Exciting news: The US paperback version of Leviathan will have a brand-spanking-new cover.
Here is it:
Pretty cool, huh? But I’m not going to say more, because I want to hear your impressions and opinions first.
Four key points about the US paperback version:
One: It will appear on August 10, 2010, about two months before book two in the series, Behemoth, which goes on sale October 5.
Two: It will be printed on the same awesome thick paper as the hardback! You may have noticed how much heavier Leviathan is than most books its size. The paper is a brighter white as well, all the better to show up Keith’s lovely art.
Three: It will be $9.99.
Four: Alas, the glorious endpapers map will not be in color in the paperback version. Only hardback books have end papers, so the map will appear as a spread in b&w. (Otherwise the book would be noticeably more expensive.)
Update: The paperback will be almost the same format as the hb, just a bit shorter. It’s my understanding that the art won’t have to be resized. (Phew.)
And now I attempt to anticipate your questions:
The UK paperback will have a different cover altogether, not the same as this or as the hardback there. I’ll reveal it here once it’s finalized.
I’m not sure what the plans are for the Australian paperback edition. I’ll let you know.
Leviathan has also sold in France, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Russia, Turkey, Greece, Israel, and Portugal. I have no idea about pub dates or covers, except that the French edition comes out in early September from Pocket Jeunesse.
MORE NEWS SOON ABOUT MANY THINGS.
May 20th, 2010 00:17
Super cool!
May 20th, 2010 00:18
Gasp! It’s so very pretty. But I like the hardcover more. Something to do with all the steam punk glory.
May 20th, 2010 00:19
OOH I love IT! LOVE IT! Congrats on yet another gorgeous book cover! and cant wait to see Behemoth now!
May 20th, 2010 00:19
In germany the book will be released in october… but i hope they don’t mess the translation up like uglies.
May 20th, 2010 00:20
I like that it has a completely different from the hardcover, but still looks as if it is connected to it. That doesn’t happen too often.
Still, I’m glad I have the hardcover, I love those colour maps.
May 20th, 2010 00:20
I think its pretty cool, except I can’t tell if it’s supposed to be Daryn or Alek. At first I thought it was Daryn (for no reason in particular), but then I saw the Clanker plane and thought it was Alek… Either way its not fair that only one of them gets to be on the cover. But otherwise its sweeett.
May 20th, 2010 00:20
Oops sorry, I misspelled Deryn. O.o
May 20th, 2010 00:26
A very nice cover, although I personally prefer the hardback. But I already have the book, so I am happy
I’m so excited to hear more about Behemoth! I can’t wait for October 5th! 137 days to go!
May 20th, 2010 00:36
Personally… I don’t really like it *avoids gunfire*
I like the cover Keith has on his deviantart a lot better, personally, and I think it would’ve been cool if they used that instead!
http://keithwormwood.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d29dvbf
But, I guess it’s alright. I just like Keith’s art so much!
I’m excited for Behemoth, though! I just finished reading Leviathan for the second time, and it was even better than the first time through! You’re an amazing writer Scott!
May 20th, 2010 00:40
Ooooh! Nice cover! I love how different it is from the hardback book, too! But, then again, I love flight and steampunk themes, so seeing a character wearing an aviator’s cap screams “MUST BUY, MUST BUY, MUST BUY!” to me…
Also, I’ve always loved how your name is in BIG LETTERS on the title; just seeing your name essentially makes me impulse-buy books on the spot!
May 20th, 2010 00:44
Ping to brita: I was going to bring that up too, but there was a decision against the artwork being used as cover art. I had asked Keith about that whether there was going to be a similar Deryn-themed work in the future, and that was his response.
But, I wonder if that decision applies to the paperbacks? Only time will tell.
May 20th, 2010 00:51
Absolutely awesome, although I still stand by my idea that people should buy hardbacks, as they say that ‘I want to keep this book til the day I die!’
Really
The look is still great, I hope it gathers many MORE fans in anticipation of Behemoth.
May 20th, 2010 00:58
My impressions, in order:
1) SHINY.
2) …forehead? Klingon, or Buffy-style vampire? I am staring and I cannot figure it out.
3) Ah, whatever, it’s pretty.
Which style is the Behemoth hardcover going to be in? I do love matching sets. But then, this new cover still looks pretty related to the style of the other one, so I like it.
