Earlier this week, I sat down with Scott Westerfeld to talk about his upcoming book Behemoth, second in the four-book trilogy that began with Leviathan. (Yes, you read that right; listen and find out!) Answering questions submitted by Tor.com readers, Scott talks about everything from Australia to zombies and shares some of his writing tips and tricks.
Thanks to Macmillan Audio for letting us use the recording studio!
Here are links to the books that Scott mentions as being useful in his research:
Europe’s Last Summer, by David Fromkin
Classic Turkish Cooking, by Ghillie Basan
Warlord, by Carlo D’Este
And you can check out some of Keith Thompson’s beautiful interior art, featuring the Ottoman-style mechas, here and here.
We also have five Advance Reading Copies of Behemoth to give away. (Thanks, Simon & Schuster!) These are trade paperbacks with the same cover art as the hardcover, and they are made entirely of awesome.
The rules: To enter the giveaway, leave one comment—duplicates won’t count—on this post between now and noon EST, Wednesday, October 6. The five winners will be chosen randomly. The giveaway is open to everyone everywhere. Please check your email Wednesday or Thursday; if we don’t hear back from you by noon on Friday, your prize will go to someone else.
Megan Messinger wants a…. well, when you read Behemoth, you’ll know what she wants for a pet.
Sounds intriguing
Awesome!
I love steampunk and Scott Westerfield, so I read Leviathan as soon as it came out. Can’t wait to read Behemoth!
Really looking forward to the book.
Definitely WANT!!! :-)
I guess I will buy the hardcover anyway, the artwork and the cover for Leviathan was amazing. Still, an ARC is always good to have.
I loved the first book! (And everything I’ve read by Westerfeld.)
I absolutely loved Leviathan, especially Deryn, and I can’t wait to see her interacting with the Ottoman Empire–so naturally, I would love a copy of Behemoth.
Would love this — not least because I have Ghillie Basan’s book on Moroccan cooking and she’s a wonder.
I want it! Scott W. was nice enough to answer one of my question comments during his interview and I can’t wait to read this!
I’m looking forward to this. Could use his expertise.
Oh – I loved Leviathan – and I’m really looking forward to the rest of the series.
i’d love to read this
Yes, please.
Sound interesting.
super excited for this book
I just read Leviathan last month, and I’m eager to read Behemoth.
Could be fun.
Hmm…looks interesting. I’m always on the lookout for more books.
I loved the first book in the series.
Please enter me.
Thanks!
I can’t wait to read it! Loved the first one!
Do want :-D
Comment! :D
I’d love to win a copy!
I’ve been looking for an excuse to buy Leviathan – getting the sequel as a prize would be perfect! ;)
Majorly looking forward to this one. “Leviathan” was great, and I’m hoping this one will be just as good…or better. :)
I have only recently given steampunk novels another try, I found early books in the genre to be “young” in appeal, but have found that the genre has grown up. I look forward to reading more.
Ever since I read Leviathan, I’ve been seeing steampunk EVERYWHERE! Makes me happy :D
I forgot his next book in the Leviathan series was coming out soon. Awesome! I really enjoyed the first one. I’ll be acquiring Behemoth one way or another pretty soon.
Steampunk fortnight!
Can’t wait to read this one! Thanks for the giveaway!
Leviathan was terrific, can’t wait for more
Ahh I LOVED Leviathan. It had everything I like in a book. I am so excited for Behemoth. Deryn is a BAMF.
I’m all about this.
Cool. Pick me.
Loved the first in the series. Pick me pick me.
WANT
Loved this book!
Aww..can’t wait to read Behemoth…
Loved reading Leviathan and can’t wait for Behemoth!
Oh my goodness, I DEFINITELY would love to win this! And it’s my birthday, so obviously you should just forget the whole random drawing thing and give one to me. ;)
I could use an early christmas present!
It would be an excellent day for me should I win this book.
Leviathan was very nice, so there are high hopes for Behemoth!
Give us a sequel to “The Killing of Worlds”!!
Oh, I hope I’m not too late! I’m in a different time zone. :3
This book looks like so much fun!
Sounds excellent. I’m in.
Looks cool to me.
Very excited to read this one!
This is awesome! And yay he answered my questions! Is there any chance of a transcription at any point? My brain is really really bad at understanding audio so I feel like I only got about half of that.
I also want a [spoiler] pet. I’ll admit.
I read Leviathan to my son and we are both very excited about Behemoth!
I’m looking forward to Behemoth, I’ve already read everything else by Westerfield.
Winning this would move the first book up on my to-read list
Free book! Yummy!
Wait, what? FOUR books? Why was I unaware of this? The fourth book better be called Ziz.
In other news: So excited for the book, hope I win!
I just finished reading Leviathan and can’t wait for Behemoth!
I want one! I want one!
I love what you said: “They are made entirely of awesome.” If only all books were like this!
Thanks for the interview & giveaway!
Laura Hartness
The CalicoCritic
I love ARCs, those joyous zeroth editions…
Hmm. Want? Yes!
My copy of Leviathan is on its way, I would love a copy of Behemoth to join it.
Ah, I thought all of the names in Uglies and Pretties sounded sort of Australian!
I wish I can get this Behemoth, as unlikely as it is that I ever win a giveaway…
Want this so much!
Love Scott Westerfeld, but loved Leviathan even more! I was working in the teen section of a big chain bookstore when Leviathan came out. I like to think that I’m personally resposible for at least some of it’s popularity in my neck of the woods. ;) Hopefully I’ll win a copy of Behemoth (since I no longer get my nice staff discount!).
