Mortal Engines is the first book in the Mortal Engines Quartet written by British author and illustrator Philip Reeve and was published in the United Kingdom in 2001. This science fiction fantasy novel paints the picture of how a mobile, steampunk version of London struggles to survive in a post-apocalyptic future with dwindling resources. 

How did Hester and Tom display loyal qualities? How would you describe Tom Natsworthy’s personality, and how did his character develop over the course of events? What are some of the incidents that could have led to it? What does heroic Tom’s love and affection for ugly Hester reflect about the relationship between appearance and love? 

Between municipal Darwinism and social Darwinism, which theory applies to the background and setting of this world better? How is the concept of municipal Darwinism comparable to the role of industrialisation in America? 

The anti-traction league was an insurgency used to revoke the concept of municipal Darwinism. How did they accomplish their goals? How effective are insurgencies in our current world and the futuristic world in the story respectively? What are some of the insurgencies we see today, and what are their goals?

Why are the people in this story inclined towards criticising and opposing the status quo? What are some of the benefits and repercussions of progressing and maintaining the current state?