Synopses & Reviews
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 aboutand#8212;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 themselvesand#8212;but Riff is clever and quick and outspoken, and Col is drawn to her despite himself. andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;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 itand#8212;even if it means risking his future.
Review
"Harland has done a spectacular job of creating an extraordinary, highly original world, multileveled both literally and figuratively...His characters are practically incandescent--vivid, vital, and complex, combining elements of good and evil, and sometimes just deliciously bizarre. His style should appeal to readers of all ages, and he combines adventure, suspense, romance, lunatic comedy, and terror in one glorious package...andlt;iandgt;Worldshakerandlt;/iandgt;'s exciting, fast-paced plot roars along as unstoppably as...well, as a juggernaut."--Paula Volsky, author of andlt;iandgt;The Grand Ellipseandlt;/iandgt;
Review
and#8220;I loved andlt;Iandgt;Worldshakerandlt;/Iandgt;! A claustrophobic setting of rivets, iron and steam, rustling silks and stiff collars and even stiffer manners; dark, twisting, bustling, brilliant. I was very, very glum when it came to an end.and#8221; --D.M. Cornish, author of andlt;iandgt;Monster Blood Tattooandlt;/iandgt;
Review
"This is gaslight fantasy at its best." —Kate Forsyth, author, The Tower of Ravens
Review
“. . . Australian author Harland’s gaslight romance remains engaging and will hold readers’ attention to its suspenseful end.” —Booklist
Synopsis
Col Porpentine understands how society works: The elite families enjoy a comfortable life on the Upper Decks of the great juggernaut Worldshaker, and the Filthies toil Below Decks. Col’s grandfather, the Supreme Commander of Worldshaker, is grooming Col as his successor.
Used to keep Worldshaker moving, Filthies are like animals, unable to understand language or think for themselves. Or so Col believes before he meets Riff, a Filthy girl on the run who is clever and quick. If Riff is telling the truth, then everything Col has been told is a lie. And Col has the power to do something about it—even if it means risking his whole future.
Synopsis
An absorbing tale of fame, changing fortunes, and music, set in an alternative Victorian world, from the striking creator of Worldshaker What if they'd invented rock 'n roll way back in the 19th century? What if it could take over the world and change the course of history? In the slums of Brummingham, the outcast gangs are making a new kind of music, with pounding rhythms and wild guitars. Astor Vance has been trained in refined classical music. But when her life plummets from riches to rags, the only way she can survive is to play the music the slum gangs want. Charismatic Verrol, once her servant, is now her partner in crime—and he could be so much more if only he'd come clean about his mysterious past.
About the Author
andlt;Bandgt;Richard Harland andlt;/Bandgt;is the author of many fantasy, horror, and science fiction novels for young readers, including andlt;i andgt;Worldshakerandlt;/iandgt;, andlt;i andgt;Liberatorandlt;/iandgt;, the Eddon and Vail series, the Heaven and Earth Trilogy, and the Wolf Kingdom quartet, which won the Aurealis Award. He lives in Australia. Visit him at RichardHarland.net.