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Leviathan
Whales are headed towards extinction, so Justin Magnus sails into the arctic in an attempt to sabotage Russian and Japanese whaling ships.
- GenresHorror
Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1876
3 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
About the author
John Gordon Davis
37 books19 followersJohn Gordon Davis was born and grew up in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). He had a degree in Political Science and an LLB. He served on the bar in Southern Rhodesia, before UDI in that country.
He became a full time writer after the success of his first book Hold my hand I'm dying.
He ran a course in fiction writing from Andalusia in Spain. He passed away in November 2014 and is survived by his wife Rosemary.
He became a full time writer after the success of his first book Hold my hand I'm dying.
He ran a course in fiction writing from Andalusia in Spain. He passed away in November 2014 and is survived by his wife Rosemary.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 27, 2018
Leviathan is an understandably angry book. It concerns Justin Magnus, the new head of Magnus Oceanics, a successful film and communications company that concentrated on the conservation of the oceans of the world. Following his father’s death he considered himself free now to put into motion his daring plans. He was outraged about the continued slaughter of the whales – ‘butchered for lipstick and pet-food’. Propaganda and persuasion hadn’t worked, the IWC seemed toothless. Fortunately, assembled around him were believers in his cause. His crew would set out for the Antarctic and locate the Russian factory ship Slava and blow it out of the water!
He sets out on the Jubilee with a loyal crew, including his younger brother Craig and the woman who becomes the love of his life, Katie. She’s also Justin’s editor; he has written a number of best-sellers, his purpose being the readers ‘must understand! They must see and understand the terrible peril that nature is in.’ (p28)
Their plan is complicated because they have no intention of harming any of the whalers themselves. They will board the factory ship and evacuate the crew in the lifeboats; the other outlying catcher boats can retrieve them.
What could go wrong?
Relationships become strained, especially when an associate and friend Max turns up out of the blue and threatens to expose their scheme. Loyalty is tested. The details are believable; and particularly harrowing when we witness the factory ship’s processing of the dead whales.
Interspersed between the chapters are sections from the perspective of three whales, mother, young son and father, and how their fate becomes entwined with a whaling fleet. There is nothing humane about their methods of killing; a harpooned whale will take at least two hours to die, in excruciating agony, while its family swim close by, pining, soon to be next to be harpooned.
Justin lectures about the decimation of the whales, and for good reason. But his concern is not only for the whales. ‘If the oceans should die, as they will if we stop polluting the continental shelves with sewerage and industrial waste, unless we stop oil pollution coating the sea and preventing oxygenation…’ (pp99-100) The carbon dioxide content will rise and then the polar ice caps will melt… You get the picture. And he – or his research sources – didn’t even consider the threat from plastic!
The whale sequences are glorious – and heart-breaking.
Since the book was written we know that massive public outrage and the efforts of many groups, including Greenpeace, have managed to bring these enormous graceful giants back from extinction. But now many of us have seen dead whales – and other sea creatures and birds – literally choking on the plastic detritus of our civilisations. Common sense tells us we cannot eradicate plastic, but the world’s response to coping with it requires international resolve. Before it’s too late.
Footnote
According to Greenpeace, by1970, there were only about 6,000 blue whales left in the oceans, and the numbers of humpback and sperm whales had halved. The methods of killing certainly were not humane, using exploding harpoons, ultimately feeding the carcases into the efficient factory ships.
A so-called moratorium on commercial whaling was established in 1986 by the International Whaling Commission. The only countries still conducting whaling are Iceland and Norway, who objected, pleading exemption from the moratorium on the flimsy grounds of national diet, while Japan was permitted to continue killing for ‘scientific purposes’. According to the WWF, since the moratorium (that admittedly saved the whales from extinction), there have been about 19,000 whales killed (objection and scientific); and not surprisingly there’s been a continuous increase in the number of scientific kills. How many corpses do you have to study, really?
However you sugar-coat it, these whales take a long time to die in excruciating agony.
He sets out on the Jubilee with a loyal crew, including his younger brother Craig and the woman who becomes the love of his life, Katie. She’s also Justin’s editor; he has written a number of best-sellers, his purpose being the readers ‘must understand! They must see and understand the terrible peril that nature is in.’ (p28)
Their plan is complicated because they have no intention of harming any of the whalers themselves. They will board the factory ship and evacuate the crew in the lifeboats; the other outlying catcher boats can retrieve them.
What could go wrong?
Relationships become strained, especially when an associate and friend Max turns up out of the blue and threatens to expose their scheme. Loyalty is tested. The details are believable; and particularly harrowing when we witness the factory ship’s processing of the dead whales.
Interspersed between the chapters are sections from the perspective of three whales, mother, young son and father, and how their fate becomes entwined with a whaling fleet. There is nothing humane about their methods of killing; a harpooned whale will take at least two hours to die, in excruciating agony, while its family swim close by, pining, soon to be next to be harpooned.
