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Philip Reeve
4 Dec. 2002: Mortal Engines Shortlisted for Whitbread Prize and Winner of Gold
Smarties Award
"Mortal Engines"
Philip Reeve lives in a hamlet
high above moorland in Devon. Enthusiasts of his first, much-acclaimed
novel "Mortal Engines", may wish to note that a traction-bound
urban predator such as Tunbridge Wheels would experience some difficulty
in overwhelming this remote spot.
Philip Reeve has been described
as having a "startling imagination" and is clearly a man of many talents.
While living in Brighton, he made amateur films, turning to illustration of
children's books to help fund this enthusiasm. He is already well known
for his cartoon illustrations in the "Murderous Maths"
and "Horrible Histories" series and is at present involved with
others in the writing and promotion of a musical called "The Ministry of
Biscuits".
Some of Reeve's ideas for films have
found their way into the book. One can imagine that this post-apocalyptic
mechanistic mayhem would make a great film, but not perhaps one on a small
budget. Unlike many contemporary fantasy authors, he has not announced he
is to write a trilogy. He mentions tentative ideas for a sequel -
possibly to be based in the genteel decay of a seaside town, a setting that he
finds particularly appealing. The
publication of the next novel is projected to be in September 2003.
"Mortal Engines"
has just won the Gold Smarties Award and
is shortlisted for the children's Whitbread prize - a remarkable
achievement for a debut novelist. The Whitbread results will be announced early
in 2003.
Philip Reeve seems slightly
surprised to learn of the extent of the success of "Mortal Engines",
although he admits he had heard friends and reviewers had found it impossible
to find copies in bookshops for the first three weeks after publication. On
mention of the book's darker side - good does not always triumph over
evil and the hero and heroine suffer - Reeve acknowledges that this has upset
some readers, which he regrets, but says that he had not wished to compromise
in this respect to achieve an artificially happy outcome. By the same
token, his villains have redeeming features. This is a compelling book -
a great adventure set in a wasteland dominated by urban predators. The
first sentence admirably sets the scene:
"It
was a dark, blustery afternoon in spring, and the city of London was chasing a
small mining town across the dried-out bed of the old North Sea."
"Mortal
Engines"
by Philip Reeve,
published by
Scholastic, 2001, is available in hardback and paperback editions
(Updated 4 December 2002)
Mortal Engines
First Edition Copies
available from
Reaveley Books, 1 Church Road, Lympstone, Exmouth, Devon, UK, EX8 5JU,
Tel: 01395-225462
e-mail:
jane@reaveleybooks.com
(for prices see main
page)
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