The Hungry City Chronicles

[Culhwch]

Has anyone here read The Hungry City Chronicles - Mortal Engines, Predator's Gold, and Infernal Devices - by Philip Reeve? I saw them in the book store today, very much attracted by the cool cover art more than anything, but they sound interesting and I was wondering what they are like. They did seemed to be plastered with award stickers, so I figure they must be pretty good...

 

[GOLLUM]

I've not read this series but the reviews I've seen do suggest the book is qiute well written with some interesting characters and an engaging plot. Here's a small article on an overview of the 3 books that make up this series with links to each book plus the yet to be published Book 4 A Darkling Plain.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungry_City_Chronicles

Here's the link for Book 1 with some interesting background:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortal_Engines

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

I read Mortal Engines and liked it enough that I would definitely read the next one if I came across it -- but seemingly not enough that I would run the book to earth at Amazon and order it, because that hasn't happened.

It has a fascinating concept which is used well (it doesn't just lie there on the page and look pretty, it actually impacts the plot in all sorts of ways), lots of action, likable characters, etc.

But the characters are young and the focus is decidedly YA. Not a problem for me, but it may be for others.

 

[Alia]

Did a little bit of research, Philip Reeve is a YA author... here's his bibliography:


Bibliography

Mortal Engines Scholastic Press, 2001
Buster Bayliss 1: Night of the Living Veg Scholastic Hippo, 2002
Buster Bayliss 2: The Big Freeze Scholastic Hippo, 2002
Buster Bayliss 3: Day of the Hamster Scholastic Hippo, 2002
Custardfinger Scholastic Hippo, 2003
Horatio Nelson and His Victory (and illustrator) Scholastic Hippo, 2003
Predator's Gold Scholastic Press, 2003



Prizes and awards
2002 Nestlé Smarties Book Prize (Gold Award) (9-11 Years category) Mortal Engines

2002 Whitbread Children's Book Award (shortlist) Mortal Engines

2003 Blue Peter Book Award: The Book I Couldn't Put Down (shortlist) Mortal Engines

2004 WH Smith People's Choice Award (shortlist) Predator's Gold


Here's a couple of different links that have reviews to his books:
http://www.contemporarywriters.com/authors/?p=auth03A30K122112634893
http://www.scholastic.co.uk/zone/book_philip-reeve.htm
http://education.powys.gov.uk/english/literacy_special/reeve.php
http://www.teenreads.com/authors/au-reeve-philip.asp

The list can go on and on... but I'll stop now.

 

[Culhwch]

Got Mortal Engines from the library today, so I'll post my thoughts once I finish...

 

[GOLLUM]

I look forward to your review Cullwch...

 

[Mark Robson]

Here's a thread I started some time ago on Mortal Engines: http://www.chronicles-network.net/forum/showthread.php?t=3067&highlight=Mortal+Engines


And here's a review I wrote on Predator's Gold: http://www.chronicles-network.net/forum/showthread.php?t=5113

I hope this adds a little to the thread.

 

[Alia]

Thanks Mark!

 

[Culhwch]

Finished reading this today. A very enjoyable read, quite well-written, flowing, and brilliantly imagined, I thought. I love the world Reeve has conceived here. There is plenty of action, the characters are fairly well realised and work well. It was even a little bit heavy-going, considering the intended audience; Reeve has a Martin-like streak for killing off major characters. I was kinda hoping this would be Pullman-esque in nature (as soon as I saw the cover I thought 'Lee Scoresby!') and though it wasn't at all I was not dissappointed. Have just ordered the second one from the library.