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Submitted by Heather 
(Nov 22, 2004)

This book is awsome. My english class started reading it and I had to get it out the libary, I know that sounds sad, but it's an amazing book. Pullman never describes to much about the characters, wich is really good I think and works well because he paints you an outline and lets you work on it from there, so the images of the characters are completely your own. The world its set in is like ours in so many ways, yet also completely differant, it must be set modern day, because they have electricity and things like that, yet it's also differant, wich makes it interesting. In the book people have dæmons, wich are the the persons soul, their other half, without them they are nothing, they are animal form and they are both the same person and share thoughts dreams and everything. As a child dæmons can take any shape they please, but once the child hits puberty, the dæmons take a fixed form, wich they can never change from, Lyra - the main character - her dæmon is called Pantalimon and can still change shape, dæmons are also usally the oppisite gender of the human they are with. I won't bother trying ot explain the storey line, because I think it's quite complicated, but it's all the twists and turns of events wich keep you hooked.

Well even though i am over 13 years old, the first time i read Northern Lights/The Golden Compass, was when I was 13 or 14 years old and I absolutly loved it. Then I impatiently waited about a year for my small country town library to get The Subtle Knife which I loved as well, but not as much as Norhtern Lights. Phillip Pullman has this way of taking you away from earth for a little while and chilling you to your soul while you are reading. It's true what all the reviews are saying, you really do feel like Lyra and see things the way that she does, even when you put down the book and come back to reality. You feel cold when Lyra is walking on the mountains in Svalbard and frightened when they were trying to cut her daemon away at Bolvanger. 5 years later, and I have just finished reading The Amber Spyglass and it was just blown away by everything, the storyline, the characters and of course, the sad ending. Yes in a way PP is bagging out the Christian faith a little bit, but hey, it's only a story guys.

His Dark Materials is an excellent trilogy that is hard to categorize into any specific genre. On the surface it is fantasy, and is often shelved in the children's section, but this is a mistake as anyone who has read the books will know.

The depth of the story, both in the power and skill with which it is told, and the themes and ideas it presents, are deserving of more respect than is usually given to fantasy or children's literature. It is a story based somewhat on Paradise Lost, retold with a twist about religion that will cause you to think, even if you don't agree with the finer points of Pullman's argument.

Though there are some slow moments, and a few characters that can be card-board at times, the Dark Materials trilogy is definitely worth your while.

Merlyn-

I began the series in the wake of Harry Potter and The Order of the phoenix, and buried my sorrows in another amazing series. Although I am over thirteen....by a couple of years...I loved all three books.

I particularly loved The Amber Spyglass. I don't think I have ever cried so much. The books were really great and the depth of knowledge that is behind the writing of the series is staggering. The way Pullman works religious problems and issues into the books is great, and since reading the series I have becme very interested in Shamanism. I loved the series and am so glad I found them.

Phillip Pullman is a one of a kind writer, his books manage to thrill, interest and astound you all in one go! The Northern lights was an amazing book whick at 8 years old kept me eager to buy all of his other books, was a magical experience and held me in a trance from cover to cover. Ths subtle knife was a less magical and more somber book, though my least favorite book of the three it still had me at the edge of my seat in anticipation. It introduced some amazing characters and Will gets a definate thumbs up from me. The Amber spyglass was my favorite book it is completly undescribable! All Phillip Pullmans books are first class and are worth a read whether you are 8 or 80.
.................THIS IS A MUST READ..................
.......................5+++ STARS.....................