Worldshaker – Richard Harland
Allen & Unwin, 2009
384 pages
RRP: AU$17.99
ISBN: 9781741757095

Review by Liz Grzyb

Worldshaker is the story of Colbert Porpentine, heir to the position of Supreme Commander of the juggernaut Worldshaker. Unsurprisingly with a name like that, Colbert is one of the Elite class who live in the upper levels, lording it over the Filthies who occupy the bottom desk and do all the work. Col’s world is shaken up somewhat when he meets Riff, a Filthy who has escaped from the lower decks. She educates him in the true nature of the moving monolith they live in.

Colbert is a sympathetic hero, but he is very naive and seems much younger than his fourteen years. His development of feelings for Riff seem quite out of place, not only in his over-simplified world of manners and status, but also because he seems too childlike for all this! His immature reactions to the conflict early in the novel beg the question of whether he would be able to grow up so much in such a short amount of time.

Apart from that, the plot is pretty engaging and adventurous. The characters encounter danger and discover plots as Col finds out the truth about the Filthies, the juggernauts and the societies that live in them. It is an interesting look at the underside of a neo-Victorian society as well as the “polite” side, in an easy to read coming of age story.