Customer Reviews
almost had it - By: remi, 14 Mar 2008 
this series could have been so much better, but Philip Pullman Decided he would rether have someing contreversial in stead of something gerat like the lord the ring. but i will give he ceradit at lest for the First book for coming up with something so creative. but I though that the last book sucked Monkey butt
JOSHUA.B
Contrived and lacking beauty......................................... - By: E. Bullock, 28 Jan 2008 
I have never read any Pullman previously & decided to purchase this trilogy as my daughter had seen the film. I disagree vehemently that this book is so fantastic that it cannot be reviewed in this arena. Yes Pullman does seek to create a new world - perhaps he should have read & studied previous writers such as C S Lewis, Tolkein, Paver & even J K Rowling in order to write a coherent, flowing & imaginatively satisfying book.
I have struggled with alll 3 books - especiallly the last & have had no desire or drive to finish reading them. I have very grave concerns that Pullman has sacrificed linguistic beauty & narrative detail in his desire to villify the church & promote his atheist views. Having passion & writing about those things for which we feel passionate should be a key ingredient for a successful book. However, I feel Pullman could have created a far more satisfying & imaginative work had he not been so driven to promote his own agenda.
I find the prose turgid & uninspiring - lacking creative detail to reallly make this book "come alive". It has been a consistent effort to pick these books up, rather than a difficulty to put them down. The media hype surrounding their atheist theme has obviously helped sell them, but in my opinion Pullman's overt references to this have come at the cost of developing a satisfying & worthwhile narrative experience.
Put Your Imagination to Work - By: Ford Ka, 19 Jan 2008 
In a visual world it is alll too easy to let others take over your imagination. You accept other peoples' visions as your own. It is convenient, easy, saves your effort but in effect makes your creative abilities go first numb & then dead. This is a book which may help re-awaken what you might have forgotten ever having. Or what you never had, brought up in front of a TV screen.
It would be a spoiler to give out any hints about the content - anyway, it is too complex to be summed up in a review in any but a ridiculous way. The important part is that Pullman creates a whole new world in his book, a world at an angle to ours & he gives you a chance to join him in the trip this book is, imagining the world he describes. If the book had nothing more to offer (and it is hardly the case) this alone would make it a perfect choice.
I could never understand why Harry Potter became a world bestseller & Pullman lagged behind. Let's hope that the movie & general interest that follows will give Pullman the place he has always deserved.
"Then I saw her face, Now I'm a believer" Neil Diamond - By: B. Chandler, 15 Jan 2008 Someone once described "His Dark Materials" by Philip Pullman as she gets caught, she escapes, she gets caught again, she escapes again, then she gets caught, then she escapes. This may be true but the real substance of the epic is the how & why.
It is the "how" that holds the story together. We are intrigued with Lyra's ability to plan & lie her way out of trouble. Eventuallly it is the truth that sets her free.
The "why" she is being sought & the "why" she must go on brings us many conundrums that we not only face in the tale but also in our real life.
Lyra must fulfill a prophecy; however if she becomes aware of her destiny, that destiny may never happen. For those readers who have read Josef Campbell you will recognize the classic Hero's Journey where a person coming of age must sacrifice the apron strings & face the challlenge of adulthood. This includes going into a dark place & confronting an unknown which usuallly is ones own fears & ego. From there they are reborn to become a fully functional person in society.
Oh, did I forget to tell you that this is a fun read.
worth getting - By: S. Fox, 05 Dec 2007 I like hardback copies of books, certainly those I want to keep & re-read.
I didn't want to have alll 3 books in one volume, so this, the US version of the trilogy was the only 3 separate books, hard back version, available when I ordered (late nov 2007).
- its well printed, on good quality paper, in a slip case, sealed & came with a free map. Well worth £25 odd.
