(average rating from 1 reviews) » Write a review and go into the draw to win our monthly book review prize - a $50 Boomerang Bucks credit!

by Boomert - Worldshaker by Richard Harland 18 Jan 2010
Richard Harland’s new YA novel is an enjoyable romp set entirely aboard the Worldshaker juggernaut—a city-sized vehicle that trundles around the world on giant rollers. The society that inhabits this vessel is a strictly hierarchical one with an elite aristocracy who live in luxury on the upper decks while a subclass of oppressed workers (known as Filthies) is confined to the lowest levels alongside huge, dangerous steam engines. The hero, Colbert Porpentine, initially accepts his lot in life as the nominated successor to the Supreme Commander. A chance encounter with an escaped Filthy, however, opens his eyes to the evil reality of the world he inhabits causing him to reassess all that he has been told and believed in up till then. Richard Harland has an eye for the grotesque and peoples his novel with some highly eccentric characters (with equally odd names). This, along with the pseudo- Victorian setting, makes for an atmospheric tale told with humour and a genuine emotional depth. Col’s gradual awakening provides the book with plenty of narrative momentum and the resourceful Riff makes a feisty heroine. The author’s easy-to-read writing style means this an ideal recommendation for the target 12-16-year-old age group.

This review from Australian Bookseller & Publisher magazine (April 2009, Vol 88, No 6.) is reproduced by kind permission of Thorpe-Bowker, a division of R R Bowker LLC. © Copyright 2009, Thorpe-Bowker.

Author Biography: Richard Harland
Richard Harland's first book was the comic horror novel The Vicar of Morbing Vyle, which has since become a cult classic. The Eddon and Vail series combines a science fiction world with detective thriller stories. The first novel in the series was The Dark Edge, followed by Taken By Force, then Hidden From View. His Heaven and Earth trilogy began with Ferren and the Angel, followed by Ferren and the White Doctor. His most recent series is the Wolf Kingdom quartet. Harland's novels and short stories have won several Aurealis awards. Ferren and the Angel and Sassycat have been CBC Notable Books.

Recent books by Richard Harland » View all books by Richard Harland

» View all books by Richard Harland