His Dark Materials Series - Philip Pullman

The Dark Materials trilogy is surely destined to become a classic. I have read all the books over the last couple of weeks and it is difficult to express my admiration for Philip Pullman who has masterfully created them. I guess the main reason that I have become so hooked on these books is that, apart from being a brilliant read, they concern the things I am most interested in. With my background in theology, mysticism and other more magical interests I was soon aware of the deeper issues that Pullman raises in these books. It is interesting reading other reviews on the books because it becomes very apparent that they have that special quality of being ...  Read the complete review

I like free speech, it needs its limits, but within sensible boundaries people should be free to express their thoughts. It is good for society to experience another person's point of view. Probably the biggest suppressor of free speech throughout the course of history has been organised religion. Heretics have been persecuted and murdered and alternate religions gagged by other religions. In fact the history of organised religion is one littered with petty squabbles, the suppression of any view that disagrees with whatever Church you want to pick and a real desire to only allow free speech if the Church agrees with the view. Throughout the majority of the world ...  Read the complete review

A fantastic read, Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy provides some of the best books I have ever read. A brief synopsis:- The first book, “Northern Lights” (“The Golden Compass” in America) begins with Lyra Silvertongue, aged 11, eavesdropping on a meeting given by her uncle, Lord Asriel. He is talking to some scholars of the college in Oxford where Lyra lives, Jordan College., about Dust, a substance discovered but not yet understood. Shortly after, children start going missing across the country. When Lyra’s best friend, Roger the kitchen boy, goes missing, Lyra determines to find him. But then she meets Mrs ...  Read the complete review

Last December Pottermania reached boiling point. JK Rowling's (admittedly excellent) books were everywhere, and seemed to be the reading material of choice for most weary London commuters - even if one or two of the "suits" felt the need to hide their books behind a regulation copy of the Financial Times (yes, really). I read all the Harry Potter Books in quick succession and was a little depressed when I finished: anyone who's ever been on the Tube for long periods of time will know how important escapism is for the regular traveller. What to do next, I wondered? There was Lord of the Rings, of course - a rather meaty tome I'd first picked ...  Read the complete review

I picked up a copy of 'Northern Lights', i.e. the first book in this fantastic trilogy, merely because I thought the cover looked somewhat interesting. Kudos to the illustrator then. However, upon reading 'His Dark Materials', the cover soon faded into pale insignificance as I was completely embroiled in Pullman's rich, intelligent and utterly compelling narrative. For those poor people out there who do not yet know the plot to these books, a short summary is as follows: Lyra, a young 'orphan' of a semi-relaist Oxford, and her daemon Pantalaimon find themselves in great danger when they inadvertantly save a man from being murdered. This man is the ...  Read the complete review