. I definitely consider Worldshaker a worthwhile read; and the sequel Liberator, which I read immediately after, is even better.
Richard Harland’s Worldshaker is a dystopian steampunk adventure aimed at young adult readers. Although it is targeted at a younger audience, I found this novel to be an entertaining and worthwhile read that I finished in one sitting.
A steampunk coming of age story
Worldshaker tells the story of Col Porpentine, grandson of Sir Mormus Porpentine, Supreme Commander of the industrial juggernaut Worldshaker. Col lives a privileged yet sheltered life on the elite upper decks of the immense moving city while sub-human workers known as Filthies toil below. Chosen to succeed his grandfather one day and bring honor to his family, Col’s life seems to be on track. However, unbeknownst to him, his safe, stable world is doomed to fall apart when an escaped female Filthy chooses his cabin as a hiding place. Despite her wild appearance and lack of personal hygiene, the Filthy, called Riff, doesn’t seem that different from anyone else and, most shocking of all, she can speak! No matter how hard he tries, Col cannot escape the knowledge that life as he knows it is based on a lie. Furthermore, he hasn’t seen the last of the Filthies, and the events that follow will have him questioning everything he once believed in, both about his society, and himself .
A familiar tale with a refreshing twist
Combining elements of romance, satire and adventure, Worldshaker focuses on the relationship between the protagonists, Col and Riff, and Col’s resultant awakening to the rampant injustice within his society. While the concepts of star-crossed love and a challenge to an individual’s preconceived worldviews are hardly new to literature, Harland writes with such wit and humor that these familiar concepts feel fresh and exciting. He also adds his own surprising twists to the familiar tale, ranging from the inevitable to the downright bizarre.
Col and Riff are likeable yet believably flawed and are supported by a colorful cast of quirky secondary characters, each with their own unique charm. Undoubtedly some exist more for the sake of parody than others, drawing attention to various follies within society and human nature. Nevertheless, while they may initially seem more like humorous caricatures than real people, most develop greater depth as the story progresses, becoming much more relatable as a result. I also thought it was nice to see a Romeo and Juliet story where the traditional roles are reversed and Riff is the streetwise, kick-ass heroine and Col, while educated and intelligent, is comparatively naïve in the ways of the world. While Harland may not be the only writer to explore this variation on traditional gender roles, I thought it added another layer to the narrative and fit in well with the rest of the story.
A quirky world with plenty of surprises
Worldshaker’s setting is unique and fascinating despite the fact that the story takes place entirely within the self contained world of the industrial behemoth. The upper decks are populated by stuffy upper-class English society with stiff manners and a rigid social class system. In contrast, the lower decks are a perilous wasteland of coal, machinery and furnaces where a single slip could cost one their life. We are also given some intriguing hints as to the history of Harland’s world and the existence of similar moving cities, manned by the populations of different developed countries. Overall, I was left with a strong desire to learn more about the world outside Worldshaker which, without giving away too much, happily features more prominently in the sequel Liberator. Readers who prefer all aspects worldbuilding to be backed up with scientific explanation may be in for an unpleasant surprise, but those willing to suspend disbelief and have a bit of fun will enjoy the quirky humor and sharp, slightly satirical wit. Much like the maze of hidden compartments and secret rooms that characterize Harland’s juggernaut, the story itself contains some genuine surprises. The plot itself is not shy in taking unforeseen directions, and characters you thought you knew frequently reveal new aspects of their personalities, both for the better and the worse.
On a slightly darker note…
Don’t make the mistake, however, of thinking that Worldshaker is nothing but a lighthearted romp. There are more serious concepts explored and darker moments throughout the novel. Themes of betrayal, prejudice, revolution and oppression underlie the plot and even the more humorous parts of the novel have a slightly darker edge than you might find in most books aimed at a similar age group.
Why should you read this book?
I recommend Worldshaker to anyone with an interest in the steampunk genre, anyone who enjoys quirky stories with a healthy dose of humor, and more conventional fantasy fans looking for a change of pace. While the plot may seem a little simple for some older readers, I believe the unique writing style and wit provide adequate compensation. I definitely consider Worldshaker a worthwhile read; and the sequel Liberator, which I read immediately after, is even better.
December 27, 2013
The fair thing for me to do would be to give this book three stars, not two. It's not a bad book. It's actually a pretty good book. But...
well, there's so much to say. I just hope I can remember everything I was thinking.
Col...I wasn't a huge fan of his character. He's a wealthy, sheltered, naive teenage boy who didn't really have any personality, and none of that inspired affection in me. Then he meets Riff, and he morphs into this sappy kid who's experiencing his first love. 'He remembered the way her lips felt' or 'He just wanted her to keep touching his hand' or whatever. No thanks. It was too puppy-dog for my tastes. I prefer equal relationships.
Which brings up my next point; Riff. She could've shown a little more affection towards the boy who is apparently her love interest. It was awfully one-sided, I thought. Col is smitten with her, and she almost never reciprocates.
But other than that, I loved Riff. She was hilarious, which I appreciated, and Harland gave her some interesting features that helped me picture her more clearly (although how does black and blonde hair grow naturally?) She acted a little too high and mighty sometimes, but I got over it. She was cool.
I thought the entire idea was interesting. You've got these two social classes, Upper Decks and Filthies, who are so separated, and whose reputations are so skewed by their opposites, that they originally believe they're different species. How weird, if slightly unbelievable.
And then you've got the idea of the juggernauts. At first I pictured them as the ships in Kenneth Oppel's Airborn trilogy. I thought juggernauts flew. But then it hit me that they don't, and I had to switch gears. The idea that the juggernauts just carve a path in the earth is fascinating and visually arresting, if you can picture it. And the whole concept of revolution is great, especially when you've got characters like Col caught in the middle.
The execution was pretty good, actually. The writing was not too boring, not too short, whatever. Not exceptional, not bad. The story hit some dull spots, though. I mean, a good portion of the book was spent following Col through his first weeks of school. I understand if that's an event that needs to happen, but I don't really care about how his grandmother ordered his supplies for him. That whole part could've been ushered on a little faster.
One writing ploy I did like was the fight scenes. Harland spent a lot of time on the fight scenes, both hand-to-hand and gunfights. It was kind of awesome. And I really enjoyed the climax, with the actual revolution and the guns and the crazy Mormus guy. It was my favorite part, and I really don't have anything bad to say about it. At the very end, Riff could've been a bit nicer to Col, considering they're supposed to be a thing, but that's the epilogue, not the climax. The climax rocked.
This book was...pretty good. I like steampunk, although the clothes kind of creep me out. It's a good steampunk read, a good revolution/dystopia read, a good action read. Not a good romance or character development read, though. So pick your criteria wisely when choosing this book.
well, there's so much to say. I just hope I can remember everything I was thinking.
Col...I wasn't a huge fan of his character. He's a wealthy, sheltered, naive teenage boy who didn't really have any personality, and none of that inspired affection in me. Then he meets Riff, and he morphs into this sappy kid who's experiencing his first love. 'He remembered the way her lips felt' or 'He just wanted her to keep touching his hand' or whatever. No thanks. It was too puppy-dog for my tastes. I prefer equal relationships.
Which brings up my next point; Riff. She could've shown a little more affection towards the boy who is apparently her love interest. It was awfully one-sided, I thought. Col is smitten with her, and she almost never reciprocates.
But other than that, I loved Riff. She was hilarious, which I appreciated, and Harland gave her some interesting features that helped me picture her more clearly (although how does black and blonde hair grow naturally?) She acted a little too high and mighty sometimes, but I got over it. She was cool.
I thought the entire idea was interesting. You've got these two social classes, Upper Decks and Filthies, who are so separated, and whose reputations are so skewed by their opposites, that they originally believe they're different species. How weird, if slightly unbelievable.
And then you've got the idea of the juggernauts. At first I pictured them as the ships in Kenneth Oppel's Airborn trilogy. I thought juggernauts flew. But then it hit me that they don't, and I had to switch gears. The idea that the juggernauts just carve a path in the earth is fascinating and visually arresting, if you can picture it. And the whole concept of revolution is great, especially when you've got characters like Col caught in the middle.