I loved Leviathan! *crosses fingers*
I can’t wait to read Behemoth! Leviathan was so impressive that I can’t wait to see what Westerfeld does next. : )
sweet :)
Your interview got my psyched for BEHEMOTH. I enjoyed LEVIATHAN well enough but I wasn’t as deeply compelled to keep reading as I was in Scott’s UGLIES series. It sounds like we’ll get more character/relationship development in BEHEMOTH, so I’d really love to win the ARC and start reading it. :)
Thank you, yes I’d like one please.
Looking forward to the next installment. I really enjoyed Leviathan!
Loved the first one – can’t wait for the second!
I remember:
Did I wash Tom, eh, Ebony? No behemoth saw I did
R
Definitely interested.
Ah, why not? Could be interesting.
ceci n’est pas une poste. but it is an entry.
Giveaways rock! Especially when they’re for books on my TBR stack anyway. . . :)
I’m always getting this series and Bonecrusher mixed up… I’m sure I wouldn’t do that again if I had a copy to read!
Sounds good
Me, please?
Can’t wait for this one and to see Westerfeld at a signing on the tour.
I like giveaways.
Can’t wait to read it.
Me and my brother loved the first book!
This is on my “Must-read-as-soon-as-possble-I-don’t-care-what-I-have-to-do-to-get-it” list. I read Leviathan and loved it, and his Uglies series is pretty awesome as well.
Loved Leviathan, looking forward to the new book!
AHHH! I’m so excited for this book! Thanks so much for the interview, and hopefully I have a chance at the giveaway!
Love Scott & his books! Please enter me.
Cool.
i loved leviathan and can’t wait to read behemoth! all of mr. westerfeld’s work is fabulous. i would love to win an arc!
Scott Westerfeld is my favorite author and I can’t wait to dive into this new book!
I’ve been waiting for this since I finished Leviathan!
Had minor outpatient surgery today. Winning this giveaway would help in my recuperation.
I’d love to win!
Me!
Leviathan was absolutely fantastic. I’d love to win the sequel!!!
Only 97 comments thus far? Must be a slow day. OTOH, the odds are less than 1 in 20! Woo hoo!
So looking forward to Behemoth, in print and audio.
Me wantee!
I’m in – I love Westerfeld.
Thanks for hosting a giveaway! :) I can’t wait to read Behemoth!
Tor.com, you guys rock.
Thanks for the awesome giveaway! Can’t wait to read it!
Hey, the odds will be in my favor eventually!
Thanks for the chance!
Can’t wait to read it. Great interview…
I love Leviathan. Can’t wait to read Behemoth.
I’ve been looking forward to this for a year now :D I CAN’T WAIT to see it
OMG I HAVE TO READ THIS
Me please!!! I read the first book in a sitting & can’t wait for the new.
Woooo! I’m ridiculously excited for this :D
Seeing as how this has been extended to Thursday… What the heck, count me in!
ooohhh…I wants one.
I am interested
I can’t wait to read this book
You want one comment? This is one comment. I’d love to read this book.
I would love to get a copy of this for my husband. He really enjoyed book 1, I didn’t have a chance to read it although it is on my TBR list. Its one of the few books that was a rec from friends that he actually liked. It would be awesome to hand him a copy of the new book.
Steampunk! FTW!
Awesome! Can’t wait to read it.
please count me in!!
Just what the doctor ordered. It could even arrive before my birthday if I win.
Books! Free books!
Oh wow, I lost track of when the next book is out. I can’t wait!
interested!
Me please!
I would love to read this series! I’m trying out the Steampunk genre of novels and am loving it so far! :) Thanks!
Me! Pick me! *jumps up and down, hand waving*
Yes, please!
I really liked Peeps. Thanks for doing the giveaway.
My computer keeps freezing and i am probably too late, but yay here is a comment!
I’d love to enter the contest! :)
Thanks Tor.com Hiccup…I missed the deadline today, or so I thought! Good luck all! Thanks for the entry!
I like Scott’s books lots! I found out about this the long way around, but I am glad I got to enter :)
Me too!
Prove me right for not buying this when I saw it in the store yesterday.
Goodluck everyone :)
I loved Leviathan and the Midnighters trilogy, so I’m sure I’ll love Behemoth, too!
Wow, can’t wait
Haven’t ever heard of this series, but I’m always up to try something new!
I loved the first one, and I’m really looking forward to getting the second one!
Sounds good. I’ve been meaning to read Leviathan.
Leviathan was great. Would love the next.
Reposting for the giveaway.. look forward to the book….
I had a good time with Leviathan and I’m sure I’ll like Behemoth as well :)
Ooo!
I’m hearing so much about Scott on the blogosphere, and I do love his YA novels. Looking forward to finding this in stores where I live.
!nahtaiveL
word.
Sounds interesting
Count me in ! Again:)
Just in case this is open until noon today, my comment from Wednesday morning seems to have evaporated. Thanks for the opportunity.
Too Late? Dangnation and blast! Also, really looking forward to picking up book 2.
It looks like my comment got blasted by the hiccup (unless I didn’t see it in my trawl through – if so please ignore this second comment) so here is comment #2 to replace #1 that seemingly got lost.
sounds like fun.
damn the site hiccup
too late to repost?
Late but still sounds interesting
Looks like an interesting series, was looking forward to reading it when I get some free time maybe sometime next month.
Looks Awesome!
I really want to read this!
Hi