Product Description

There are worlds beyond our own - the Compass will show the way... The third novel in Philip Pullman's epic HIS DARK MATERIALS trilogy. The first, NORTHERN LIGHTS, is now the stunning motion picture THE GOLDEN COMPASS, made by New Line Cinema and Scholastic Media. The terrible war foretold by the witches is coming. Will is the bearer of the subtle knife, the most powerful weapon in all the worlds, and must deliver it to Lord Asriel. But he faces his dangerous journey alone, for Lyra has disappeared... "An extraordinary masterpiece" DAILY MAIL

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #99772 in Books
• Published on: 2007-08-06
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 544 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Philip Pullman brings The Amber Spyglass to the spellbinding "His Dark Materials" sequence, which dazzles everyone who reads it, children and adults alike. After the original Northern Lights, he kept up the quality in The Subtle Knife, the second title in the trilogy. Now he brings the series to an extraordinary conclusion. Will and Lyra, the two children at the heart of the books, have become separated amidst great dangers. Can they find each other, and their friends? Then complete their mysterious quest before it's too late? The great rebellion against the dark powers that hold Lyra's world, and many others, in thrall is nearing its climax. She and Will have crucial parts to play, but they don't know what it is that they must do, and terrible powers are hunting them down.

The pace of the book is compelling, the writing powerful. Pullman's plotting is intricate and cunning, surprising the reader again and again. Perhaps what is most striking of all, however, is the depth of the characterisation. Lord Asriel, Mrs Coulter, Iorek Byrnison the king of the armoured bears, a host of minor characters, most of all Will and Lyra themselves: the book is a library of beautifully drawn, remarkably convincing characters walking in worlds of marvels.

In this volume the cosmic dimensions of the story become more prominent, as a great conflict across many universes comes to a head--how well the narrative sustains such immensely weighty resonances is a question critics may well disagree on. The author's beliefs also come more into the open, and with them a polemic anti-religious theme that will please some readers and alienate others.

Philip Pullman's writing commands immense respect; more than that, it is raising the profile of the best children's books among adults, as demanding critics of all ages fall in love with this remarkable trilogy. --David Pickering

Customer Reviews

A Great Ending!

If you don't want to know how His Dark Materials ends, look away now...!

No book is perfect. In this trilogy, the author throws his net so widely that there are almost bound to be some loose ends, inconsistencies, and so on. I doubt whether such things greatly detract from a reader's enjoyment. But the feature of this book which really "gets" to readers is its ending.

In this trilogy, the author has created a universe (or universes) in which anything is possible or conceivable. We, therefore, naturally expect a happy ending. Pullman could easily have provided one. Instead, he has created an ending which is at least bitter-sweet if not downright sad. Readers have been both moved and disturbed by this and, as I think the ending is the book's finest feature, I would like to offer a comment or two.

The love between Lyra and Will is carefully prepared but it nevertheless comes as something of a shock because it occurs so very late in the novel. Pulman has been accused of making an unnecessary assault upon the readers' heartstrings, even of gratuitous sensationalism. I disagree for three reasons. Firstly, the love is an important part of the plot because it actually has a physical impact upon the environment in which it happens. (The author does not explain exactly why this happens - one of the "loose ends" referred to above!) Secondly, the love between Will and Lyra is of an emotional rather than of a gratuitously sexual nature. Many readers, it seems, fail to grasp the distinction. But isn't it possible - especially when young - to be helplessly in love with someone without necessarily wanting to have sex with them? Likewise, is it not possible to lust after someone you don't like very much - like Lord Asriel and Mrs Coulter? Finally, the love element draws together a great many of the moral themes of both the novel in question and the trilogy as a whole. Love is seen not as some selfish gratification of individual desires but as a whole way of living, in which doing the right thing for the right reasons, especially in defiance of power and authority, becomes more important than putting oneself first and getting what one wants. The two protagonists can be seen, throughout the trilogy, as agents of Love opposed to the oppression of authority / religion. Their acceptance of their situation, and their affirmation of the value of life and existence, is thus all the more moving. It certainly haunted this reader for days after finishing the book.

A great conclusion to a great series. I can only think of one other author who offers so much to both younger and older readers and that is Lewis Carrol - a very different author but one whose books, like Pullman's, can be understood at many different levels.

Let us hope that when the book is made into a film, the producers concerned will have the courage to present the ending as Pullman wrote it. And let us all hope that Pullman is never so seduced by success that he yields to the temptation to provide a "happily-ever-after" sequel.

After all - Puccini made a whole career out of making people cry!

kizzalvsbooks
i loved this book. the way that pullmam handled the growing love between Will and Lyra is heartbreaking. i cryed my eyes out at the end, it was so moving. His diverse range of characters also adds to plot and he makes us care about each individual character. This is the best of the "His dark materials" trilogy and one of the best books I have ever read! I would reccomend this book to people of all ages. PS I am also sick of other reveiwers being synical about the book instead of just enjoying the magic which the book conveys.

Awe- Inspiring
What struck me reading this triology, is that anybody could create such a complex and imaginative story. 'This guy is a genius' I thought.

Lets be fair, I got confused regularly reading this story compared with the first two books. It is so much longer and involves a lot. However, it rounds up the triology perfectly in my opinion. The two stand out bits being the land of the trapped ghosts and the tear-jerking ending involving Will and Lyra. I can't see me ever forgetting this ending, it was so beautiful and sad.

I would advise anybody regardless of age to try this triology, in which this third and final addition is the clear winnner. A lot has been said about the religous and the scientific aspects of the book, and it has unsurprisingly caused a bit of an uproar. I wouldn't say I don't believe in religion, but I just don't care. If you are open minded then you will see this work for what it is - a great story by a great author.