The execution was pretty good, actually. The writing was not too boring, not too short, whatever. Not exceptional, not bad. The story hit some dull spots, though. I mean, a good portion of the book was spent following Col through his first weeks of school. I understand if that's an event that needs to happen, but I don't really care about how his grandmother ordered his supplies for him. That whole part could've been ushered on a little faster.
One writing ploy I did like was the fight scenes. Harland spent a lot of time on the fight scenes, both hand-to-hand and gunfights. It was kind of awesome. And I really enjoyed the climax, with the actual revolution and the guns and the crazy Mormus guy. It was my favorite part, and I really don't have anything bad to say about it. At the very end, Riff could've been a bit nicer to Col, considering they're supposed to be a thing, but that's the epilogue, not the climax. The climax rocked.
This book was...pretty good. I like steampunk, although the clothes kind of creep me out. It's a good steampunk read, a good revolution/dystopia read, a good action read. Not a good romance or character development read, though. So pick your criteria wisely when choosing this book.
June 29, 2010
I should probably declare that Richard Harland is a good friend of mine and so I really, really wanted to like this book. Luckily, I loved it! I’ve been told it’s a YA steam punk novel – steam punk is not a new genre but it’s hot at the moment and once I realised it simply meant books set in a sort of alternative Victorian world with lots of steam-propelled gadgets and frockcoats and corsets, I knew I’d enjoy it. It’s an action-packed novel full of humour and drama and Dickensian characters and it really deserves its success!
October 20, 2014
It was for school. So yeah.
June 27, 2012
I've been having difficulty writing a review for this book, though I'm not sure why.
In short, I thought it was an enjoyable romp, even if many of the elements were rather familiar. Mr. Harland captures the stuffiness of Victorian principles well, and yet manages to make some of his upper-class characters empathetic. His writing is crisp, and he generally kept things moving forward at a good clip, while managing to toss in some character development.
Are there cliches involved, and has Mr. Harland liberally thieved from a number of sources? Well, yes. At it's core, "Worldshaker" is a Romeo and Juliet story with a revolution thrown in (I've avoided Les Miserables, but I suspect this would seem much the same in many ways). There is a bit of "My Fair Lady" for those who know it, and some of the characters are cut from very comfortable bits of cloth: the bossy older sister, the monarchs who are truly down-to-earth, the pompous grandfather who is patriarch of the family and rules with an iron fist, the ineffectual parents who somehow manage to produce *very* effective children.
Still, many of these might not be so time-worn to the target audience of teens, and the main characters will certainly be familiar in a good way. Col is the adolescent trying to find his own identity (and make the right choices along the way while dealing with bullies, and a family who stifles him), Riff is the smart, sassy and still quite attractive love interest. Some might suggest that Col falls for her too quickly... but haven't most of us experienced that first hard crush, and the heady swiftness of teen love?
In any case, it was a fun, well-crafted summer read - even for this aging adult!
In short, I thought it was an enjoyable romp, even if many of the elements were rather familiar. Mr. Harland captures the stuffiness of Victorian principles well, and yet manages to make some of his upper-class characters empathetic. His writing is crisp, and he generally kept things moving forward at a good clip, while managing to toss in some character development.
Are there cliches involved, and has Mr. Harland liberally thieved from a number of sources? Well, yes. At it's core, "Worldshaker" is a Romeo and Juliet story with a revolution thrown in (I've avoided Les Miserables, but I suspect this would seem much the same in many ways). There is a bit of "My Fair Lady" for those who know it, and some of the characters are cut from very comfortable bits of cloth: the bossy older sister, the monarchs who are truly down-to-earth, the pompous grandfather who is patriarch of the family and rules with an iron fist, the ineffectual parents who somehow manage to produce *very* effective children.
Still, many of these might not be so time-worn to the target audience of teens, and the main characters will certainly be familiar in a good way. Col is the adolescent trying to find his own identity (and make the right choices along the way while dealing with bullies, and a family who stifles him), Riff is the smart, sassy and still quite attractive love interest. Some might suggest that Col falls for her too quickly... but haven't most of us experienced that first hard crush, and the heady swiftness of teen love?
In any case, it was a fun, well-crafted summer read - even for this aging adult!
September 6, 2015
A similar concept to Mortal Engines. Where M.E. focused more on the wider world beyond the steampunk-juggernaut-city-on-wheels, Worldshaker focuses on the city itself, allowing for greater depth and development of ideas. I had no interest in reading a sequel to M.E., but I would read a sequel to this. Worldshaker was far better written and better executed than M.E., with a better plot and better characters - at least in my opinion.
November 11, 2018
I had to read this book for school, and honestly I thought it would be super boring but the storyline and the fact that its so fast paced make it a great book! Not something I would normally read at all but it impressed me.
July 20, 2018
Rating: 2.5 stars
Boy this book took me ages to read, and it feels great having finished it. My thoughts:
~The story took place in such a rich steampunk centric sort of setting with juggernauts and steam engines and tailcoats and was a lovely mash of traditional and technological which is fabulous.
~However the things that let me down was the characters. The characters I did like were barely in the story. Col was just such a bland character and because the story was told through his voice I was just constantly bored with his vanilla brain.
~The book has so much potential, I absolutely LOVE steampunk and the setting was wonderful but
I couldn't get into it, or frankly, care about the characters much.
~It was also massively predictable, so the exciting bits just weren't exciting, it was a massive let down.
~One thing i did love, however, was the weaving of the history of the juggernaut and its backstory with our history. It was done really well and was quite interesting with how it was constructed.
~Towards the end, however, the pace of the story did pick up and I did enjoy myself. I feel like younger Sana would have definitely loved the whole story. If I had read the story, say about 5 to 6 years ago, I would have DEFINITELY rated it much higher.
Boy this book took me ages to read, and it feels great having finished it. My thoughts:
~The story took place in such a rich steampunk centric sort of setting with juggernauts and steam engines and tailcoats and was a lovely mash of traditional and technological which is fabulous.
~However the things that let me down was the characters. The characters I did like were barely in the story. Col was just such a bland character and because the story was told through his voice I was just constantly bored with his vanilla brain.
~The book has so much potential, I absolutely LOVE steampunk and the setting was wonderful but
I couldn't get into it, or frankly, care about the characters much.
~It was also massively predictable, so the exciting bits just weren't exciting, it was a massive let down.
~One thing i did love, however, was the weaving of the history of the juggernaut and its backstory with our history. It was done really well and was quite interesting with how it was constructed.
~Towards the end, however, the pace of the story did pick up and I did enjoy myself. I feel like younger Sana would have definitely loved the whole story. If I had read the story, say about 5 to 6 years ago, I would have DEFINITELY rated it much higher.
June 21, 2018
I don't really know how I feel about this book. I usually love dystopian novels but this whole story
was hard to believe.
A "ship" the size of a city moves around the world with a variety of inhabitants on
board. The population of people is made up of the upper class citizens (including Colbert the main male character), the menials (the servants to the upper class) and the filthies (including Riff the main female character who are considered a "different species".) Colbert is raised to believe that the upper class citizens are at the top and all others should bow to them. Riff escapes the solitude of "down below", where the filthies are kept, and ends up in Col's room. A connection forms and Col begins to realize that maybe everything he thought he knew isn't true.
I couldn't seem to figure out what time frame this book takes place. The information provided mentions that the ship has been around for 100 years and was created in the early 1700's. There are also parts that mention industrialized things like working cranes and automatic lights which leads me to believe they are in a later time period? I was also confused as to what area this population of people come from. Col's family members have an English accent and the work breeches is mentioned numerous times. But then one of the filthies speaks like a country person. These random details made it very hard to follow along with what was going on.
I like Col and Riff as individual characters but for the most part their personalities were very weak. A romance sparks but I was left feeling very lackluster in regards to their chemistry.
was hard to believe.
A "ship" the size of a city moves around the world with a variety of inhabitants on
board. The population of people is made up of the upper class citizens (including Colbert the main male character), the menials (the servants to the upper class) and the filthies (including Riff the main female character who are considered a "different species".) Colbert is raised to believe that the upper class citizens are at the top and all others should bow to them. Riff escapes the solitude of "down below", where the filthies are kept, and ends up in Col's room. A connection forms and Col begins to realize that maybe everything he thought he knew isn't true.
