When Allison told me that there was a book where cities walk around and eat each other I was sold. After she finished reading Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve I quickly pilfered her copy to read myself. Filled with strong characters and a unique take on a futuristic, post-apocalyptic society Mortal Engines keeps you reading. In it you will find orphans, traction cities, airships, archaeologists, sky cities, pirates, corrupt people in power in government (not that far removed from pirates), and rebel forces. What's not to love?
This story mainly takes place on London, formerly of England, now roaming the great plains in search of smaller towns and cities to cannibalize for parts and technology. Without devouring other cities they would not be able to sustain the standard of living they currently possess or build up an army of robots (whoops spoiler alert haha). Plus they need to keep moving around so they themselves don't get gobbled up. The way of this world is that the inhabitants of devoured cities are either enslaved or killed, the cities are then scourged for any useful material (including items of historical merit, which are protected and put in a museum), and finally the debris is tossed overboard. This is often referred to as "municipal Darwinism" in the book, quite a good name for it.
The main story follows Tom, an orphan, who is working at the history museum in London when he inadvertently overhears some information that he should not and is tossed overboard by Thaddeus Valentine, the dashingly handsome head historian; Thaddeus' daughter Katherine who tries to uncover the mysteries surrounding her father's archaeological expeditions and dark secrets of the traction city of London; Hester, a disfigured orphan, who seeks justice for her parents death; and Shrike, a stalker (cyborg like entity constructed from the corpse of a human and robotic components) who wants to exterminate (awfully Dalek like, ain't he?).
There are some who think that traction cities should be destroyed and that immobile settlements of old should be resumed, people of this mindset are part of the Anti-traction League. Somewhat of a terror cell they are unafraid to sacrifice innocent lives to get their message across. One of their members, Anna Fang, aids Tom and Hester on their way back to London. For Tom it is to return home and for Hester it is to enact revenge for her parents' deaths.
Some of my favourite parts of the novel would have to be when characters encounter technology from the advanced civilization that used to be (aka us) such as CD's. I find the descriptions the characters give quite amusing and the fact that they cherish things we find disposable or common place.
Another tidbit for you to chew on is that Peter Jackson is directing/producing a movie of this book series, it is currently in development.
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