May 20th, 2010 01:00
I love it! This got me back in the Leviathan-mood
May 20th, 2010 01:31
I hate to say it, but I really don’t like this one. It lacks…grit, somehow.
May 20th, 2010 01:59
I love it!!! Maybe just as much as the hb cover!
May 20th, 2010 02:02
Knowing nothing about the book before I saw the tweet, I can say that if I saw this on a bookshelf, I’d pick it up to see what it was about. That’s all you can ask for, these days…
May 20th, 2010 03:00
sorry to sound dumb but what is b&w? and it kinda looks like a cover for an Ameila Airhart book.
May 20th, 2010 03:08
Mr. Westerfeild, i thik u met my techr mrs farquharson (she makes us learn how 2 spell it) and she says Hi
as do i
yeah
I LOVE LEVIATHAN
Is your 3rd boo going to be called Ziz?
i cant wait to read behemoth!
May 20th, 2010 03:19
The cover looks cool, but I’m having the same problem as a few others- is this Deryn or Alek? I’m thinking Alek because the hair looks darker, but then the aviator cap doesn’t make much sense….
I’m sure it’ll entice people to pick up your book, but I do prefer the hardcover as well.
May 20th, 2010 03:21
this cover is pretty intense.
but honestly i like the hardback better. to me this cover doesnt really do the book justice. like the harback is kinda mysterious and makes you think why is it like all gears?
but this one is like oh young kid gears plane. war book.
but its not bad
May 20th, 2010 04:08
MMMhhh, not so good.
Too much things, overfilled.
May 20th, 2010 06:26
Nice cover, but I prefer the original. The hardback just has something that isn’t too revealing but still insanely awesome.
May 20th, 2010 06:49
I like the cover over all but it does look a bit too cluttered. The original cover was intriguing enough to make you look into the book and see what it was about, whereas this cover tells you what the book is generally about with one glance.
May 20th, 2010 07:13
i think its awsum! but its a lil funny looking cuz it looks like he’s wearing the metal!
May 20th, 2010 07:40
how fancy!
i think Scott-la has a thing for releasing books in october….
-Lizzy-wa OUT!
May 20th, 2010 09:14
Whooo, that is a FANTASTIC cover! I’m slightly tempted to get a copy of this just for that, though I’ve already got the lovely hardcover. C:
Very glad that it’ll be printed on the nice paper, too! I gushed over the paper for a few minutes when I opened up the book for the first time, haha.
May 20th, 2010 14:45
Hi Scott,
I think in Italy Leviathan pub date was… yesterday.
And this should be Italian cover: http://www.booksblog.it/post/6279/leviathan-di-scott-westerfeld-ucronia-e-steampunk-per-lautore-de-i-diari-della-mezzanotte
Congratulations and good luck!
May 20th, 2010 16:25
I like the hard cover much better. In fact, I liked your book so much that I bought it after I read it at the library.
But I do like the paperback price. Any word on pricing in Canada?
Can’t wait for the next book.
May 20th, 2010 22:20
Ping at Flash: OH MY GOD!!! I love the Italian cover so much!!!
That is precisely what that particular artwork was drawn for, too~!
May 21st, 2010 01:03
kay… so I seriously like this cover better – but I already have the hardcover.
May 21st, 2010 01:12
I prefer the hardcover’s cover. I like to imagine my own characters, or make assumptions from the drawings, not have a giant person on the front. There’s something about the awesome way the HB is laid out that I love!
I noticed it was heavier with whiter pages. I thought I was going crazy. Phew.
I can’t wait for Behemoth!
May 21st, 2010 03:59
I FINALLY got to read Leviathan after it sitting on my shelf for 3 months calling to me. I gobbled it up! Man, I really loved it a ton. I mean, I love all of your books, but this is probably my favorite out of all of them. Uglies is a very close second now instead of the easy favorite. I need Behemoth SO BADLY right now it’s not even funny! *is crying*
I also love how you come up with different languages in your books. It’s still english, but skewed and interesting. “Clart-snarfing grins” almost made me choke, because my mom says something VERY similar to that in 21st century english… LOL I just loved all of Deryn’s expressions. You have the neatest vocabulary ever. *sigh*
So thank you, Scott. ^_^ I am very happy that you share your stories with me. They’re given me so much. You’re right jolly, you are.
