[Rob B]

I just finshed His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman, and wanted to HIGHLY recommend it to everybody.

To say the least I was blown away. He tackles a lot of interesting ideas--biblical themes, parallel worlds, witches, underworld, magic, magic objects, warrior Polar Bears.

Everything is handled amazingly. The characters are great, the story is wonderful and the plot was great.

If anybody else has read it post your thoughts.

[FitzChivalry]

That series is on my list to read... i was wondering if it's children fantasy like Harry Potter?

I was putting it off because of that.

[Rob B]

The main characters are a 12 year old boy and girl. However, the tone is darker, the themes are more mature. In the U.S. they were marketed towards adults and kid, so... Then again, I was reading Stephen King when I was like 11 or 12.

I think it works better for adults than HP.

I also read all the Harry Potter and liked those books a lot, too.

[6of9]

It's a toss-up between Pullman and Hobb for me. I just started a new thread about Pullman--well, about allegories in this kind of fantasy, anyway--and then saw this thread. Oh well.

[Timoni]

FitzFlagg, I agree. It's definitely written for a more mature audience, despite the ages of the heroes.

[ZorPrime]

I have read The Golden Compass (first book in this trilogy here in america) and I have to agree with Fitz, its simply great. Despite having a kid for an hero, it isnt for children IMO.

I just bought the second book (The subtle Knife) although it is in my pile of To Be Read books! http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif which is quite huge at the moment. Darn Sword of Truth books are so huge!! http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif

Later,

Zor