Justin lectures about the decimation of the whales, and for good reason. But his concern is not only for the whales. ‘If the oceans should die, as they will if we stop polluting the continental shelves with sewerage and industrial waste, unless we stop oil pollution coating the sea and preventing oxygenation…’ (pp99-100) The carbon dioxide content will rise and then the polar ice caps will melt… You get the picture. And he – or his research sources – didn’t even consider the threat from plastic!
The whale sequences are glorious – and heart-breaking.
Since the book was written we know that massive public outrage and the efforts of many groups, including Greenpeace, have managed to bring these enormous graceful giants back from extinction. But now many of us have seen dead whales – and other sea creatures and birds – literally choking on the plastic detritus of our civilisations. Common sense tells us we cannot eradicate plastic, but the world’s response to coping with it requires international resolve. Before it’s too late.
Footnote
According to Greenpeace, by1970, there were only about 6,000 blue whales left in the oceans, and the numbers of humpback and sperm whales had halved. The methods of killing certainly were not humane, using exploding harpoons, ultimately feeding the carcases into the efficient factory ships.
A so-called moratorium on commercial whaling was established in 1986 by the International Whaling Commission. The only countries still conducting whaling are Iceland and Norway, who objected, pleading exemption from the moratorium on the flimsy grounds of national diet, while Japan was permitted to continue killing for ‘scientific purposes’. According to the WWF, since the moratorium (that admittedly saved the whales from extinction), there have been about 19,000 whales killed (objection and scientific); and not surprisingly there’s been a continuous increase in the number of scientific kills. How many corpses do you have to study, really?
However you sugar-coat it, these whales take a long time to die in excruciating agony.
July 5, 2014
One of the first books that I read as a teenager that fired up the conservationist in me. It still inspires me to write the conservation fiction that I am currently working on.
It is about anti-whaling and eco-terrorism, but doesn't preach. The author switched effortlessly between the characters, which includes the whales, something different indeed.
If you care about the planet and the struggling large mammals out there, you will enjoy this.
It is about anti-whaling and eco-terrorism, but doesn't preach. The author switched effortlessly between the characters, which includes the whales, something different indeed.
If you care about the planet and the struggling large mammals out there, you will enjoy this.
March 15, 2019
This was a difficult read in many ways.
There is a lot of technical information and a lot of anger coming from all directions and sometimes the eco message felt very preachy. It could simply be that since the book was written in 1977 we have become much more aware of the destruction of the planet and its creatures (even if we still arent doing a great job of trying to rectify our mistakes) and back in the 70s the sledgehammer approach was the way to get the message across.
The love/sex subplot felt very 70s and a bit weak but I suppose it laid the way for the conflict between Justin and Max.
However, the passages written from the side of the blue whale family were beautiful and heartbreaking and really the highlight of the book for me.
There is a lot of technical information and a lot of anger coming from all directions and sometimes the eco message felt very preachy. It could simply be that since the book was written in 1977 we have become much more aware of the destruction of the planet and its creatures (even if we still arent doing a great job of trying to rectify our mistakes) and back in the 70s the sledgehammer approach was the way to get the message across.
The love/sex subplot felt very 70s and a bit weak but I suppose it laid the way for the conflict between Justin and Max.
However, the passages written from the side of the blue whale family were beautiful and heartbreaking and really the highlight of the book for me.
June 3, 2018
Although I read this book many years ago I still remember how it moved me. I have since tried to find it in second hand book stores to no avail.
January 13, 2020
Good book. Kinda dense with technical details but very gripping.
December 7, 2019
An absolutely enjoyably awful tale of a millionaire playboy who wants to save the whales by hunting the whales; and it includes some surprisingly nasty and descriptive whale sex scenes...
September 4, 2017
As the blurb says "There's one sure way to save the whales .... Sink the whalers". Can't argue with that. A millionaire (probably be a billionaire these days), a cross between Bill Gates and Jacques Cousteau uses his money and knowledge to protect the cetaceans. Watch out for the Eowyn moment near the end, something that was continually foreshadowed. Riveting good yarn and I was rooting for the protagonists all the way.
June 21, 2019
3.5 stars. Cons: The writing had a dated, sometimes awkward feel, and there were a lot of characters to keep track of. A bit more character development for some of the lesser characters would have benefitted the story. Pros: This story was likely quite a bit ahead of its time in terms of conservationism and concern for the lives of animals. The passages that detailed the lives of the whales were inventive and made the whole story hit home. The subject matter alone makes it worth the read.
September 3, 2021
Een oud verhaal uit 1975, wat goed aangeeft hoe wreed de walvisjacht was.
Het is een verhaal dat een tempo beschrijft dat tegenwoordig niet meer voor te stellen is. Een bedrijf waar de directeur even weg is en niemand die het opvalt als het ineens maanden zijn.
Het boek is wel moralistisch en hecht nog teveel waarde aan het eerste fictie boek op aarde.
Het is een verhaal dat een tempo beschrijft dat tegenwoordig niet meer voor te stellen is. Een bedrijf waar de directeur even weg is en niemand die het opvalt als het ineens maanden zijn.