May 21st, 2010 04:25
anna wa???
hurry up the finch has set
ps u wont get wut this means unless u r anna wa
May 21st, 2010 04:43
Top 35 wooh! Haven’t been here in ages!
Alas I’m so excited for thw paperback version!
Also, I love the cake Scott! It looks awesome give my props to the cook!
May 21st, 2010 04:49
I LOVE BOTH OF THE COVERS!!!!! wow i’ve never been 36th before
May 21st, 2010 07:17
ALEK IS THAT YOU!?!?! *el gaspo*
May 21st, 2010 08:35
I donno… it seems kinda cheesy having just Alek on the front with his head kinda floating. Still I will totally buy the paperback because I just love your writing.
Thanks for always writing and not taking forever and a day to come out with new books let alone sequels. All your fans really appreciate it ^.^
May 21st, 2010 14:30
September for France *sigh*
It will be hard to wait >.<
May 21st, 2010 20:09
It got a finished copy of the UK paperback from the publisher’s yesterday and it has the cover that is up on it’s Goodreads page.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7921082-leviathan
Now I have a hardback and a paperback! I really loved it!
May 21st, 2010 20:13
THATS HARD CORE AWSOME SCOTT-LA!
May 22nd, 2010 00:34
This is neat! It’s sort of reminiscent for me of the Golden Compass for some reason… Kind of makes me think about armored bears, airships, and the aurora borealis… Not unpleasant at all!
Also, definitely futuristic-past world war I looking. I like the detail in the helmet and how it blends those two aspects.
And… That’s a sweet border. I like the “texture.”
I do wonder what that is on Deryn’s forehead, though… Maybe just a shadow.
May 22nd, 2010 00:47
A comment to those who want to use the art for a cover:
I think the art is awesome, but… that’s just it… I think the ART is awesome. I think being a cover would detract from its function and it would detract from the function of a cover. I think THAT would be too cluttered and would make it seem childish. Squashing the two together just seems like the kind of ideology I think of when picturing a kid who’s trying too hard… I think it’s nice to have a cleaner or more subtle outside and an intricate inside. They are beautiful in their own ways, in their own places.
May 22nd, 2010 03:25
I like the cover! The only thing that annoys me is the forehead. Ugh!
May 22nd, 2010 04:06
I hope there is a fan art friday (or other day) soon. I love those!
May 22nd, 2010 05:20
im in loove with the backround of the cover….but…..i think the person kills it.:/
im glad i bought the hardcover….
sorry…
but i freaking looved the book!!:]
May 22nd, 2010 05:21
this book was really good i cant wait for more updates… also please put more updates about Uglies movie
May 22nd, 2010 08:26
I’m still trying to decide if I like the cover or not. There’s something about the face that I don’t like…but I’m not sure what.
Anyway, that’s great news about the paper that it’s made out of. Things I would never think about unless someone else brought it up…
Also, congratulations Mr. Westerfeld on being so successful. So much attention in so many countries…
May 22nd, 2010 10:04
heheheh ‘el gaspo’ hehe oh wow that made me laugh
-Lizzy-wa OUT!
May 23rd, 2010 10:05
Ping to everyone about the person on the cover:
I personally think that it is supposed to be ambiguous. The person on the front is either Alek or Deryn; in fact, it’s sort of both of them at once.
That’s what I’d say, at least. And if this really was the effect the creators were going for, then I commend them.
Also, I think it is sort of reminiscent of the cover of Boneshaker by Cherie Preist. Consequently, this version have a blurb by Scott-la himself on the cover: http://sdennard.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/boneshaker.jpg
May 23rd, 2010 14:07
Ooh, interesting!
I am confused by one thing though – I was browsing the internets yesterday looking up the release of the paperback in the UK, and Amazon told me it would be on the 27th May, which is in…four days. Which seems a little early if the paperback cover hasn’t even been released yet. Any idea what’s up with that? Have Amazon gone un poco loco? Either way I’m excited to see what the paperback cover will bring!
May 23rd, 2010 15:31
i’m so impatient!
Yes in france, it release in september.
Its not cool…
I have to wait wait wait again and again…
^^
May 23rd, 2010 18:18
i dont know which is better… this one or the old one.(its cool to be coment 53 because i used to be 5640.)
May 24th, 2010 00:31
OH MY!!!
thanks scott-la!!
