Author:Philip Pullman Availability:
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Editorial Review:
Published in 40 countries, Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy--The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass--has graced the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, San Francisco Chronicle, Book Sense, and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists. In 1996, The Golden Compass changed the face of fantasy publishing, and 2006 marks its 10 Year Anniversary--and an opportunity to celebrate with a deluxe hardcover. Pullman created new material just for this edition (archival documents, scientific notes and "found" letters of Lord Asriel) which has been illustrated and handlettered by renowned British artist Ian Beck and will be included in the back matter. The deluxe edition also features Pullman's own chapter opening spot art. A quality collectible--with the enticement of never-before-seen new material--for Pullman fans.
Some books improve with age--the age of the reader, that is. Such is certainly the case with Philip Pullman's heroic, at times heart-wrenching novel, The Golden Compass, a story ostensibly for children but one perhaps even better appreciated by adults. The protagonist of this complex fantasy is young Lyra Belacqua, a precocious orphan growing up within the precincts of Oxford University. But it quickly becomes clear that Lyra's Oxford is not precisely like our own--nor is her world. For one thing, people there each have a personal daemon, the manifestation of their souls in animal form. For another, hers is a universe in which science, theology, and magic are closely allied:
As for what experimental theology was, Lyra had no more idea than the urchins. She had formed the notion that it was concerned with magic, with the movements of the stars and planets, with tiny particles of matter, but that was guesswork, really. Probably the stars had daemons just as humans did, and experimental theology involved talking to them.
Not that Lyra spends much time worrying about it; what she likes best is "clambering over the College roofs with Roger the kitchen boy who was her particular friend, to spit plum stones on the heads of passing Scholars or to hoot like owls outside a window where a tutorial was going on, or racing through the narrow streets, or stealing apples from the market, or waging war." But Lyra's carefree existence changes forever when she and her daemon, Pantalaimon, first prevent an assassination attempt against her uncle, the powerful Lord Asriel, and then overhear a secret discussion about a mysterious entity known as Dust. Soon she and Pan are swept up in a dangerous game involving disappearing children, a beautiful woman with a golden monkey daemon, a trip to the far north, and a set of allies ranging from "gyptians" to witches to an armor-clad polar bear.
In The Golden Compass, Philip Pullman has written a masterpiece that transcends genre. It is a children's book that will appeal to adults, a fantasy novel that will charm even the most hardened realist. Best of all, the author doesn't speak down to his audience, nor does he pull his punches; there is genuine terror in this book, and heartbreak, betrayal, and loss. There is also love, loyalty, and an abiding morality that infuses the story but never overwhelms it. This is one of those rare novels that one wishes would never end. Fortunately, its sequel, The Subtle Knife, will help put off that inevitability for a while longer. --Alix Wilber
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
I was quite engaged by still disappointed:
I read through the book rather quickly, it held my attention and was entertaining. The writing was good enough to do this much, but there were many deus ex machina moments that I didn't appreciate. For instance a witch's daemon goose showing up just in time with magical powers to unlock locks by flinging snow on them, together it and Lyra release caged daemons. And another example "she had turned on all the gas taps and flung a match at the nearest burner. Then she dragged a bag of flour from a shelf... more info
Great Start to an Excellent Trilogy:
I didn't think I would like this book because it's labeled as a book for children. However, I was completely hooked after a couple of chapters and the feeling held on throughout the entire His Dark Materials trilogy. Don't be fooled by a young narrator and talking animals - this trilogy deals with many adult themes (betrayal, torture, sexuality, and antisemitism to name a few). It is, however, an excellent Fantasy/Adventure series and each book left me wanting more. If you're easily offended or... more info
Great story, brilliantly read and acted:
I love to listed to books in my commute to work. Somewhat to my surprise I found this one of the best I have listened to so far. It is the first time I have seen an audio book with a full list of actors - and was a little wary (I love the job Jim Dale did all by himself with the Harry Potter series). However it works great -- and I cannot wait to listen to the next two books (it is so hard to find great adventure stories)
Golden Compass-an ultimate classic:
The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman is the first book in the trilogy: His Dark Materials. The story is remarkably told in a parallel universe that is similar to ours, but of course, this being a work of fantasy fiction, Pullman included magic and other fantastical beings. The story has many main characters but the most important character is a stubborn and courageous young girl from Great Britain, Lyra. The whole story is about a golden compass, Lyra and her daemon Pan, and their magnificent journey... more info