Het boek is wel moralistisch en hecht nog teveel waarde aan het eerste fictie boek op aarde.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2023
Benchley „Lõuad“ lükkas liikuma kõiksugu mereelukate teemaliste raamatute buumi, kus vaprad kangelased neid oma hingehädade leevendamiseks suuremal või väiksemal hulgal maha nottisid (põhimõtteliselt siis "Vanamees ja meri", aga steroidide peal). Rodeeslane John Gordon Davis hüppas sellele rongile esimeste seas, kusjuures „Leviaatanist“ kujunes selle žanri kohta täiesti erandlik toode.
„Leviaatani“ peategelast, roppu moodi rikast Justin Magnust vaevavad samuti sisemised konfliktid, aga sellest hoolimata otsustab ta oma varanduse rakendada ökoterrorismi teenistusse, mis 1970. aastate keskel polnud isegi veel lapsekingades. Muide, ka veganlikku eetost peetakse seal täielikuks mõttetuseks ja enne otsustavale teekonnale asumist panevad peategelane ja tema kamraadid ikka korraliku kuhja steike nahka.
Magnus (kelle meelelaad meenutab kangesti praeguse aja ropprikkaid miljardäre) otsustab võidelda vaalapüügi vastu. Küllaltki loogiliselt otsustab ta põhja lasta vaalapüüdjate baaslaevad ja küllatki naiivselt üritab seejuures vältida igasuguseid inimohvreid. Kui esimene sedasorti eksperiment kulgeb edukalt, siis venelaste Slavaga läheb natuke teisiti.
Mulle meeldivad raamatud, mille autor suudab omaenda miniuniversumi püsti panna ja veel rohkem, kui too värgeldus raamatu lõpus uuesti laiali lammutatakse. Slava ongi sedasorti ujuv universum, kus kõik asjad on täpselt paika pandud. Kindlasti tulid siin kasuks autori enda vaalapüügilaeval veedetud aastad, aga olen kindel, et Davise laeval punanurk puudus. Juba sedasorti detailide eest tuleb teda tunnustada.
Viis, kuidas venelaste laev ajutiselt üle võetakse, on küll nii riskantne, et kusagil peaks vilkuma kiri: „Ärge püüdke seda kodus järele teha!“ See, mis edasi juhtub, on märksa realistlikum. Isegi stseen, kus vaalapüügilaev üritab helikopterit harpuunkahuriga alla tulistada, on viimase peal välja mängitud.
„Leviaatani“ peategelast, roppu moodi rikast Justin Magnust vaevavad samuti sisemised konfliktid, aga sellest hoolimata otsustab ta oma varanduse rakendada ökoterrorismi teenistusse, mis 1970. aastate keskel polnud isegi veel lapsekingades. Muide, ka veganlikku eetost peetakse seal täielikuks mõttetuseks ja enne otsustavale teekonnale asumist panevad peategelane ja tema kamraadid ikka korraliku kuhja steike nahka.
Magnus (kelle meelelaad meenutab kangesti praeguse aja ropprikkaid miljardäre) otsustab võidelda vaalapüügi vastu. Küllaltki loogiliselt otsustab ta põhja lasta vaalapüüdjate baaslaevad ja küllatki naiivselt üritab seejuures vältida igasuguseid inimohvreid. Kui esimene sedasorti eksperiment kulgeb edukalt, siis venelaste Slavaga läheb natuke teisiti.
Mulle meeldivad raamatud, mille autor suudab omaenda miniuniversumi püsti panna ja veel rohkem, kui too värgeldus raamatu lõpus uuesti laiali lammutatakse. Slava ongi sedasorti ujuv universum, kus kõik asjad on täpselt paika pandud. Kindlasti tulid siin kasuks autori enda vaalapüügilaeval veedetud aastad, aga olen kindel, et Davise laeval punanurk puudus. Juba sedasorti detailide eest tuleb teda tunnustada.
Viis, kuidas venelaste laev ajutiselt üle võetakse, on küll nii riskantne, et kusagil peaks vilkuma kiri: „Ärge püüdke seda kodus järele teha!“ See, mis edasi juhtub, on märksa realistlikum. Isegi stseen, kus vaalapüügilaev üritab helikopterit harpuunkahuriga alla tulistada, on viimase peal välja mängitud.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2016
Not for the impatient reader who wants action right from the get-go. John Gordon Davis spends time establishing the backstory and each character is well fleshed out and motivations clearly etched out. The author makes a good case for environmental activism and makes the reader feel the rage that those who love nature feel, he even writes from the perspective of the whales (who're being hunted) and it's all you can do not to be moved to be tears. By the time the climactic battle rolls along, you begin to see and even agree with the viewpoint of the protagonists. The action, when it begins, is well worth the wait and the author's carefully plotted narrative does the job of bringing a sense of tension, quite like the gradual tightening of a catapult, and when the action begins, it feels like an unleashing or an uncoiling, such is the force of the writing.
All in all, a great book especially for those who're passionate about conservation.
All in all, a great book especially for those who're passionate about conservation.
April 14, 2014
This is a great book but the action took long to happen(maybe I'm impatient). But when it did!I was right there in the thick of things. The writer knows how to build up the tempo and take you along on this dangerous journey. Loved the book and would recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews