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• Bookseller review

  Epic

  Marking the start of an epic and complex trilogy of books. Touching and well-written, with a profusely discursive philosophical sub-text, this is an original work of fantasy with a twist of counter-factual history about it. Shocking, heart-breaking and funny; it's well worth clearing your diary for.

  Review by Tom of the Borders on 2009-01-23 15:59:45

• Bookseller review

  A brilliant read!

  "Without this child, we shall all die." Lyra Belacqua and her animal daemon live half-wild and carefree among scholars of Jordan College, Oxford. The destiny that awaits her will take her to the frozen lands of the Arctic, where witch-clans reign and ice-bearsfight. Her extraordinary journey will have immeasurable consequences far beyond her own world...

  Review by of the Milton Keynes Borders on 2009-01-26 15:18:24

• Bookseller review

  Aurora Borealis

  A stunning and unputdownable story of a young girl, Lyra, her daemon, Pan, and their unusual quest which takes them far away from their Oxford home. With armoured bears and witches, this amazing story is pure fantasy but everyone can relate to its characters and messages. I feel that this is a book that any reader, young or old, couldn't help but enjoy.

  Review by Talia of the Manchester Fort Borders on 2009-01-27 19:21:38

• Bookseller review

  His Dark Materials

  'Without this child, we shall all die'. Lyra Belacqua and her animal daemon live half-wild and carefree among scholars of Jordan College, Oxford. The destiny that awaits her will take her to the frozen lands of the Arctic, where witch-clans reign and ice-bears fight. Her extraordinary journey will have immeasurable consequences far beyond her own world...

  Review by Claire of the London - Kingston Borders on 2009-01-29 16:22:13

• 

  Not just for Kids.

  ‘Northern Lights’ is the first novel of Philip Pullman’s magnum opus fantasy trilogy ‘His Dark Materials’. Significantly influenced by a hefty array of “canonical” English Literature (Milton, Marvell, C.S. Lewis, Blake and Byron, among others), the novel is posited in an alternate reality of earth; part Victorian and part steam-punk in its imagery and presentation.

  The book casts as its heroin Lyra, a feisty and strong-willed twelve-year-old girl who lives with the scholars of the fictional Jordan College of Oxford University. Her ever-present, shape-shifting companion is Pantalaimon; an anthropomorphised externalisation of her soul. The amazingly strong bond between these two characters is expressed beautifully in Pullman’s prose, and is truly unlike any fictional relationship I have ever encountered. The pair journey north through impressively original fantasy landscapes on a quest to reach Lord Asriel, an ‘experimental theologian’ who has some mysterious, inter-dimensional and potentially dangerous research projects to do with the Northern Lights. The characters encountered in this novel are all strikingly memorable, if a tad clichéd in their portrayal; from sky cowboys to talking armoured bears and witches, Pullman draws on the whole fantasy zeitgeist in creating these individuals.

  Setting the tone for the later books in the series, this story is deeply concerned with exploring the convergence of ostensibly dichotic ideas and principles: science and religion, youth and adulthood, free will and determinism, body and soul; all clash violently and spectacularly. Don’t let the facile label of ‘children’s fiction’ put you off, this is as complex or simple a book as you want it to be. The story and characterisation is suitably strong and well-crafted for the casual reader, while the implicit focus on theology, astrophysics, literary suggestion and philosophical dualisms should keep even the busiest mind reeling with questions and after-thoughts.

  With a breath-taking ending (an almost literal cliff-hanger), ‘Northern Lights’ marks the start of an epic and complex trilogy of books. Touching, well-written and with a profusely discursive philosophical sub-text, this is an incredibly original work of fantasy with a twist of counter-factual history about it. At times violent and shocking, heart-breaking and funny; ‘Northern Lights’ is a book well worth clearing your diary for.

  Review by na on 23:15, 26 Jun 2008

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