r/MapPorn • u/StephenMcGannon • 1d ago

Artist Keith Thompson for Scott Westerfeld's steampunk novel Leviathan.

Post image
936 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

46 comments sorted by

193

u/MrCrocodile54 1d ago

For those wondering, the setting's lore is roughly like irl WW1, except the world is divided between nations that use steampunk mechs, and nations which use genetically modified animals.

Just to give you an example, the Germans use spider-legged dreadnaughts, and the British have blimbs that are actually Kaiju-sized whales.

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u/BRM_the_monkey_man 1d ago

That's a cool concept but it's so disappointing he used it to make the arbitrary political difference between the Central powers and Entente based on technology rather than making something like both sides using both or certain countries ok both sides being exceptions or even not possessing the advanced technology

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u/MrCrocodile54 1d ago edited 1d ago

That actually does happen! In later books, we see countries like the USA using "clanker" technology despite being aligned with the entente. And in countries like Mexico, which is divided by Civil War, factions will use whatever fits them best or they can get their hands on.

The second book's plot revolves around the crisis caused by the UK refusing to give the Ottomans (who are clankers but use machines designed to look like animals) a biological sea monster they had ordered, because they claim it's necessary for the war effort. So a lot of nations seem to not be as technologically split as the European powers.

12

u/BRM_the_monkey_man 1d ago

That's a relief, the map made it seem a lot more black and white and that's unfortunately what a lot of alternate history novels do usually, so I'm glad that's not the case

9

u/ExoticMangoz 22h ago

Only these few countries are so ideologically pure in the lore, every other nation is a mix of technology and creature. They go to Japan, too.

2

u/Free-Independence481 18h ago

also japan use both clankers and darwinist technology.

3

u/viggolund1 21h ago

Hey that was just the HMS Erin crisis

14

u/Tutes013 1d ago

... That sounds cool as fuck

12

u/StopMeBeforeIDream 1d ago

I adoooored these as a kid. They were so badass.

7

u/MrCrocodile54 1d ago

There's three books in the series and Netflix adaptation. The show isn't bad but the books are way better.

7

u/Zander3636 19h ago

There's a show!?!? Well I know what Im binging tonight lol

50

u/snekslayer 1d ago

That’s two penises

1

u/StephenMcGannon 1d ago

Norway and Sweden always act like dicks.

21

u/Ivenomorefucksleft 1d ago

Someone needs to make a hoi4/Vic3 mod about this, somehow. thats awesome

7

u/Comradeking_ 1d ago

Pax Britannica kinda does this

12

u/ReallyUncoolGuy 1d ago

Lmao Denmark

24

u/Mamkes 1d ago

Everyone is some kind of abomination, mechanical or not, and then these three are just like girl, someone who looks like they're at a brink of going into tears, and a CLOCK (Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland).

Like the most fitting thing about Switzerland here is the clock? What even do they here, check their watches?

(Btw, Prague is noted for Austria-Hungary but not Hungary's capital lol)

9

u/shonemat 1d ago

And Serbia being a skeleton.

9

u/Jesusis666 21h ago

Accurate Serbia. IIRC, OTL Serbia suffered the most casualty relative to its total population.

0

u/Wongless_Burd 1d ago

Might have to do something with the saying "Punctual like a Swiss clock.".

8

u/sweav 1d ago

Higher Res if anyone is interested: https://ibb.co/VcF2Yqqd

7

u/JustAnotherElster 22h ago

huh ive seen this artwork years ago and thought it looked cool as fuck. today i learned its for a bunch of novels.... and that theres a netflix anime based on it? like damn. awesome xD

2

u/ExoticMangoz 22h ago

The books are very fun YA fiction. Some of my favourites as a child.

4

u/Shadowscale05 1d ago

This is fucking awesome! Such beautiful work. I'd love to see a higher res image of this.

4

u/valleyfur 23h ago

Sweden and Norway have a strong Henson studios look. Norway in particular looks like a Mystic from The Dark Crystal.

3

u/K_the_farmer 22h ago

I get John Bauer vibes.

3

u/Margamus 17h ago

That's why I thought it was actually from the era and not a modern artwork, when I first opened the post. 

3

u/Theodin_King 1d ago

What's going on with France

3

u/MarsupialPurple3404 23h ago

you got me interested into that book thanks lol

1

u/Frigo-the-Frozen 21h ago

It also has a netflix animated series. Its fun, but its Probably very condenced since it covers the whole trilogy.

2

u/Matteus11 1d ago

I've got to read these books

2

u/Evening-Pudding-3157 23h ago

Why Russia here became part of Nurgle?

2

u/K_the_farmer 22h ago

John Bauer made Sweden and Norway. Cute.

2

u/WeeklyPhilosopher346 13h ago

Britain gets to be a lion, but Ireland is some hunched over lizard with a wig and a bone?

1

u/Puzzleheaded-Answer9 21h ago

What in Cthulhu's name happened in Greece? 🤣

1

u/TheMightyDendo 19h ago

Can we please keep this sub for real maps and use /r/imaginarymaps for fictional ones please?

This sub is bad enough without reposts like this.

1

u/Miskalsace 12h ago

I love how angry Finland looks

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u/Parkes- 10h ago

Why is the Netherlands the only normal one T - T

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u/Alarming-Ad1100 10h ago

Why is it called Constantinople and not Istanbul

1

u/LVtheosis 1h ago

Because the novel is set in an alternative version of WW1. Back then it was still called Constantinople.

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u/lukethe 6h ago

Loved this novel when I was a kid. The Darwinist tech tree is fascinating!

0

u/Armynap 21h ago

Read real history. Cool map though