I couldn't seem to figure out what time frame this book takes place. The information provided mentions that the ship has been around for 100 years and was created in the early 1700's. There are also parts that mention industrialized things like working cranes and automatic lights which leads me to believe they are in a later time period? I was also confused as to what area this population of people come from. Col's family members have an English accent and the work breeches is mentioned numerous times. But then one of the filthies speaks like a country person. These random details made it very hard to follow along with what was going on.
I like Col and Riff as individual characters but for the most part their personalities were very weak. A romance sparks but I was left feeling very lackluster in regards to their chemistry.
July 11, 2025
I could not put this book down. I found it in a little free library forever ago and never read it and I’m so glad I finally did! Great concept and great twists and turns with many things I didn’t expect. Fast pace and love the set up of short chapters. Have ordered the second book and excited for it!
August 6, 2009
Though I don’t usually read fantasy (I think Worldshaker classifies as ‘steampunk’, which is an incredibly irrelevant genre name that imparts absolutely no information about the novel, but sounds really awesome), I really enjoyed Worldshaker. I was slightly frustrated by Col’s naivety, but he was a character who was easy to empathise with the deeper I got into the novel. I found the plot believable, and the ending satisfying and conclusive.
The world within which Col lived on the juggernaut, separated into the Upper Decks and the Filthies Below, made for a fantastic setting – dark and a little bit sinister, and very alternative to our own world but at the same time with many similarities. The characters within Worldshaker fit very much with their surroundings, and there were many weird and wonderful personalities who you were never quite sure were on Col’s side or not.
Richard Harland spoke on the fantasy panel at the NSW Writer’s Centre Kids & YA Festival about the history in Worldshaker. It’s explained in the novel how it came about that everyone is living on juggernauts, and the Filthies are living below, and the world in Worldshaker’s history is very much the same as ours, until Napoleon made a different decision, and juggernauts slowly became possible in their world. I liked the thought of it being entirely possible that maybe we could be living on these ridiculously large earth-ship things, and I thought of it again when I read James Roy’s Sliding Doors post on this blog, and how different things would be if people in power had have made different decisions however many years ago (though it is very, very improbable, it’s an interesting thing to think about).
I also have to mention, I absolutely love the cover of Worldshaker. It has got to be one of my favourite book covers of all time.
I recommend this book to anyone and everyone. It’s a fantastic, multi-faceted fantasy story which is very reflective of the real world, and I really enjoyed it.
The world within which Col lived on the juggernaut, separated into the Upper Decks and the Filthies Below, made for a fantastic setting – dark and a little bit sinister, and very alternative to our own world but at the same time with many similarities. The characters within Worldshaker fit very much with their surroundings, and there were many weird and wonderful personalities who you were never quite sure were on Col’s side or not.
Richard Harland spoke on the fantasy panel at the NSW Writer’s Centre Kids & YA Festival about the history in Worldshaker. It’s explained in the novel how it came about that everyone is living on juggernauts, and the Filthies are living below, and the world in Worldshaker’s history is very much the same as ours, until Napoleon made a different decision, and juggernauts slowly became possible in their world. I liked the thought of it being entirely possible that maybe we could be living on these ridiculously large earth-ship things, and I thought of it again when I read James Roy’s Sliding Doors post on this blog, and how different things would be if people in power had have made different decisions however many years ago (though it is very, very improbable, it’s an interesting thing to think about).
I also have to mention, I absolutely love the cover of Worldshaker. It has got to be one of my favourite book covers of all time.
I recommend this book to anyone and everyone. It’s a fantastic, multi-faceted fantasy story which is very reflective of the real world, and I really enjoyed it.
December 1, 2010
Worldshaker is a Romeo and Juliet love story set in steam-punk world where “civilized” people live on massive steam powered vessels. Colbert Porpentine is the Romeo of this tale and also the grandson of the supreme commander of the Worldshaker dreadnought. Col as it turns out, has been chosen to succeed his grandfather as supreme commander of Worldshaker. However, an encounter with a Filthy (or lower class) girl causes Colbert to question his life on the Worldshaker. The Filthy girl Riff (or Juliet) is from the lower decks or the Below, where life is hard and only the quick and strong survive. Fortunately for Riff she is both, and also a leader of the revolutionary council. This council’s sole purpose is to overthrow those who live on the upper deck of the Worldshaker. Unfortunately, Riff’s status as a Filthy and her involvement in the council spells trouble for Col and ultimately sends him on a collision course with his family and the rest of the upper decks.
While Worldshaker was an interesting setting, Harland’s method of writing and storytelling were often too simplistic and outlandish to take advantage of this. In fact, these quirks resulted in characters that were stereotypical and often devoid of complexity. The simplicity of the writing and fact that the most of the outlandish behavior were from adults, gives the impression that Harland is aiming for a less mature audience; possibly teens in the 10-13 years-old age range. While Harland develops and interesting setting within Worldshaker his characters and writing style does not seem to be able to capitalize on a world rich with potential.
While Worldshaker was an interesting setting, Harland’s method of writing and storytelling were often too simplistic and outlandish to take advantage of this. In fact, these quirks resulted in characters that were stereotypical and often devoid of complexity. The simplicity of the writing and fact that the most of the outlandish behavior were from adults, gives the impression that Harland is aiming for a less mature audience; possibly teens in the 10-13 years-old age range. While Harland develops and interesting setting within Worldshaker his characters and writing style does not seem to be able to capitalize on a world rich with potential.
May 17, 2012
It's hard to give a rating to this book because I disliked the beginning and enjoyed the end.
There are a few things that bothered me that I can overlook, the length of the chapters being an example (short chapters are one of my biggest pet peeves, in this book the chapters average 5 pages which makes them less annoying but still bothersome). One thing I could not look past was the way Riff was portrayed. I felt like she didn't fit with the romance idea that the author was trying to create. Her speech and her outright indifference (and the way she reminds me very much of Scout from To Kill A Mockingbird) makes her unappealing. While the romance was necessary for the progression of the story, I felt like Riff wasn't the right character for the job.
The way that she talked also made me much less inclined to take her seriously--too many "yer"s and abbreviated words. I feel like if the author hadn't included the change in language, the story would have been much more believable.
I think towards the end of the story, the characters become more developed. When I was finishing it, I couldn't put it down and I didn't know why.
Overall it was good. I think the story idea was amazing, though, and looking back all I can think is how much potential was wasted.
There are a few things that bothered me that I can overlook, the length of the chapters being an example (short chapters are one of my biggest pet peeves, in this book the chapters average 5 pages which makes them less annoying but still bothersome). One thing I could not look past was the way Riff was portrayed. I felt like she didn't fit with the romance idea that the author was trying to create. Her speech and her outright indifference (and the way she reminds me very much of Scout from To Kill A Mockingbird) makes her unappealing. While the romance was necessary for the progression of the story, I felt like Riff wasn't the right character for the job.
The way that she talked also made me much less inclined to take her seriously--too many "yer"s and abbreviated words. I feel like if the author hadn't included the change in language, the story would have been much more believable.
I think towards the end of the story, the characters become more developed. When I was finishing it, I couldn't put it down and I didn't know why.
Overall it was good. I think the story idea was amazing, though, and looking back all I can think is how much potential was wasted.
January 15, 2010
In terms of understanding the factors that cause a powerful family to plot and twist the truth to create a good image, this book is fabulous, but readers not only get to see why family alliances are important but why a member of your own family might betray you.
It tackles the big issues such as gender and class.
However, the ending was inconclusive, I felt. Plot threads were not sufficiently tied up, particularly the thread involving the Menials and what happened to them at the end.
In terms of credibility, readers have to suspend disbelief quite a lot to accept that juggernauts can provide accommodation and comfortable living conditions for so many people, as well as how the Filthies were coerced onto the juggernaut in the first place.
The most poignant moment for me, and the one that caused me to see a secondary character as if she had a spotlight on her, involved Fossie sitting on the floor of the armoury intent on figuring out how her gun worked while shots were being fired all around her.
A good read, but a disappointing ending.
