# Mortal Engines

> 2001 novel by Philip Reeve

**Wikidata**: [Q595950](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q595950)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortal_Engines)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/mortal-engines-q595950

## Summary
Mortal Engines is a 2001 novel by British author Philip Reeve, set in a post-apocalyptic steampunk world where cities move on wheels and consume each other for resources. It is the first book in the Mortal Engines Quartet series and won the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize and the Blue Peter Book Award.

## Key Facts
- Published on November 16, 2001, by Scholastic Press
- Written by Philip Reeve, a British author
- Part of the Mortal Engines Quartet series (2001-2006)
- Genre: steampunk, science fiction, post-apocalyptic fiction, bildungsroman
- Country of origin: United Kingdom
- Page count: 293 pages
- ISBN: 0-439-97943-9
- OCLC number: 46417251
- Followed by: Predator's Gold (2003)
- Awards: Nestlé Smarties Book Prize, Blue Peter Book Award, ALA Notable Books for Children

## FAQs
**What is Mortal Engines about?**
Mortal Engines is set in a post-apocalyptic future where cities have become mobile and hunt each other for resources in a concept called Municipal Darwinism. The story follows Tom Natsworthy, a young apprentice historian, and Hester Shaw, a scarred girl seeking revenge, as they navigate this dangerous world.

**What genre is Mortal Engines?**
Mortal Engines is primarily a steampunk novel, blending science fiction with 19th-century aesthetics and technology. It also incorporates elements of post-apocalyptic fiction and bildungsroman (coming-of-age story).

**Is Mortal Engines part of a series?**
Yes, Mortal Engines is the first book in the Mortal Engines Quartet, a series of four novels published between 2001 and 2006. The series includes Predator's Gold (2003), Infernal Devices (2005), and A Darkling Plain (2006).

**What awards has Mortal Engines won?**
Mortal Engines has won several awards including the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize, the Blue Peter Book Award, and was named an ALA Notable Book for Children. It has also received recognition in the UK and internationally.

**Who is the author of Mortal Engines?**
Mortal Engines was written by Philip Reeve, a British author known for his young adult and children's fiction. He has written numerous other books including the Larklight trilogy and the Railhead series.

## Why It Matters
Mortal Engines is significant for its innovative concept of mobile cities in a post-apocalyptic setting, which has influenced the steampunk genre and young adult fiction. The novel's unique world-building combines Victorian aesthetics with futuristic technology, creating a distinctive vision of a resource-scarce future. Its success helped establish Philip Reeve as a major voice in children's and young adult literature, and the series has been adapted into other media including a 2018 film directed by Christian Rivers. The book's themes of survival, revenge, and the consequences of technological advancement continue to resonate with readers, making it a modern classic in speculative fiction.

## Notable For
- Introducing the concept of "Traction Cities" - mobile urban settlements that hunt each other
- Winning multiple prestigious children's book awards including Nestlé Smarties and Blue Peter
- Being adapted into a major motion picture in 2018
- Combining steampunk aesthetics with post-apocalyptic themes in a unique way
- Establishing Philip Reeve as a leading author in young adult speculative fiction
- Creating a detailed and immersive fictional world with its own history and technology
- Addressing complex themes of resource scarcity and survival through an accessible narrative

## Body
### Publication and Reception
Mortal Engines was first published on November 16, 2001, by Scholastic Press in the United Kingdom. The 293-page novel was an immediate success, winning the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize (Gold Award, 9-11 years category) and the Blue Peter Book Award. It was also recognized as an ALA Notable Book for Children, highlighting its quality and appeal to young readers. The book's ISBN is 0-439-97943-9 and its OCLC number is 46417251.

### Author Background
Philip Reeve, born in 1966 in Brighton, England, is a British author known for his work in children's and young adult fiction. Before writing Mortal Engines, Reeve worked as an illustrator and cartoonist. The success of Mortal Engines established him as a prominent voice in speculative fiction for young readers, leading to the creation of the Mortal Engines Quartet and other successful series.

### Series Context
Mortal Engines is the first book in the Mortal Engines Quartet, a series that spans four novels published between 2001 and 2006. The series includes Predator's Gold (2003), Infernal Devices (2005), and A Darkling Plain (2006). Each book expands on the world-building established in the first novel, exploring different aspects of the post-apocalyptic society and following the continuing adventures of the main characters.

### World-Building and Setting
The novel is set thousands of years in the future after a catastrophic event known as the Sixty Minute War. In this world, cities have become mobile, mounted on huge wheels and tracks, and practice Municipal Darwinism - hunting and consuming smaller settlements for resources. This unique concept combines steampunk aesthetics (Victorian-era technology and design) with post-apocalyptic themes, creating a distinctive and immersive fictional world.

### Literary Genre and Themes
Mortal Engines incorporates multiple literary genres and themes. As a steampunk novel, it features steam-powered machinery and technology extrapolated from 19th-century science. The post-apocalyptic setting explores themes of survival and resource scarcity. The novel also follows the bildungsroman tradition, focusing on the psychological and moral growth of protagonist Tom Natsworthy from youth to adulthood. Additional themes include revenge, loyalty, and the consequences of technological advancement.

### Characters and Plot
The story centers on Tom Natsworthy, a young apprentice historian living in the Traction City of London, and Hester Shaw, a scarred girl seeking revenge against the man who killed her mother. Their paths cross when Hester attempts to assassinate Thaddeus Valentine, London's Head Historian, and Tom becomes entangled in her quest. The novel follows their journey across the dangerous landscape of the Great Hunting Ground, where they encounter various factions and face numerous challenges.

### Adaptations and Legacy
The success of Mortal Engines led to various adaptations and expansions of the franchise. Most notably, a film adaptation directed by Christian Rivers and produced by Peter Jackson was released in 2018. The book has also inspired companion works, including The Traction Codex (2011) and Night Flights (2018), which expand on the world and characters. The series' influence can be seen in subsequent steampunk and post-apocalyptic works, particularly those aimed at young adult audiences.

### Critical Reception and Impact
Critics have praised Mortal Engines for its imaginative world-building, fast-paced plot, and complex characters. The novel's unique concept of mobile cities has been particularly noted as innovative within the steampunk genre. Its success helped popularize steampunk elements in young adult literature and demonstrated the commercial viability of complex world-building in children's fiction. The book continues to be studied in educational contexts and remains popular with readers of all ages.

### Related Works and Connections
As part of the Mortal Engines Quartet, the novel connects to three subsequent books that further develop the world and characters. The series is related to the broader steampunk genre, sharing thematic and aesthetic elements with works by authors like China Miéville and Cherie Priest. The post-apocalyptic setting also connects it to other young adult dystopian fiction, though its unique approach to world-building sets it apart from contemporaries.

## References

1. Internet Speculative Fiction Database
2. [Source](http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/notalists/ncb/ncbpastlists/2004ncblist)
3. [Source](http://www.sf-fan.gr.jp/awards/2007.html)
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. [Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve | Open Library](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL5826881W/Mortal_Engines?edition=key%3A/books/OL21989070M)