SO sweet! and only @ $10???
i’m buying it. and bringing it so u can sign it on ur next book tour
May 24th, 2010 05:16
Cool! But that sucks about the maps from the hardcover. i agree with lace-short-for-lacey there’s something about the whole hardcover and steampunk thing. Can not WAIT for Behemoth; hopefully I’ll be getting that!
May 24th, 2010 20:46
Book City – Help person find the book which he or she may be loved in, Where everyone can leave a review after reading the book.
May 24th, 2010 23:57
I’m gonna be honest, dude. I don’t really like it. The head’s all weird in relation to the back plane and there’s just way too much stuff. I don’t know where to look. They overworked everything. You have a drawing in the back, some realistic manipulated photo thing in the foreground, steampunk frame stuff out the wazoo (and the figure isn’t even completely centered in it), and on top of it all are a billion overlay textures.
It would be awesome if they could somehow use the color version of the map on the paperback cover instead of having it on the end pages. It could be really classy and appealing to a wider audience depending on how the designer approaches it.
Buuuuut that’s just me.
May 25th, 2010 19:07
sorta like it but the hardcover is MUCH better…i don’t really like having actual people on the covers of books coz i like to imagine how they look in my own mind and i kinda think that people on the covers are creepy. (don’t ask…my mind is weird that way…i think it’s something to do with the fact that i think the people are watching me…yeahhh…well that was embarrassing to admit :/)
so i haven’t been on here in FOREVER!!!! and i don’t think i’ve picked up a Scott Westerfeld book in FOREVER (shameful i know :/) i’ve been busy though so not much time for any reading
quite sad.
so like all of you i’m anxiously waiting for Scott’s next book! it’s inevitably going to be AMAZING!! (nine kinds to be exact
) i’m also anxiously waiting to find out if there are ever going to be movies of Scott’s books! i’m on the fence about whether i want there to be or not…i mean they would be awesome kick ass movies but they could ruin the books for other people which would be sad because the books are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO EXCEPTIONALLY EPICALLY AMAZINGLY AMAZING!!!!!!!!!! but anyway…yeah not sure where i stand at this point but! if there were to be movies i know the PERFECT person who could play Dr. Cable. i don’t know if any of you watch the show V (if you don’t you should!) but the main character, Anna, whoever plays her would be awesome as Dr. Cable coz she shows no emotion and has the angles and body structure like a Special (at least how i picture a special to be) so if you want to check her out just Google “Anna from V” and check her out (not in a weird way though…haha)
so yeah…that’s all i got to say…this was a good use of my study hall!
who cares the school year is winding down and summer is almost here!! 
can’t wait!!
peace ouuuut Peeps!! (you know you wanna be one!)
GREEN DAY ROCKS!!! <3
SO DOES EMINEM!!! <3
May 25th, 2010 20:29
I absolutely love your books. I started with the Uglies series and was promptly sucked into the story. Leviathan was completely different and at the same time awesome. I love the new cover!
By the way, thank you for creating clean books for the world to read. I know there are many who enjoy a good book without having to read foul words or smutty scenes. So, thanks! I appreciate it!
May 26th, 2010 20:40
ummm, to be honest i dont like it. i cant tell whether its alek or deryn, and both should be on it or none! the hardback was so pretty and actually looked old. this looks as if your TRYING to be old looking. i finally got to read it tho! fabu, cant wait for the next one!
May 27th, 2010 01:03
Hooray! A cheaper version of a great book that I can now buy! (In August
) But the picture of Alec weirds me out. Like a mix between a real person and a low quality computerized human. I’d like to know which is the answer if ya don’t mind. 
May 27th, 2010 01:05
Was that last comment of mine supposed to be constructive critisism? I can’t tell. Too much almost-last-day-of-school fumes…
May 27th, 2010 01:13
Oh yeah! Just had a brain rememberance explosion! We got our yearbooks yesterday,(on this year’s 2011 staff. w00t!) and the company, called Taylor, has a thing called the “yearzine” in the back, filled with important events from this year, and in the back Levithan was on the top 10 list of stuff to read!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Of corse, the first one was twilight… I’m not gonna say I never liked it but now I think it’s super annoying! GODSH! Whats with all my mindless rambling! Anyone have a cure for this?!?!?!?!? 0o0 ahhhhhh!