It tackles the big issues such as gender and class.
However, the ending was inconclusive, I felt. Plot threads were not sufficiently tied up, particularly the thread involving the Menials and what happened to them at the end.
In terms of credibility, readers have to suspend disbelief quite a lot to accept that juggernauts can provide accommodation and comfortable living conditions for so many people, as well as how the Filthies were coerced onto the juggernaut in the first place.
The most poignant moment for me, and the one that caused me to see a secondary character as if she had a spotlight on her, involved Fossie sitting on the floor of the armoury intent on figuring out how her gun worked while shots were being fired all around her.
A good read, but a disappointing ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2010
I picked this up in the adult book reading section and really think it needed to be over in the young adult section as I think the book would sit better there.
It was enjoyable read.
The world Harland has created has a great deal of interest and there was enough smattering of a back story to understand how this place came into being. There are lot of themes/views/politics running slyly through the book which includes colonialism, communism, class struggles, and exposing the voice of the 'other'. Do not be put off as these things slip in and out of the story and not used as overt platforms for one person's agenda.
There were times when I felt that Riff who was meant to be 14/15 years of age seemed far too old in the way that her character lifted off the page and Col, well it was a guessing game to wonder when the penny would finally drop for this kid.
If there are more in the series not sure I would read them, this book rounded off fairly well with a promise of more to come.
It was enjoyable read.
The world Harland has created has a great deal of interest and there was enough smattering of a back story to understand how this place came into being. There are lot of themes/views/politics running slyly through the book which includes colonialism, communism, class struggles, and exposing the voice of the 'other'. Do not be put off as these things slip in and out of the story and not used as overt platforms for one person's agenda.
There were times when I felt that Riff who was meant to be 14/15 years of age seemed far too old in the way that her character lifted off the page and Col, well it was a guessing game to wonder when the penny would finally drop for this kid.
If there are more in the series not sure I would read them, this book rounded off fairly well with a promise of more to come.
February 22, 2023
I have so much to say about this book. I'm going to start with things that I liked.
1. Short chapters! I'm so grateful for the short chapters in this book. So many authors feel they have to reach a certain length of each chapter, but coming from an adhd girl, that usually makes it so hard for me to read, and it was a genuinely encouraging refreshment to be able to breeze through this book!
2. The concept! The premise drew me in! By it's foundations, an interesting book.
3. The ending! I loved the fast paced and well written revolution scene. To me, this book's strength in writing is with action.
That's it, here we go. Now to get into what I didn't like:
1. The characters... where do I start. Every single character in this book besides Septimus and perhaps even Professor Twillip felt like a complete caricature, not a person. They only know how to act ridiculous and unfathomably stupid all the time, and their motivations are glaringly obvious and shoved down your throat from their first scenes or mentions.
For example, the sister, Gillabeth. Not that it's bad when you as a reader are able to figure things out, but the pure "life is unfair because I'm a woman" that radiated from this character from her first moment was poignant, but honestly substanceless in the end. When it was revealed that she was jealous of her brother and hated him, I groaned out loud. Literally.
Next, let's talk about the main character. Col. Oh my word what a useless main character. He felt like he popped into existence at the beginning of the story, you cannot tell the emotional affects his personal history or relationships have had on him at all. This is clearly an emotional neglectful environment he's grown up in but he seems to have had no affects from it besides ending up stupid. Things will happen or be said that should be major and he will barely even react internally! He doesn't *think* about things on any deeper level at all! He's genuinely so bland and lifeless in this story. Even the core mystery is solved by Septimus and Professor Twillip off-screen, he has nothing to do with it, and even lost interest in it, but these characters, the best in my opinion, were severely neglected in this story. So, Col, being one of the only toned back character, just isn't interesting or even smart.
3. Riff... mm... this character I can barely say anything about. She had potential but was pretty bland and without emotional depth (as most were), and she was given a nonsensical, out of place scene (that the book relied upon for plot) where she acted foolishly and just plain ridiculous, and put her whole plan of revolution revolution in jeopardy for a guy she never even showed interest in? For a guy she had no semblence of a relationship behond friendship with? Maybe I can say "oh she's fourteen! makes sense" but I was a fourteen year old girl at one point and I'm fairly certain you have more of a head on your shoulders at fourteen than that. She's also the leader of the revolution so she *better*.
4. Everyone else. Nearly everyone else was just utterly unfathomable ridiculous all the time without there being a seeming reason? I'm ok with ridiculousness but these characters couldn't be taken seriously. They felt like cardboard cutouts someone took sharpies to to add "quirky" things like mustaches and eyepatches.
(Oh I did like the grandparent characters decently. The grandmother especially, she was well done as a more nuanced villain to the story. Only, her villainy with Wicky Popo was never cleared up- did he starve to death or not??)
2. There is a sequel. But some things shouldn't be left unattended at the end of the book. Did Wicky Popo starve? Where the heck is this man's new wife at the end of the book? They go through with the arranged marriage, the revolution happens, and she's never mentioned again. Is she dead?? She didn't even seem to be at the reception when Col marched in to negotiate with the queen. She just disappeared. According to the little we know of her caricature, she would've spotted him and started nagging, but she was nowhere to be seen. There's a scene of Riff and Col discussing their own relationship, but it's not even vaguely mentioned he literally just got married. Am I supposed to just assume there will be no repercussions from that now that there's been a revolution?
4. Riff and Col can fight unrealistically well. Especially Col. Riff I can get behind. Col was trained for like a week, and only one day in attacks instead of defenses, then fought off ten attackers and was able to threaten them to tell him important information. At the beginning of the fight I said to myself "he better not win" and then he did. Huge facepalm.
3. Just.... not enough. Would've loved to see the characters fleshed out. Would've loved to see more depth here. Would've loved to ideas and plot points woven together intriguingly instead of either shoved blatantly at me or ignored faceplate.
4. How did the Filthies get tattoos? Why is one of them tattooed? They get the food remains the Upper Decks don't want, their clothes are ratty because they've been wearing them for centuries, they have no proper living areas, have to dart around in life or death obstacle courses on their level- so tell me, when they were put down there were they given tattooing supplies? What supplies do they even have??? Would the supplies for that have lasted this long? They certainly wouldn't be given it now. They also usually don't live past 30, and likely have to deal with so much infection, and yet... tattoos? They're literally filthy, how would they even be clean enough to safely get a tattoo... anyway, that's on "the tattooed" member of the Revolutionary Council.
The end. Off to read the sequel now.
1. Short chapters! I'm so grateful for the short chapters in this book. So many authors feel they have to reach a certain length of each chapter, but coming from an adhd girl, that usually makes it so hard for me to read, and it was a genuinely encouraging refreshment to be able to breeze through this book!
2. The concept! The premise drew me in! By it's foundations, an interesting book.
3. The ending! I loved the fast paced and well written revolution scene. To me, this book's strength in writing is with action.
That's it, here we go. Now to get into what I didn't like:
1. The characters... where do I start. Every single character in this book besides Septimus and perhaps even Professor Twillip felt like a complete caricature, not a person. They only know how to act ridiculous and unfathomably stupid all the time, and their motivations are glaringly obvious and shoved down your throat from their first scenes or mentions.
For example, the sister, Gillabeth. Not that it's bad when you as a reader are able to figure things out, but the pure "life is unfair because I'm a woman" that radiated from this character from her first moment was poignant, but honestly substanceless in the end. When it was revealed that she was jealous of her brother and hated him, I groaned out loud. Literally.
Next, let's talk about the main character. Col. Oh my word what a useless main character. He felt like he popped into existence at the beginning of the story, you cannot tell the emotional affects his personal history or relationships have had on him at all. This is clearly an emotional neglectful environment he's grown up in but he seems to have had no affects from it besides ending up stupid. Things will happen or be said that should be major and he will barely even react internally! He doesn't *think* about things on any deeper level at all! He's genuinely so bland and lifeless in this story. Even the core mystery is solved by Septimus and Professor Twillip off-screen, he has nothing to do with it, and even lost interest in it, but these characters, the best in my opinion, were severely neglected in this story. So, Col, being one of the only toned back character, just isn't interesting or even smart.
