Mortal Engines (Ian McQue boxset: Mortal Engines, Predator's Gold, Infernal Devices, A Darkling Plain): (mortal engines quartet)

Enjoyable from start to finish

I started reading the original four Mortal Engines books when my teenagers had finished with them. We all found the world and characters created by Philip Reeve in these stories to be interesting enough to keep us going through the four books. There were moments when escapes seemed to be a bit "contrived" (no more so than any Hollywood action movie) and a few characters were underdeveloped, but the pace of the narrative carried me through. This series is far more imaginative than many contemporary novels aimed at the adult reader!Seeing the film reminded me how much I had enjoyed the series, so I bought the boxed set to read again later. I like the film-related cover designs and presentation. After going through five sets of hands in the family, and I don't know how many friends, the original paperbacks fell to pieces, so I'm going to keep this set good.

I didn't expect the complexity of the story or the adult themes that were on offer with this book at all. Throw in the fact that the story is so beautifully original it's easy to see why this book won awards.Set in a post apocalyptic world way before it was even fashionable to write about crumbling dystopian civilisation, the story follows a young boy with nothing to lose, who suddenly finds himself at the centre of a very dangerous political war full of flying cities and looming disaster on every horizon. The characters are all as complex as each other with their own tales to tell. No one passes who isn't vital to the story and everyone seems so authentic it's hard to believe they've been made up, they are so beautifully flawed.A great start to the 4 part series and recommended to anyone who enjoys children's books that don't dumb down themes, to the ilk of Phillip Pullman and J K Rowling.

This book is a very good steampunk narrative, that can be enjoyed by young people and adults alike.Other reviewers have explained the argument, which is common enough: a deserving young man gets into trouble, and that brings him into a great conspiracy, and that makes him a hero, finding extraordinary characters along he way... this comes to a final climax where the characters will find their fate, and learn a lot about themselves and their world.This book can be read by any reader, but I think that only people above 10 will be able not to get scared, and read a bit between the lines... And that is the best part. Reeve makes a parable of a post apocaliptic world, a dreg of enviromental catastrophe and war ravage. His municipal darwinism is a mockery of ultraliberal capitalism and its hopeless ramble about the world, wasting resources, destroying nature and people, to keep a corrupt social order alive. Reality is far worse than we think, in a world where the poor, the meek have no place.There are constant references to other books (Shrike, for example)and that makes us older sci-fi readers the more happyThe comparison with Phillip Pullman and the Dark Matter series is unavoidable, and for me Reeve wins the day: more coherent universe, better narration, and clearer message if any.This is a "children" book, but at the same time a sombre social distopia. I think this is the first time that a reader brings this genre (post apocaliptic) from sci-fi into children books. John Christopher's "Tripods" has also explored this theme, but then apocalipsis was brought by aliens.I give it four stars because it is not a complete "round" story, and the adult reader could find some loopholes in the narrative, most probably to make the book more palatable for the younger public. But I'd gladly give it 4.5 stars. I'm buying all the series and would like my children to read them when they get older.

I am 12 and I don't normally read books like this as I prefer books that I know the author, the reason I decided to read it in the end is because I like boys books(like The Enemy by Charlie Higson)and not the traditional girls book like princess diaries.I got this at Christmas 2011 and I read the back and to me it didn't sound that interesting so I just left it on my bookshelf and read other books instead. But as I was going on holiday in the first week of the summer holidays and the night before I had finished the last book in the H.I.V.E series, I had to take Mortal Engines with me. I started reading it that night and by the end of the first page I was gripped and wanted to carry on reading, by the end of the week I had finished it.I seriously recommend it!!If you like this book you should try reading the H.I.V.E series by Mark Walden(the next book is coming out soon), The Enemy series by Charlie Higson, The Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz, The Power of 5 series by Anthony Horowitz(the next book is coming out soon), Undead by Kirsty McKay(the next book is coming out soon), The Roman Mysteries series by Caroline Lawrence, The P.K Pinkerton Mysteries series by Caroline Lawrence, The Diamond Brothers series by Anthony Horowitz,The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and The Young Bond series by Charlie Higson.This also counts as if you've read any of these books try this one!!Don't just think this is a boys book as I am a girl and I have really enjoyed it and all they other books listed above.

This YA novel blew my mind when I first read it many years ago. I came across it as a winner of the Smarties Book Awards (which J.K. Rowling won with Harry Potter).The retro feel of the book, well rounded characters and the sheer imagery of traction cities trundling about the scarred landscape of the far future of our world was/is just brilliant. I was in my mid thirties at the time and it still made me sit and wonder. I can't imagine what it does to kids!Great stuff. Perfect for kids with good imaginations and may generate them in those that don't!Get it. Read it. Enjoy it.

Good Sci fy book, well written, for all ages.

Todo perfecto, rapido, muy bien.

This was a much awaited book at home as it is the first in the series. Was delivered much before expected for a birthday gift. In good shape. Nice!

Bon livre, bon état.

I am in love with this book and had to order the box set right away! Couldn't stop reading and I am very exited for the upcoming movie.