May 27th, 2010 01:29
Ping to random: I used to watch that show! Then I got bored. OOh and I saw this picture of Eminem made out of M&Ms when I went to Ripley’s Believe It Or Not in Gatlinburg! Also, I randomly ventured onto Green Day’s website. Ventured with my best friend sitting next to me in computer class cause even though they sing awesomely, they kind of freak. me. out. Plus, I won’t get to see them at a concert till I’m 25, moved out of the house and saved up enough money from my modeling carreer to buy tickets for me and my fiance Chuck. I don’t know who Chuck is. But he’s out there somewhere… Thanks for reading, and if you didn’t, I don’t really care. More like “Thanks for putting up this visual eyesore.” I’m done talking now. Thanks for putting up with this eyesore!!!!
May 27th, 2010 01:30
Still mindlessly ramblling…
Sorry for the 4, now 5, posts I’ve made in a row!!!
I’m done now, but I won’t promise it.
May 27th, 2010 03:20
To the people who have trouble identifying the person on the cover:
I decided for myself for it to be Deryn, as others decided for themselves it was either Deryn or Alec, but it still could be / is both; as Kailey-was said, it’s ambiguous. I wonder if that helps for the people who have a hard time with one or the other being center stage…?
May 27th, 2010 20:13
I have a bit of a random question…I was talking to my dad about this book the other day and he asked what it was about. When I mentioned the whale (the leviathan in the story) he was like, ohh that makes sense. Livyatan is hebrew for whale (we’re israeli). I was wondering if that had any connection to the title?
May 27th, 2010 20:27
I’ve known Scott-la to do his research for whatever books he’s writing, so it makes a great amount of sense that he purposely made Leviathan a Darwinist whale-ship as opposed to whatever else it could have been.
Although, when I think “flying whales”, I think of a lot of other things too. Video games are one… Has anyone here played Final Fantasy IV?
May 28th, 2010 04:16
Scott-la you are so awesome!!!!
I can’t wait till the second book comes out either! 
I’m sure it’s going to be just as awesome as you are!!! I have the hardcover book but am definitely going to by the paper back as well! It just looks so good.
May 28th, 2010 08:11
I AM FREAKISHLY EXCITED FOR BEHEMOTH TO COME OUT!!!
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!
May 28th, 2010 18:59
@ Tridecalover: I think that was exactly the point
May 28th, 2010 19:01
PS Tridecalover, why do you love the number 30? Or do you mean something else by your name?
May 28th, 2010 19:56
My UK paperback came today! It’s totally gorgeous and lovely and it’s so exciting to be able to finally read it!
(I can’t afford hardbacks so always have to wait for the paperback.) It’s such a great book so far, I’m only about 1/2 way through but loving it! Though why is the UK paperback out soooo much earlier than the US one?! Don’t care really, just glad I’ve got mine! It’s so pretty!
May 29th, 2010 03:25
Scott, congratulations for the interview on the italian magazine “Il Venerdì”!
I hope that your book will sell well in Italy!
May 29th, 2010 21:52
I like it – I think it will really appeal to the boys in my classroom! Can’t wait to pick up my copy
June 8th, 2010 05:03
WHAT WOULD THE GERMANS THINK OF THIS SERIES???????
June 8th, 2010 23:08
I loved the whole thing when i finish reading!
June 26th, 2010 02:44
how can i subsribe to this site?
July 5th, 2010 13:45
i’ve fallen in love with the book all over again~! can’t wait to get Behemoth. I just hope that the Behemoth Hardcover has a similar design with the red-metallic steampunk version of Leviathan. But the design is cool, nonetheless
July 8th, 2010 16:22
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July 8th, 2010 16:49
Hi there..Great Website you have right here! Just wanna leave a short info for you about how to blow the girl’s head at the following Barbeque-Party!
August 11th, 2010 09:09
I cannot wait for Behemoth to come out. October seems so far away. The first time I saw the cover for Behemoth I was so excited. The cover looked so cool and it was green, which is my favorite color, a book after my own heart. Although like a lot of people I had trouble figuring out if it was Alek or Deryn on the cover. But then I saw the two covers together, and noticed that the person on the Behemoth cover looked a lot more feminine. But not too feminine, where it is obvious that she is a girl. That might have ruined it, but I had to guess. I like the paperback cover of Leviathan; I think Alek looks very handsome on the cover. I love the mixed-media effect.
January 4th, 2012 13:51
short interesting articles