3. Riff... mm... this character I can barely say anything about. She had potential but was pretty bland and without emotional depth (as most were), and she was given a nonsensical, out of place scene (that the book relied upon for plot) where she acted foolishly and just plain ridiculous, and put her whole plan of revolution revolution in jeopardy for a guy she never even showed interest in? For a guy she had no semblence of a relationship behond friendship with? Maybe I can say "oh she's fourteen! makes sense" but I was a fourteen year old girl at one point and I'm fairly certain you have more of a head on your shoulders at fourteen than that. She's also the leader of the revolution so she *better*.
4. Everyone else. Nearly everyone else was just utterly unfathomable ridiculous all the time without there being a seeming reason? I'm ok with ridiculousness but these characters couldn't be taken seriously. They felt like cardboard cutouts someone took sharpies to to add "quirky" things like mustaches and eyepatches.
(Oh I did like the grandparent characters decently. The grandmother especially, she was well done as a more nuanced villain to the story. Only, her villainy with Wicky Popo was never cleared up- did he starve to death or not??)
2. There is a sequel. But some things shouldn't be left unattended at the end of the book. Did Wicky Popo starve? Where the heck is this man's new wife at the end of the book? They go through with the arranged marriage, the revolution happens, and she's never mentioned again. Is she dead?? She didn't even seem to be at the reception when Col marched in to negotiate with the queen. She just disappeared. According to the little we know of her caricature, she would've spotted him and started nagging, but she was nowhere to be seen. There's a scene of Riff and Col discussing their own relationship, but it's not even vaguely mentioned he literally just got married. Am I supposed to just assume there will be no repercussions from that now that there's been a revolution?
4. Riff and Col can fight unrealistically well. Especially Col. Riff I can get behind. Col was trained for like a week, and only one day in attacks instead of defenses, then fought off ten attackers and was able to threaten them to tell him important information. At the beginning of the fight I said to myself "he better not win" and then he did. Huge facepalm.
3. Just.... not enough. Would've loved to see the characters fleshed out. Would've loved to see more depth here. Would've loved to ideas and plot points woven together intriguingly instead of either shoved blatantly at me or ignored faceplate.
4. How did the Filthies get tattoos? Why is one of them tattooed? They get the food remains the Upper Decks don't want, their clothes are ratty because they've been wearing them for centuries, they have no proper living areas, have to dart around in life or death obstacle courses on their level- so tell me, when they were put down there were they given tattooing supplies? What supplies do they even have??? Would the supplies for that have lasted this long? They certainly wouldn't be given it now. They also usually don't live past 30, and likely have to deal with so much infection, and yet... tattoos? They're literally filthy, how would they even be clean enough to safely get a tattoo... anyway, that's on "the tattooed" member of the Revolutionary Council.
The end. Off to read the sequel now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 28, 2016
Made it about halfway through before skimming it. :\ I'm not sure why I didn't enjoy it more, maybe it just wasn't for me? It felt perhaps a little static and I was expecting just a little more oomph. A little more to like in the characters of Col and Riff - they were almost TOO consistent in their characters if that makes sense. Anywho, enjoyed the concept but didn't feel like I could really get into it.
September 26, 2011
This was incredible i love Col and Riff together.
February 17, 2013
Kind of a steampunk Romeo and Juliet. No mention if the United States is a power or not. I did like Richard Harland talk about his writing process.
October 28, 2014
I really liked it!
October 24, 2010
The first time I read this story I liked it, but was a little underwhelmed by what I thought was too simple a story. This book is rated for 10-13 year-olds, and the vocabulary and chapter length has been modified to accommodate this young audience. As a result, Col seems a little too naïve, and in places the text feels ideologically heavy handed to me; if I had written my review after my first reading, I would likely not had much positive to say. By the time I read Harland’s text I had already read Scott Westerfeld’s Leviathan (a work of YA literature that has been very well received by adults) and Cherie Priest’s Boneshaker (an adult work that could easily be read by teens), and I felt that Worldshaker suffered in comparison. A second reading, however, caused me to pause and reconsider my original criticism about this work; while I still believe it to be somewhat lacking the maturity level of other YA authors in this genre, I think adults will enjoy this book if they understand the concerns I have pointed out and read the text with a little patience. Steampunk literature is well-known for exploring concerns about class, the mass-produced and non-unique nature of modern technology, and the environment, and Richard Harland’s book wastes no time establishing itself within the genre in an approachable manner that should be enjoyable for both children and adults.
The book opens with the 16 year-old Colbert “Col” Porpentine being awakened by warrant officers searching his room for a ‘filthy’ girl who has escaped. Within the next few chapters the reader learns that Col is the child of a wealthy, high ranking family who lives aboard the huge vessel Worldshaker; at two and a half miles long, three quarters of a mile wide, and over thirteen hundred feet tall, the ship is home to “ten thousand people and two thousand Filthies” (29). Europe has been destroyed ecologically by the industrial revolution and a series of wars, and the reigning monarchs and nobles of Europe have withdrawn to massive steam-powered ships on which they can continue their privileged lives, navigating both on sea and land, leaving destruction in their wake. The British have retreated to the Worldshaker and recreated the society they left behind and, although at first glance this world looks peaceful and well organized, it doesn’t take long for the reader to lean Col’s world is deeply corrupted and seething with personal and social politics.
The biggest issue within the book is the division within the classes; the Worldshaker uses the class system established during the first Queen Victoria’s reign and, two hundred years later, preserves the customs and traditions of Victorian England with little change. Society aboard the ship has become intensely stratified, and these distinctions are rigid: There are the ‘best families,’ the nobles and gentry who serve Her Imperial Highness Queen Victoria; the artisans and middle-class tradespeople who provide consumer goods and services; the Menials, who are ominously described as ‘modified’ Filthies and form the servant class of the vessel; and the Filthies, the lowest class of workers who live in the bowels of the ship and feed coal to the boilers. Col’s classmates mimic these class divisions by imposing them within the microcosm of their school school: There are the children of the best families, who reign supreme over the rest of the school; the blockies (destined to become the ship’s officers), grindboys (the children of supervisors or tradespeople, and destined to eventually replace their parents), the climbers (children of the professional class, who aspire to join the best families), and the crawlers (also the children of the professional class, but without the connections and wealth to be upwardly mobile). The frustration the reader experiences with this class system mirrors Col’s increasing realization of the damage his society is inflicting on others, and nowhere is this more obvious that in his emerging friendship with Riff.
Riff is fourteen years old and it is her escape from the warrant officers that sets the events of the story in motion. She is a Filthy who has been brought up from the bowels of the ship to be ‘modified’ into a Menial, but manages to hide herself in Col’s room. Col has been raised to believe that Filthies are not human, unable to acquire language or feel pain, and their ‘modification’ into Menials makes them happier and healthier. His meeting with Riff reveals that this is not the case, and triggers a stunned reevaluation of what he has been taught and, as Col spends more time in the presence of the intelligent and spirited young woman, he learns of the terrible cruelties his society not only permits, but encourages. In a defining moment he listens to his grandmother Ebnolia tell a restrained Riff, “Let me show you the wire they use for sewing [….] not only for the tongue, but all parts of the body. They’ll sew you up inside, where nobody can see. You have far more movement than you really need, you know” (323). This is followed by a description of the “gold buttons” known as “limiters, to limit your mind […] you have so many more thoughts than you really need. When you’ve been limited, you’ll still have lots of nice small thoughts, but no nasty big ones” (325). The level of society on the ship with the most power has lost the ability to challenge the ethics of their behavior and, although Col resists challenging what he has been taught, he comes to realize that his world is unacceptable and in desperate need of change.
Col comes to understand that a major part of the problem lies in the education, or lack thereof, in those around him, and this becomes another major issue in the book. He is sent to Dr. Blessamy’s Academy to study under Mr. Gibber, and the role of educational institutions in creating critical thinkers is thrown into sharp relief. The education that Col receives is a joke: in one scene the teacher, Mr. Gibber describes an acute angle as, “Clean, keen, sharp and wholesome.” By contrast, an obtuse angle is “wide open […] lax and undisciplined […] sloppy, slack, degenerate” (90). Col quickly learns that the education he receives is shaped to preserve the status quo of the class divisions and not for the progress of the individual or society as a whole. Further complicating and already difficult situation is how the educational challenges extend to girls and ‘lower’ social classes. For example, Gillabeth, Col’s older sister, is denied formal education altogether because it is unseemly for a young woman of her class to go to school. By contrast, Riff is denied access to education altogether because of her status as a Filthy. Both of these girls are intelligent, capable, and starving for knowledge, but are utterly denied.
