We featured an impressive Keith Thompson artwork for Leviathan some days ago; today, a little more attention for Scott Westerfeld’s novel itself.

It is the cusp of World War I, and all the European powers are arming up. The Austro-Hungarians and Germans have their Clankers, steam-driven iron machines loaded with guns and ammunition. The British Darwinists employ fabricated animals as their weaponry. The Leviathan is a living airship, the most formidable airbeast in the skies of Europe.

Aleksandar Ferdinand, prince of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, is on the run. His own people have turned on him. His title is worthless. All he has is a battle-torn Stormwalker and a loyal crew of men.

Deryn Sharp is a commoner, a girl disguised as a boy in the British Air Service. She’s a brilliant airman. But her secret is in constant danger of being discovered.

With the Great War brewing, Alek’s and Deryn’s paths cross in the most unexpected way, taking them both aboard the Leviathan on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure. One that will change both their lives forever.

Visit Mr Westerfeld’s blog to learn more or watch the trailer on YouTube.

Mr ConsciousFlesh is a typical mac scientist who spends his time investing and building projects based on electricity (mostly high voltage).

Good examples of his work include a Tesla Coil, the so-called Jacob’s Ladder and the Tabletop Ballista, and, the best of all: a Steampunk Plasma Speaker.

All these projects are built from scratch by Mr ConsciousFlesh himself. Most of the projects are made of brass and nice brown wood to give them the quintessential steampunk look.

For more, delve into the Steampunk Pics archive or visit ConsciousFlesh useless projects.

This steampunk elephantine gasmask was created by Mr Tom Banwell, artist, leather worker and member of the Etsy “SteamTeam.”

Mr Banwell was one of the artists who were invited to show their work at the Steampunk Exhibition in the Oxford Museum. Check out his website for more.

This exhibition marks the very first time that steampunk art is to be featured in a major museum.

Located in the original Oxford Ashmolean building (the oldest museum building in the western world), the MHS houses the most comprehensive collection of important, historic scientific objects in the academic world.

For the upcoming exposition, Mr Donovan brings together the most renowned artists of the steampunk genre, representing Australia, Belgium, Canada, Japan, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. On display will be original sculptures, designs and inventions inspired by Victorian science and fiction. Many works have actually been created exclusively for this occasion!

The museum director, Dr Jim Bennett states:

“The Museum of the History of Science in Oxford is delighted to be hosting the Steampunk exhibition. We have many of the kinds of object that inspire the steampunk artists and excite the steampunk enthusiasts of today, so it is exciting to see characteristics and qualities of the original designs reformed into objects for living in the 21st century.”

The show will open on 13 October 2009 and run through 21 February 2010. Visit the Steampunk Art @ Oxford blog for more information.