His Dark Materials

[webwizard333]

amy1 hear who read that trilogy yet?? i thought i was very good, but no1s been taking 2 much notice of it yet....(bet its because some people think that its some sort of antigod piece when its really a good piece of fiction)

[Earendilyon]

Never heard of :) Who's the author?

[webwizard333]

philip pullman

the books are (in order 2 be read): The Golden
Compass, The Subtle Knife, and finally The Amber Spyglass

try them, maybe you'll like them (as long as u look at them as fantasy and not religion)



visit my latest website www.expage.com/webwizard4444 (http://www.expage.com/webwizard4444) (i just started it)

[GlaurungTheGold]

it's very good, i've been reading it since someone gave me the first book as a present... i think the second one was about to come out at that point, and a few months ago i saw at barnes and noble that the last book had come out... it's sort of a mix between fantsy, science fiction, and philosophy i think, and nicely written with some surprising plot twists and good characterization. and the books aren't that long, so i suggest you go get them :)

[Idril Celebrindal]

the... GOLDEN COMPASS? since when has one of the book of His Dark Materials been called the golden compass? oh... American, right? Over here it's called Northern Lights:p

[webwizard333]

You're right, I'm American. I wonder how many other differences there are between the books. Ironically, this is like the Harry Potter books too. Both had their first book titles changed for America.

[Idril Celebrindal]

I kinda get the change with HP, as America doesn't have the same history of Alchemy, but surely u guys could be expected to know what the Northern Lights are?

[webwizard333]

Of course we know what the the Northern Lights are. It's just that Philip Pullman after careful consideration changed his ming to have a sort of flow with the titles (each one being a different Dark Material) or that the editors and censors over here have gotten worst. Thinking that people here will take the title to mean something educational. I think the more realistic one is the latter, though I hope for the former. ;^)

[Idril Celebrindal]

I'd agree with that...
apparently there were quite a few changes in the American edition... did u get the quotes at the beginning of each chapter in the Amber Spyglass? I seem to remember hearing that they were removed...

[webwizard333]

We got the quotes all right. Did you hear of any other changes (i hate editors)?

[Idril Celebrindal]

there was something else, but I cannot remember what... I'll go see if I can track down the board I was talking about this before on...

[ethuiliel]

I read them and enjoyed them, but I never realized that I wasn't reading the original version. I hope it wasn't changed just because we're American", like the Harry Potter books were. Americans aren't idiots, and we know that we're not the only people in the world.

[Falagar]

It was changed because the publishers thought "Golden Compass" fitted better (for some reason). I think there's some other Pullman-thread around somewhere...

[The Gaffer]

That's a bit of a spooky coincidence that this thread got bumped as I've just started reading them. Seems like really groovy stuff. What do other people think of them (please no spoilers as I'm only 2/3 through the first book as yet)?

[Falagar]

It's very good! :) Though there are a few...weird things (no details) towards the end of the last book, but it's really worth a read or two...or three.

[Earniel]

I liked it but there were a few seemingly loose ends that bugged me after I read it. But I loved the idea of dæmons and the armoured bears.

I've heard there's a sequel: 'Lyra's Oxford'. Anybody knows something about that?

[BeardofPants]

The first book is great, the second book is good, the third book is so-so.

[Falagar]

Originally posted by Eärniel
I liked it but there were a few seemingly loose ends that bugged me after I read it. But I loved the idea of dæmons and the armoured bears.

I've heard there's a sequel: 'Lyra's Oxford'. Anybody knows something about that?
'Tis nice, but pretty short (and the price was perhaps a bit stiff). It also contains some hints to what may come in future books, but I never bothered to read much of those.

And whatever you can say about the third book in HDM, the ending was brilliant. :)

[Lalaith_Elf]

Originally posted by Falagar
'Tis nice, but pretty short (and the price was perhaps a bit stiff). It also contains some hints to what may come in future books, but I never bothered to read much of those.

And whatever you can say about the third book in HDM, the ending was brilliant. :)

Yeah, the price is steep. It costs £9.99 in England (or at least it did when I bought it) and it's not even that long. It took me around 30-40 minutes to read it. But it's good. Not as good as the trilogy (of course:p ), but it does give some big hints about the future.

[Earniel]

10 pounds and only 40 minute read? So not worth it then IMO.

[BeardofPants]

Earniel, I have not read Lyra's Oxford, but I have certainly perused the book, and IMO, it *is* worth spending that much money, because it is a really nicely packaged book, with beautiful illustrations, and fold-out maps.

[BeardofPants]

Attention all serious book collectors and fans of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials. This undoubtedly beautiful package--cloth-bound in a classy red and adorned by numerous illustrations by master engraver and illustrator John Lawrence--is a must-purchase. A pint-sized pocket volume, Lyra's Oxford packages together a short story set in the same universe as his famous trilogy, a fold-out map of the alternate-reality city of Oxford, a short brochure for a cruise to The Levant aboard the S.S. Zenobia, and a postcard from the inventor of the amber spyglass, Mary Malone. Pullman, in his introduction, suggests that the peripheral items within "might be connected with the story, or they might not; they might be connected to stories that haven’t appeared yet. It's difficult to tell."

A very sumptuous and lovingly crafted but tantalizingly brief book , Lyra's Oxford begins when Lyra and Pantalaimon spot a witch's daemon called Ragi being pursued over the rooftops of Oxford by a frenzied pack of birds. The daemon heads straight for Lyra (the creature was given Lyra’s name as somebody who might help) and is given shelter. Together Lyra and Pan try to guide the daemon to the home of Sebastian Makepeace—an alchemist living in a part of Oxford known as Jericho--but it is a journey fraught with more danger than they had at first anticipated. (Age 10 and over) --John McLay


http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0375828192/qid=1084320275/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/002-7650220-9844052

[Earniel]

You know how to sell it, BoP. Are you sure you don't have stocks somewhere of that printing company? ;) Well, I'll have a look at it when it see it in the book stores, but that might take a while still.

[The Gaffer]

Young Samwise got it for his birthday; the maps look great but I only had a quick glance.

Next time he's over I must get him to bring it so we can wander around visiting all the spots on the map. Jericho has some great pubs er I mean fascinating architecture.

I've just got to the end of the second book. Now I see what all the religious people were getting their knickers in a twist about. Great stuff!

[Grey_Wolf]

I actually bought the trilogy not so long ago. Have yet to read it though.

[Hanza]

read the first book but have yet to read the other two. tried to start the second but found it harder to get into. mite try it again once my exams are over.

[The Gaffer]

Originally posted by Grey_Wolf
I actually bought the trilogy not so long ago. Have yet to read it though.
Stop what you're doing and read it now!! No, seriously.

:D

[Grey_Wolf]

Originally posted by The Gaffer
Stop what you're doing and read it now!! No, seriously.

:D

:) Will do so when I've read the 20 or so other books that's on my list.

[ethuiliel]

Will do so when I've read the 20 or so other books that's on my list. Hmm...that sounds like me...except that I can't seem to get hold of about half of them.