Philip Pullman - Northern Lights

The world I liked the most was the one with those creatures that had the seed pods on their feel and rolled around. They were cool.
 
I have actually just finished this trilogy of books tonight. Definitely written for children, but Pullman does draw many adult parallels, especially in the last book. It's more of a single book, divided into volumes, as Lord of the Rings is a trilogy but only in printed format. So if you read one, you will have to read the others.

The story is very good, and I found myself reading all three books in less than a month, which is good for me with my job. When I first started with The Northern Lights I didn't think I would finish it at all! But as the character Lyra develops, as I discovered more about her, as well as daemons, I couldn't help reading on to know her story.

The Amber Spyglass has left me a bit disappointed. The ending is rough, even for an adult, and I'm sorry for kids that read this and get caught up with the two main characters. The ending makes sense in an adult-type of wisdom, but it's a bit sudden and distressing.

One has to respect that it was written for the young-adult to children audiences, and in that perspective it is very well written. All in all, I enjoyed the series, even through my initial skepticism.
 
I jst finished the first book a couple weeks ago. Now that movie titled 'The Golden Compass' is coming out in december. Chris Waits(Sp?) first snighed on to be the director, but when he found out that new line wasn't going to have the religious elements in it, he singed of. So they hired (Forget his nma first name ) Tucker to direct. Though things got meshed up with him. So Chis got back on. I think it's going to be a little (and hopfully) more faithful to it's source then that disater by named Eragon.
 
Eragon was a bad book and so what can you do with a film? It wouldn't be hard to beat although I hope Northern Lights beats it by a long long way.
 
Hopfuly, it will. I seen some previews and can actally see secenes from chapters in it.
 
Yeah so can I. From the previews I have seen it looks awesome.
 
Two thumbs up for this series

His Dark Materials is a wonderful trilogy. It took me by surprise and it has since entered my all time favourite books list. I wouldn't really say these are children's books per se, I'd give them more of an older children's/young adults rating. I agree with most of your assessments regarding the quality going downhill and the third book being the worst, but in this case I would say "worst" actually equates to "very good" in the end. I.e.:

Northern Lights/The Golden Compass - outstanding
The Subtle Knife - excellent
The Amber Spyglass - very good

Also can't wait for the film to be released! :)
 
Yes Amber Spyglass is very good but it is the worst of the trilogy which is what I and I think most others meant.
 
Just some of the things that happen in the books indicate that it is a children's book though this thick *shows with fingers* and has small print. Its young adult fiction after all. Some of it definitely isn't though, like when the bears jaw gets riped off and the eating of the heart.
 
I didn't think Northern Lights was in the Dark Materials series. I thought it was a stand alone! I loved that Trilogy, so of course I'll have to pick this one up. Is Lyra in it? Didn't he write this ages later than the rest?
Glad to hear it's good ...
Kaza Kingsley,
Author of the Erec Rex series
Erec Rex The Dragon's Eye
 
Im reading Northern Lights and almost from page one i can see why the series and the writer is rated so highly. I can count the authors in any genre that has hooked me from page one with one hand.

Gotta say it has more mystery,wonder and is less kiddy than i expected. A very good book so far. Nice touch of the writer with the world that is so similer to the real world but also very different.

Cant wait to see more of the world and know more of what is happening.
 
kaza_kingsley said:
I didn't think Northern Lights was in the Dark Materials series. I thought it was a stand alone! I loved that Trilogy, so of course I'll have to pick this one up. Is Lyra in it? Didn't he write this ages later than the rest?
Click to expand...

Oh my goodness, you are confused!
As hasd been said before, His Dark Materials consists of three titles, thus:

Northern Lights (The Golden Compass in the US)
The Subtle Knife
The Amber Spyglass

The freestanding little book about Lyra is Lyra's Oxford and the new book, which is a kind of prequel to the series, will be out next year.

Mary
 
Well Mary you saved me saying it. Bloody US titles. They do it with every book.
 
One thing i find Northern Lights that are annoying or a mistake by the author.

He shouldnt have called the enemy from Asia The Tartars. Cause when you hear the name you dont see one people like for example when you hear Mongols or The Huns. Too many people in history have been called Tartar, so everytime you see their name in the book you dont see anything cause it can be anyone in Central Asia even Russia,Finland etc


Also its funny Uppsala, my home town is mentioned in the book first time i see it in a fiction written outside Sweden.
 
Really? Thats cool.

There are more mistakes then that one but I can't think of any direct on right now.
 
I was shocked that anyone cared to have my hometown in a famous book. Only time in History Uppsala was famous was in the viking Age.

Its also funny the story is set in atleast parts in the first book in our part of europe. Norway,Sweden etc Will be interesting how he paints up the North.
 
You will prolly not see a town called Blacktown anytime soon in a fiction story ;)
 
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