Each of the girls uses their intelligence, but in highly different ways: Gillabeth schemes against her brother, eventually revealing her ambition to be the first Supreme Commander of the Worldshaker, while Riff educates Col about the injustice of his society and reveals the extent of the damage the ship causes every time it has to cross land. For the first time “Col remember[s] the three hundred and forty rollers, each weighing right hundred tons. Of course Worldshaker would mash everything it rolled over! Of course it would leave a trail of destruction! Why had he never thought of it before?” (227). Riff is able to teach Col what Gillabeth has already learned, that his way of life “means cruelty and bullyin’ and tramplin’ on anyone weaker. Some get crushed underneath, some crushed inside” (228-9).Col is deeply horrified over the needless destruction of the land and the living, and has to face his part in the consequences: Even though the decisions are made by others, he has to accept responsibility for changing how things will be done in the future. Eventually his sister is made to see how such a transformation will help to improve her life as well and, although the siblings don’t implicitly reconcile, there is a sense of hope for the future.
This is the saving grace of the book: It delivers the message of steampunk, its philosophy of respect for self, others, and hopes for the world, all in a way that tweens can engage with and understand. Harland even introduces an age appropriate whiff of romance between Col and Riff: As Col spends more time with Riff he learns to see the world through her eyes and challenge the assertions that have been developed by the generations who have lived on the Worldshaker. He learns to recognize the injustices of the class distinctions, and the cruelty with which the Filthies and Menials are treated, and begins to develop compassion, empathy for others, and a sense of social justice as a result. He also begins to see the shallowness of the feelings of those in his social class, and there is the gradual emergence of deeper, more complex feelings for Riff including jealousy, then the desire to be admired, followed by protectiveness towards her and a sense of joy when in her presence. Additionally, as Col’s relationship with Riff develops, he also becomes a better and more caring individual, more willing to make sacrifices necessary for change.
The book opens with the 16 year-old Colbert “Col” Porpentine being awakened by warrant officers searching his room for a ‘filthy’ girl who has escaped. Within the next few chapters the reader learns that Col is the child of a wealthy, high ranking family who lives aboard the huge vessel Worldshaker; at two and a half miles long, three quarters of a mile wide, and over thirteen hundred feet tall, the ship is home to “ten thousand people and two thousand Filthies” (29). Europe has been destroyed ecologically by the industrial revolution and a series of wars, and the reigning monarchs and nobles of Europe have withdrawn to massive steam-powered ships on which they can continue their privileged lives, navigating both on sea and land, leaving destruction in their wake. The British have retreated to the Worldshaker and recreated the society they left behind and, although at first glance this world looks peaceful and well organized, it doesn’t take long for the reader to lean Col’s world is deeply corrupted and seething with personal and social politics.
The biggest issue within the book is the division within the classes; the Worldshaker uses the class system established during the first Queen Victoria’s reign and, two hundred years later, preserves the customs and traditions of Victorian England with little change. Society aboard the ship has become intensely stratified, and these distinctions are rigid: There are the ‘best families,’ the nobles and gentry who serve Her Imperial Highness Queen Victoria; the artisans and middle-class tradespeople who provide consumer goods and services; the Menials, who are ominously described as ‘modified’ Filthies and form the servant class of the vessel; and the Filthies, the lowest class of workers who live in the bowels of the ship and feed coal to the boilers. Col’s classmates mimic these class divisions by imposing them within the microcosm of their school school: There are the children of the best families, who reign supreme over the rest of the school; the blockies (destined to become the ship’s officers), grindboys (the children of supervisors or tradespeople, and destined to eventually replace their parents), the climbers (children of the professional class, who aspire to join the best families), and the crawlers (also the children of the professional class, but without the connections and wealth to be upwardly mobile). The frustration the reader experiences with this class system mirrors Col’s increasing realization of the damage his society is inflicting on others, and nowhere is this more obvious that in his emerging friendship with Riff.
Riff is fourteen years old and it is her escape from the warrant officers that sets the events of the story in motion. She is a Filthy who has been brought up from the bowels of the ship to be ‘modified’ into a Menial, but manages to hide herself in Col’s room. Col has been raised to believe that Filthies are not human, unable to acquire language or feel pain, and their ‘modification’ into Menials makes them happier and healthier. His meeting with Riff reveals that this is not the case, and triggers a stunned reevaluation of what he has been taught and, as Col spends more time in the presence of the intelligent and spirited young woman, he learns of the terrible cruelties his society not only permits, but encourages. In a defining moment he listens to his grandmother Ebnolia tell a restrained Riff, “Let me show you the wire they use for sewing [….] not only for the tongue, but all parts of the body. They’ll sew you up inside, where nobody can see. You have far more movement than you really need, you know” (323). This is followed by a description of the “gold buttons” known as “limiters, to limit your mind […] you have so many more thoughts than you really need. When you’ve been limited, you’ll still have lots of nice small thoughts, but no nasty big ones” (325). The level of society on the ship with the most power has lost the ability to challenge the ethics of their behavior and, although Col resists challenging what he has been taught, he comes to realize that his world is unacceptable and in desperate need of change.
Col comes to understand that a major part of the problem lies in the education, or lack thereof, in those around him, and this becomes another major issue in the book. He is sent to Dr. Blessamy’s Academy to study under Mr. Gibber, and the role of educational institutions in creating critical thinkers is thrown into sharp relief. The education that Col receives is a joke: in one scene the teacher, Mr. Gibber describes an acute angle as, “Clean, keen, sharp and wholesome.” By contrast, an obtuse angle is “wide open […] lax and undisciplined […] sloppy, slack, degenerate” (90). Col quickly learns that the education he receives is shaped to preserve the status quo of the class divisions and not for the progress of the individual or society as a whole. Further complicating and already difficult situation is how the educational challenges extend to girls and ‘lower’ social classes. For example, Gillabeth, Col’s older sister, is denied formal education altogether because it is unseemly for a young woman of her class to go to school. By contrast, Riff is denied access to education altogether because of her status as a Filthy. Both of these girls are intelligent, capable, and starving for knowledge, but are utterly denied.
Each of the girls uses their intelligence, but in highly different ways: Gillabeth schemes against her brother, eventually revealing her ambition to be the first Supreme Commander of the Worldshaker, while Riff educates Col about the injustice of his society and reveals the extent of the damage the ship causes every time it has to cross land. For the first time “Col remember[s] the three hundred and forty rollers, each weighing right hundred tons. Of course Worldshaker would mash everything it rolled over! Of course it would leave a trail of destruction! Why had he never thought of it before?” (227). Riff is able to teach Col what Gillabeth has already learned, that his way of life “means cruelty and bullyin’ and tramplin’ on anyone weaker. Some get crushed underneath, some crushed inside” (228-9).Col is deeply horrified over the needless destruction of the land and the living, and has to face his part in the consequences: Even though the decisions are made by others, he has to accept responsibility for changing how things will be done in the future. Eventually his sister is made to see how such a transformation will help to improve her life as well and, although the siblings don’t implicitly reconcile, there is a sense of hope for the future.
This is the saving grace of the book: It delivers the message of steampunk, its philosophy of respect for self, others, and hopes for the world, all in a way that tweens can engage with and understand. Harland even introduces an age appropriate whiff of romance between Col and Riff: As Col spends more time with Riff he learns to see the world through her eyes and challenge the assertions that have been developed by the generations who have lived on the Worldshaker. He learns to recognize the injustices of the class distinctions, and the cruelty with which the Filthies and Menials are treated, and begins to develop compassion, empathy for others, and a sense of social justice as a result. He also begins to see the shallowness of the feelings of those in his social class, and there is the gradual emergence of deeper, more complex feelings for Riff including jealousy, then the desire to be admired, followed by protectiveness towards her and a sense of joy when in her presence. Additionally, as Col’s relationship with Riff develops, he also becomes a better and more caring individual, more willing to make sacrifices necessary for change.
