"Worldshaker" and "Liberator"

The "Worldshaker" and "Liberator" pair is a version of steampunk class struggle written by Richard Harland.
   
      "Worldshaker":  Colbert Porpentine is next in line to be the supreme commander of the juggernaut, the Worldshaker.  But when he meets a Filthy, a girl who's supposed to be no better than an animal, he begins to rethink what it means to be human and what is the true meaning of civilized.  First, though, he must survive his enemies at school, his scheming sister, marriage, and a revolution that will change the world for ever.

      "Liberator":  After the Filthy revolution, the Porpentines are at loss for what to do next.  With rising hostilities against the "Swanks" the former Filthies have taken over the newly christen Liberator and are treating the Swanks as the Filthies used to be treated.  When a new face appears on the council, Col and Riff are slowly torn apart as the Liberator falls back into the old age.  The Swanks and the Filithies must put aside old difficulties, though, when their secret gets out and enemy juggernauts go on the offensive.

These are good books, in my eyes.  Just to clear up some terms, "juggernauts" are gigantic ark-like metal structures that carry entire cities within them.  They roll around the earth and float on the land, picking up supplies as needed.  Because this is an alternate version of earth, mind you.
       Colbert Porpentine is the main character.  Duh.  He's not a particularly genius main character, but he's not a particularly dumb one either.  He's gullible, though, and he falls for the lies and stories he gets told.  That allows us to sneer at him while sympathizing with him at the same time.  Which is nice, because you don't often get a likable character that you're allowed to hate.
      Riff, the Filthy he meets, is probably the strongest character in the first book. Since Colbert only really comes into his own in the second book, she carries the story in the first book.  She is the problem as well as the solution to the problem, which is an interesting conundrum.  And, of course, she provides the "romance element."
       The characters each have very distinct personalities that board on absurd, but an interesting cast makes an interesting play.  Though, the names of these characters are quiet annoying.  Quienna, Sephalatina, Oris . . . I can't remember half of them, and I sure can't spell them.  When I have to discuss the book with other people, I basically say "Col's mother" or "Col's sister."  I do not use their names.  Especially in the first book, when the last names are so connected to class status, so they're important . . . Urgh.  Eventually you give up on trying to remember who's who, and pray that you know enough to get through the rest of the book.
      The idea of the story is very interesting.  An alternate earth, where Napoleon did invade England, and all of the countries of Europe had a lower class population from which they demanded forced labor.  You don't really hear about Asia, either of the Americas, Africa, or Australia, but you get enough to know that they exists, and they used to be colonies of England.
       Actually, you don't really get anything about the world outside the juggernaut, because that's where the people's whole lives are.  It does add to the overall effect of isolation, which is an asset because it thrusts you deeper into the setting.  It also adds to the overall effect of coolness when the Austrians and the Russians attack the Liberator.
       So while Colbert Porpentine and his rolling city shakes the earth with their gargantuan rollers and magnificent rulers, I'll be sitting on my couch, reading.  And even though it's enjoyable to watch, you can bet that my world hasn't been shaken.