📖 Overview
Philip Reeve is a British author and illustrator best known for writing the Mortal Engines series, a post-apocalyptic science fiction saga that began in 2001. His work in children's and young adult literature has earned significant recognition, including the Carnegie Medal for his 2007 novel Here Lies Arthur.
Before establishing himself as an author, Reeve worked as a bookshop employee and illustrator, having studied at both Cambridgeshire College of Arts and Technology and Brighton Polytechnic. His early creative work included writing and performing in comedy shows, demonstrating his diverse artistic background.
Reeve's literary portfolio extends beyond the Mortal Engines Quartet to include other successful series such as Larklight and Fever Crumb. His work often combines elements of science fiction, fantasy, and steampunk, creating distinctive worlds that have attracted both critical acclaim and a devoted readership.
The author's storytelling consistently explores themes of survival, technology, and social transformation, particularly in post-apocalyptic settings. Beyond his novel writing, Reeve has also ventured into other creative projects, including The Ministry of Biscuits, a dystopian comic musical co-authored with Brian Mitchell.
👀 Reviews
Readers appreciate Reeve's world-building and creative concepts, particularly in the Mortal Engines series. Many reviews highlight his skill at crafting detailed futuristic settings without getting bogged down in exposition.
Fans note his complex characters who defy typical young adult tropes. Multiple reviews praise how he writes morally ambiguous characters and doesn't shy away from difficult themes. Reader comments often mention the fast pacing and cinematic action sequences.
Common criticisms include abrupt endings, uneven pacing in later series installments, and some character relationships feeling underdeveloped. Several readers found the density of his world-building initially challenging to follow.
Ratings across platforms:
Goodreads:
- Mortal Engines: 3.9/5 (95,000+ ratings)
- Fever Crumb: 3.8/5 (8,000+ ratings)
- Here Lies Arthur: 3.7/5 (3,000+ ratings)
Amazon:
- Mortal Engines series averages 4.5/5
- Railhead trilogy averages 4.3/5
- Standalone novels average 4.2/5
📚 Books by Philip Reeve
Mortal Engines Series
Mortal Engines - In a post-apocalyptic world of mobile "traction cities," young Tom Natsworthy discovers dark secrets about his beloved London.
Predator's Gold - Tom and Hester navigate treacherous politics in the ice city of Anchorage while facing the threat of deadly stalkers.
Infernal Devices - Wren Natsworthy, daughter of Tom and Hester, is kidnapped into a life of air-piracy among the floating cities.
A Darkling Plain - The final confrontation between traction cities and static settlements determines humanity's future.
Fever Crumb Series Fever Crumb - An engineer apprentice with an unusual past experiences startling changes in a pre-traction city London. A Web of Air - Fever travels to a coastal city where she becomes involved with a young inventor's dangerous flying machine project. Scrivener's Moon - Fever must confront the implications of London's transformation into the first traction city.
Larklight Series Larklight - Victorian-era siblings living in a space-traveling house encounter space pirates and alien invasions. Starcross - Art and Myrtle Mumby face time-traveling villains at a mysterious space hotel. Mothstorm - The Mumby family confronts an alien threat from the edges of the solar system.
Standalone Novels Here Lies Arthur - A young girl becomes involved in the manipulation of myths surrounding the legendary King Arthur. Traction City - A prequel novella detailing the apprenticeship of Anna Fang before the events of Mortal Engines.
Buster Bayliss Series Night of the Living Veg - A young boy faces an invasion of mutant vegetables in his town. The Big Freeze - Buster battles weather-controlling villains in a suddenly frozen neighborhood. Day of the Hamster - A classroom hamster gains super-intelligence and plots world domination. Custardfinger - Buster investigates suspicious events at a local custard factory.
Fever Crumb Series Fever Crumb - An engineer apprentice with an unusual past experiences startling changes in a pre-traction city London. A Web of Air - Fever travels to a coastal city where she becomes involved with a young inventor's dangerous flying machine project. Scrivener's Moon - Fever must confront the implications of London's transformation into the first traction city.
Larklight Series Larklight - Victorian-era siblings living in a space-traveling house encounter space pirates and alien invasions. Starcross - Art and Myrtle Mumby face time-traveling villains at a mysterious space hotel. Mothstorm - The Mumby family confronts an alien threat from the edges of the solar system.
Standalone Novels Here Lies Arthur - A young girl becomes involved in the manipulation of myths surrounding the legendary King Arthur. Traction City - A prequel novella detailing the apprenticeship of Anna Fang before the events of Mortal Engines.
Buster Bayliss Series Night of the Living Veg - A young boy faces an invasion of mutant vegetables in his town. The Big Freeze - Buster battles weather-controlling villains in a suddenly frozen neighborhood. Day of the Hamster - A classroom hamster gains super-intelligence and plots world domination. Custardfinger - Buster investigates suspicious events at a local custard factory.
👥 Similar authors
Scott Westerfeld blends science fiction with social commentary in his Leviathan and Uglies series, featuring transformed societies and advanced technologies. His work explores similar post-apocalyptic themes and technological consequences as Reeve's novels.
Kenneth Oppel creates rich steampunk worlds in his Airborn series, centered on airship adventures and Victorian-era science fiction elements. His writing style focuses on detailed world-building and coming-of-age narratives that mirror Reeve's approach.
Frances Hardinge builds complex fantasy worlds with political intrigue and unconventional heroes in books like Fly By Night and Deeplight. Her work shares Reeve's attention to intricate world-building and social dynamics.
Jonathan Stroud crafts alternative histories with supernatural elements in his Bartimaeus sequence, combining humor with dark themes. His narratives feature power struggles and complex character relationships similar to those found in Reeve's works.
China Miéville writes science fiction that merges steampunk aesthetics with political themes in books like Perdido Street Station and Iron Council. His world-building incorporates industrial and post-apocalyptic elements that parallel Reeve's fictional universes.
Kenneth Oppel creates rich steampunk worlds in his Airborn series, centered on airship adventures and Victorian-era science fiction elements. His writing style focuses on detailed world-building and coming-of-age narratives that mirror Reeve's approach.
Frances Hardinge builds complex fantasy worlds with political intrigue and unconventional heroes in books like Fly By Night and Deeplight. Her work shares Reeve's attention to intricate world-building and social dynamics.
Jonathan Stroud crafts alternative histories with supernatural elements in his Bartimaeus sequence, combining humor with dark themes. His narratives feature power struggles and complex character relationships similar to those found in Reeve's works.
China Miéville writes science fiction that merges steampunk aesthetics with political themes in books like Perdido Street Station and Iron Council. His world-building incorporates industrial and post-apocalyptic elements that parallel Reeve's fictional universes.