August 30, 2019
This feels a bit on the younger side of teen, maybe even upper middle school readers. A steampunk world, the only part of which we see is the massive mobile ship Worldshaker that rumbles across the world, run by the very over-civilised Victorian upper classes on the top decks and run on the labor of the unspeakably icky underclass of Filthies confined to the lowest decks. The protagonist is the clueless grandson of the ship's commander; he runs into an escaped Filthy and is shocked that she can even speak (Filthies are considered a separate, animalistic species). So shocked that he doesn't report her; which unprecedented rule-breaking leads to a string of discoveries about the world he lives in and the way it works, as he begins to question 'facts' and procedures he never thought about before.
The upper-class of Worldshaker are overcivilised to a surreal degree, almost to the point of brainlessness--the protagonist's mother, for example, can barely string two thoughts together and is constantly overwhelmed by the vapours (so to speak), and nobody seems to know anything about anything more complex than tea parties--nothing about the world outside that they're constantly trundling through, not even the origins of the Worldshaker juggernaut they spend their entire lives in. When the protagonist is sent to school, it quickly becomes clear this place is about hierarchy-shaping/reinforcing, not learning, with an unhinged buffoon for a teacher. Events mix the boy up with the Filthies' plans for revolution, eventually leading to a fast-moving climax.
I would have liked to get a better view of the world and people outside Worldshaker, but I guess that couldn't happen in the insular world of the juggernaut--though maybe we might have learned a bit through the coal-reloading stations mentioned here and there? The story focused more on the social politics of things, families maneuvering for precedence and their kids engaging in the same kind of activity at schoolyard bully level. The protagonist eventually learns a little more about their world's origins, which gave me some satisfaction. I might look up the next volume sometime, but the level of the story is just a little bit young to really satisfy me--though that might be partly due to the naivete of the protagonist in his social world of genteel ignorance.
The upper-class of Worldshaker are overcivilised to a surreal degree, almost to the point of brainlessness--the protagonist's mother, for example, can barely string two thoughts together and is constantly overwhelmed by the vapours (so to speak), and nobody seems to know anything about anything more complex than tea parties--nothing about the world outside that they're constantly trundling through, not even the origins of the Worldshaker juggernaut they spend their entire lives in. When the protagonist is sent to school, it quickly becomes clear this place is about hierarchy-shaping/reinforcing, not learning, with an unhinged buffoon for a teacher. Events mix the boy up with the Filthies' plans for revolution, eventually leading to a fast-moving climax.
I would have liked to get a better view of the world and people outside Worldshaker, but I guess that couldn't happen in the insular world of the juggernaut--though maybe we might have learned a bit through the coal-reloading stations mentioned here and there? The story focused more on the social politics of things, families maneuvering for precedence and their kids engaging in the same kind of activity at schoolyard bully level. The protagonist eventually learns a little more about their world's origins, which gave me some satisfaction. I might look up the next volume sometime, but the level of the story is just a little bit young to really satisfy me--though that might be partly due to the naivete of the protagonist in his social world of genteel ignorance.
October 27, 2017
Worldshaker by Richard Harland is a young adult fiction book. This book is about a boy named Col, who is a very wealthy child and is well respected among everyone else. All of his knowledge disappears when he meets a quick and clever filthy named Riff. Filthies are known to be dumb,slow, and stupid. Throughout the book Col becomes unrespected because other people found out he was talking to the filthies. From there on out Col help the filthies out of the bottom deck and help free them from misery. Then, they start an all out war on the decks of the worldshaker. In the end the filthies win against the upper class with Col’s help.
I would rate worldshaker a 4.5/5. It was a very thrilling and adventurous book. With many cliff hangers forcing you to read on and on. One of my favorite things about this book is that Richard Harland made this book well described. I could easily imagine what everything looked like and what the people on board looked like. Worldshaker is a very long book that really challenges your patients because it’s a very long book to read with 416 pages in it. The book has a bit of humour here and there which makes it very enjoyable. Overall, the book is a great book that is thought provoking.
I would rate worldshaker a 4.5/5. It was a very thrilling and adventurous book. With many cliff hangers forcing you to read on and on. One of my favorite things about this book is that Richard Harland made this book well described. I could easily imagine what everything looked like and what the people on board looked like. Worldshaker is a very long book that really challenges your patients because it’s a very long book to read with 416 pages in it. The book has a bit of humour here and there which makes it very enjoyable. Overall, the book is a great book that is thought provoking.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2017
Colbert, or Col, lives on a city ship known as Worldshaker. It's the year 1875 and he's the successor of the ship's commander, his grandfather. As the successor, Col knows his actions need to be above reproach. But then a Filthy, Riff, breaks into his room and then asks for his help to get back Below. Once Riff is gone, Col thinks his life is back on track. He's enrolled at school where power means everything, his older sister, Gillabeth, plots against him, and even worse, Col can't stop thinking about Riff. But even thoughts can be dangerous and Col's fascination with Riff could cost him his life and world.
Action-packed and adventurous. This is another steampunk novel starring a young man looking to change the world. I enjoyed reading the story and while Col seems a little naive, it works for the most part.
Action-packed and adventurous. This is another steampunk novel starring a young man looking to change the world. I enjoyed reading the story and while Col seems a little naive, it works for the most part.
August 18, 2014
Bookworm Speaks!
Worldshaker by Richard Harland
****
Steampunk is considered to be alternate history by many of its enthusiasts and it is. It describes an age of the past that diverted from our own timeline into a different time. Often times there is tipping point that branches one timeline from the other. Often times it is a war, something goes down differently than what is written in history books and everything changes. But some books take it to another level and not just tell a story of the same age just with a few differences, but change an entire world. Worldshaker by Richard Harland is a book like that.
The Story: After a catastrophic war with an alternate Napoleon, Europe is now a polluted wasteland and the former Empires of Europe have abandoned it, but the age of imperialism is far from over as these empires now inhabit massive, city-sized ships called juggernauts that travel over the land and sea crushing all in their path. The juggernaut of the British Empire is the Worldshaker and Colbert Porpentine is set to rule it when he comes of age. All is going well until one day Col discovers a girl in his quarters, a girl named Riff from the lower decks. A Filthy, the worker class who slave endlessly in Worldshaker’s massive engines and face constant abuse and exploitation from Colbert’s fellows. Thus begins an adventure through the corridors of the mountain ship to overthrow a regime and bring justice not just to the Filthies but to the world beyond the bulkheads.
The Good: The shining star of this text is the setting. Some of the first adventure books ever written take place upon ships at sea and Worldshaker follows in the proud tradition while adding its own unique motif’s. The story takes place on a massive ship that is now the home of the British Empire. While there is not that much in the way of naval jargon beyond port, stern, and deck, this works to the books benefit as too much technicalities can confuse and alienate readers. While there are most likely key details missing, the world that is built upon the Worldshaker is very British and with many Victorian trappings. The level of detail adds a layer of depth to the Worldshaker and really give the ship a great amount of atmosphere.
Whether this is intentional or not, one can see trappings of the Mortal Engines series by Phillip Reeve. A moving city that selfishly consumes all in its path. This is not to the book’s detriment and may in fact be a reach on the part of Bookworm, but both volumes can be viewed as a metaphor on how modern countries can be viewed as consuming the wealth of smaller weaker ones. Both books say this a trend that needs to stop.
What the author does well is the characterization of Colbert Porpentine. Colbert is not a heroic character, not at first anyway. He does not seem all that strong at all as a matter of fact. Since he was the eldest son, he was being groomed as the new supreme commander almost from birth. The reader gets the real sensation that Colbert is really just being swept away by his environment and has made very few decisions about his life. His journey into a revolutionary is very palatable and the reader can get a real sense of his internal confusion as he goes against the very things he was raised to embrace with all his heart.
In contrast, Riff is strong and it is her who is Colbert’s guide to a stronger world. In most cases the inverse of this situation is the norm in books such as this, where it is the delicate girl who is strengthened by the boy. While it is clear that the two have feelings for each other, the author is wise to not make them a real couple in this volume. In a market saturated with romance, the fact that these two characters have to work out their feelings for each other really adds another layer of realism to the text.
The Flaws: The main flaw in this book is very same instrument that makes it so good: the setting. In a few rare exceptions, the Steampunk genre is obsessed with Victorian England, a trend that is becoming increasingly tiresome in modern literature. It is understandable to some extent. Victorian England was a key player in the industrial revolution and the same time period was considered to be the Golden Age of Britain especially in the field of science and engineering. The fact is that there are many other time periods and countries that fit that same description. Say what you will about the Bioshock Infinite video game, at least it did something different by making its steampunk aesthetic set in early twentieth century America and not across the pond in the nineteenth century. No disrespect Queen Victoria, but your realm has been done to death, and despite being set on a ship, the society is a dead ringer for the Victorian age, complete with the exploitation by the upper classes which begs the question of why that time period is regarded as a Golden Age.
The story itself, while not poorly written, is not the books strong suit. The story of the uprising, the revolution, is a timeless one and for good reason. The quest for freedom is a good story, but in this book it feels pretty predictable. The reader knows that the Filthies will emerge triumphant from the bitter struggle and Colbert and Riff will grow into the leaders that the new order needs. On that note, while Colbert goes through tangible changes, Riff on the other hand does not change all that much. While she is intended to be Colbert’s guide to the truth a little more character development beyond seeing the upper classes as more than monsters would have lead to a more dynamic partnership between the two.
Final Verdict: Worldshaker is a fun, seafaring adventure and good read for any fan of steampunk or seafaring tales.
Four out of Five Stars
Worldshaker by Richard Harland
****
Steampunk is considered to be alternate history by many of its enthusiasts and it is. It describes an age of the past that diverted from our own timeline into a different time. Often times there is tipping point that branches one timeline from the other. Often times it is a war, something goes down differently than what is written in history books and everything changes. But some books take it to another level and not just tell a story of the same age just with a few differences, but change an entire world. Worldshaker by Richard Harland is a book like that.
The Story: After a catastrophic war with an alternate Napoleon, Europe is now a polluted wasteland and the former Empires of Europe have abandoned it, but the age of imperialism is far from over as these empires now inhabit massive, city-sized ships called juggernauts that travel over the land and sea crushing all in their path. The juggernaut of the British Empire is the Worldshaker and Colbert Porpentine is set to rule it when he comes of age. All is going well until one day Col discovers a girl in his quarters, a girl named Riff from the lower decks. A Filthy, the worker class who slave endlessly in Worldshaker’s massive engines and face constant abuse and exploitation from Colbert’s fellows. Thus begins an adventure through the corridors of the mountain ship to overthrow a regime and bring justice not just to the Filthies but to the world beyond the bulkheads.
The Good: The shining star of this text is the setting. Some of the first adventure books ever written take place upon ships at sea and Worldshaker follows in the proud tradition while adding its own unique motif’s. The story takes place on a massive ship that is now the home of the British Empire. While there is not that much in the way of naval jargon beyond port, stern, and deck, this works to the books benefit as too much technicalities can confuse and alienate readers. While there are most likely key details missing, the world that is built upon the Worldshaker is very British and with many Victorian trappings. The level of detail adds a layer of depth to the Worldshaker and really give the ship a great amount of atmosphere.
Whether this is intentional or not, one can see trappings of the Mortal Engines series by Phillip Reeve. A moving city that selfishly consumes all in its path. This is not to the book’s detriment and may in fact be a reach on the part of Bookworm, but both volumes can be viewed as a metaphor on how modern countries can be viewed as consuming the wealth of smaller weaker ones. Both books say this a trend that needs to stop.
What the author does well is the characterization of Colbert Porpentine. Colbert is not a heroic character, not at first anyway. He does not seem all that strong at all as a matter of fact. Since he was the eldest son, he was being groomed as the new supreme commander almost from birth. The reader gets the real sensation that Colbert is really just being swept away by his environment and has made very few decisions about his life. His journey into a revolutionary is very palatable and the reader can get a real sense of his internal confusion as he goes against the very things he was raised to embrace with all his heart.
In contrast, Riff is strong and it is her who is Colbert’s guide to a stronger world. In most cases the inverse of this situation is the norm in books such as this, where it is the delicate girl who is strengthened by the boy. While it is clear that the two have feelings for each other, the author is wise to not make them a real couple in this volume. In a market saturated with romance, the fact that these two characters have to work out their feelings for each other really adds another layer of realism to the text.
The Flaws: The main flaw in this book is very same instrument that makes it so good: the setting. In a few rare exceptions, the Steampunk genre is obsessed with Victorian England, a trend that is becoming increasingly tiresome in modern literature. It is understandable to some extent. Victorian England was a key player in the industrial revolution and the same time period was considered to be the Golden Age of Britain especially in the field of science and engineering. The fact is that there are many other time periods and countries that fit that same description. Say what you will about the Bioshock Infinite video game, at least it did something different by making its steampunk aesthetic set in early twentieth century America and not across the pond in the nineteenth century. No disrespect Queen Victoria, but your realm has been done to death, and despite being set on a ship, the society is a dead ringer for the Victorian age, complete with the exploitation by the upper classes which begs the question of why that time period is regarded as a Golden Age.
The story itself, while not poorly written, is not the books strong suit. The story of the uprising, the revolution, is a timeless one and for good reason. The quest for freedom is a good story, but in this book it feels pretty predictable. The reader knows that the Filthies will emerge triumphant from the bitter struggle and Colbert and Riff will grow into the leaders that the new order needs. On that note, while Colbert goes through tangible changes, Riff on the other hand does not change all that much. While she is intended to be Colbert’s guide to the truth a little more character development beyond seeing the upper classes as more than monsters would have lead to a more dynamic partnership between the two.
Final Verdict: Worldshaker is a fun, seafaring adventure and good read for any fan of steampunk or seafaring tales.
Four out of Five Stars
October 30, 2019
I read this with my 15-year-old daughter as it was part of an assessment for her, so bear that in mind for my comments. It has a pleasing two-layer appeal: on the surface its an entertaining piece of fantasy, some drama, some nice twists including a couple I didn't see coming. The slightly deeper layer is an examination of some relevant issues (class system, gender equality, rich/poor) which is, of course, the intent as a school assessment. I liked (slight spoiler) how history had been altered to create the current world, though I think this would pass entirely over the heads of anyone under 40.
At the time I didn't realise that the ending was deliberately 'open' in order to create a hook for the sequel, but there was sufficient closure to be satisfied with the book.
At the time I didn't realise that the ending was deliberately 'open' in order to create a hook for the sequel, but there was sufficient closure to be satisfied with the book.
October 3, 2019
I didn't find this steampunk juggernaut adventure as exciting as Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan trilogy (also first published in 2009)--maybe it's the oppression narrative aspect of this. I got a bit tired of everyone, including Col, repeatedly saying/thinking "Filthies are horrible." It was a relief when we finally get to meet some of them! Also not sure about the economic system
January 25, 2020
I really wanted to rate this book 4 stars but the ending was just- confusing? Disappointing? It left me with so many more questions and I know there's more books in the series but I really expected something more.
The characters were great! The tension building was fantastic! I really liked the description of the below, it was such an interesting aesthetic. The overall steampunk of it was so fun to explore.
I would've liked it more if there were a few chapters with different POVs from the different characters, other then that this is a solid 3 stars.
The characters were great! The tension building was fantastic! I really liked the description of the below, it was such an interesting aesthetic. The overall steampunk of it was so fun to explore.
I would've liked it more if there were a few chapters with different POVs from the different characters, other then that this is a solid 3 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2017
Thank goodness for the girl...yet again the girl is the one to lead the way, the male lead being a 'wet fish'. An enjoyable fast read about a vast city on the move in steampunk style. Queen Victoria III is on the throne as Worldshaker races around the globe. Whilst this is a gloriously predictable and fun read, there a few twists and turns that keep up the reader's interest.
Recommended to steampunk fans in Y9 & 10.
Recommended to steampunk fans in Y9 & 10.
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