Lyra and her daemon are eavesdropping when they uncover a plot to murder Lord Asriel. He has returned from the far North where h tells of strange sights-a beautiful city hovering in the sky above the pole, a shimmering Dust that settles on and delineates all but human children. Lyra is scarcely able to save his life before Lord Asriel is off again, on a quest to answer the riddle of th world. Meanwhile, children are disappearing, and when Lyra's derest friend is taken by the Gobblers, she determines to save him-a decision which leads her on a great journey, a journey that will lead to the discovery of her mother, a disastrous betrayal and the beginning of the unravelling of the mystery of Dust.
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Lyra's life is already sufficiently interesting for a novel before she eavesdrops on a presentation by her uncle Lord Asriel to his colleagues in the Jordan College faculty, Oxford. The college, famed for its leadership in experimental theology, is funding Lord Asriel's research into the heretical possibility of the existence of worlds unlike Lyra's own, where everyone is born with a familiar animal companion, magic of a kind works, the Tartars are threatening to overrun Muscovy, and the Pope is a puritanical Protestant. Set in an England familiar and strange, Philip Pullman's lively, taut story is a must-read and re-read for fantasy lovers of all ages. The world-building is outstanding, from the subtle hints of the 1898 Tokay to odd quirks of language to the panserbjorne, while determined, clever Lyra is strongly reminiscent of Joan Aiken's Dido Twite.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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327 of 345 people found the following review helpful
By mbogle
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Mass Market Paperback
WARNING
Please be aware that this book was previously sold as 'Northern Lights' and is the first book of the trilogy and NOT a new book. I was very excited when I saw this as I had hoped that it was. I would recommend the trilogy to anyone as it has an easy reading style while at the same time appealing to adults. Something that is rare.
Please be aware that this book was previously sold as 'Northern Lights' and is the first book of the trilogy and NOT a new book. I was very excited when I saw this as I had hoped that it was. I would recommend the trilogy to anyone as it has an easy reading style while at the same time appealing to adults. Something that is rare.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By anon-london
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I can say without any doubt, that Northern Lights, together with the other two books in the trilogy (The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass)are the best books I have ever read. (And I have read quite a lot!)
Each day, I couldn't wait to get on the tube and read the continuing adventure of Lyra et al.
It is enchanting from start to finish. And for my mind makes anything else you read afterwards seem highly inferior.
You are taken completely out of yourself. Yet you are also able to ponder the wider meanings of it all. And with so many twists and turns, Pullman as a writer is always several steps ahead of where you think things are going.
From the moment I finished the last page of the last book in the trilogy, (yesterday) I wanted to pick up Northern lights and read them all again. I cannot imagine anyone not liking these books. Even for those who have not read fantasy novels before. They are original, profound, gripping and simply breathtaking in places.
Frankly I envy anyone reading this trilogy for the first time!
Each day, I couldn't wait to get on the tube and read the continuing adventure of Lyra et al.
It is enchanting from start to finish. And for my mind makes anything else you read afterwards seem highly inferior.
You are taken completely out of yourself. Yet you are also able to ponder the wider meanings of it all. And with so many twists and turns, Pullman as a writer is always several steps ahead of where you think things are going.
From the moment I finished the last page of the last book in the trilogy, (yesterday) I wanted to pick up Northern lights and read them all again. I cannot imagine anyone not liking these books. Even for those who have not read fantasy novels before. They are original, profound, gripping and simply breathtaking in places.
Frankly I envy anyone reading this trilogy for the first time!
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Now that Philip Pullman's work is available in several audio versions, you may be wondering what makes each one distinctive, and, considering the large differences in price, which one to chose. This version is a complete and unabridged reading, the author himself is the narrator, but there is also a full cast to give voice to each character.
The plot: briefly, as this title has been thoroughly reviewed in its book form only a few mouse-clicks from where you are now:
In a parallel world to our own, feisty 12-year-old Lyra and her daemon live in a recognisable-yet-different Oxford, where they eavesdrop on a secret meeting of scholars and their charismatic visitor Lord Asriel. She hears mysterious tales of Dust, a city that hangs in the air above the Aurora Borealis, and an expedition that ended in a gruesome murder. Lyra's friend Roger disappears, stolen like many other children by the Gobblers, and then she herself is taken from Oxford to live with the sinister Mrs Coulter. Rescued by gyptians she learns who her true parents are, and that the stories and disappearance of her friend are connected. Travelling with the gyptians to the frozen North, Lyra is drawn into a savage struggle among the armoured bears and witch-clans of the Arctic. At the experimental research station of Bolvangar Lyra finds the lost children, where horrific experiments are being performed upon them. To fulfil a prophecy, Lyra's journey leads her to the ice-forts of Svalbard, the rescue of her father and eventually to the city behind the Northern Lights, but only after she has made a terrible betrayal.
What does this dramatised reading bring to the story? Philip Pullman narrates his own work well. Many of the actors are recognisable from BBC Radio 4 dramas - Sean Barrett (as Lord Asriel & Iorek Byrnison); Garrick Hagon (as Lee Scorseby); Stephen Thorne (as the Master of Jordan College & Farder Coram). Mrs Coulter is voiced by Alison Dowling, best known for playing Radio 4's Elizabeth Archer for many years! She is a revelation here; giving real ice and menace to the part. You almost want to boo and hiss when you hear her incisive, cut-glass accent. If you're not a Radio 4 listener and don't know what I'm talking about: don't worry, these are masters of the medium, with rich, expressive voices that bring the text to life. Even where one actor voices two characters you would *never notice*! As Lyra, Joanna Wyatt's Oxfordshire accent wobbles considerably over time, but this is only a small criticism.
On a technical point, the 9 CDs are badly indexed - the 5 minute intervals are inaudible but don't necessarily coincide with chapter starts, making it hard to find your place after a break. Unforgivably, there is a change from one CD to the next right in the *middle* of the climactic armoured bear fight.
If you aren't inclined to read the book, but don't want to miss out on the full text, this is a fine substitute, although the poor arrangement onto CD may well be irritating.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Loved every page of this book
I absolutely loved this book. It was sitting on my bookshelf for years, and for some reason, I never got around to reading it. Read more
Published 27 days ago by Rebecca
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great
Bought as a present because I had read it a few years ago. Well written and with lots of depth I would recommend you read the next two in the trilogy as it gets better and better.
Published 1 month ago by L. Robinson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Northern Lights
I would recommend this book to all my friends and my children and grandchildren. It was like no other book I have ever read.
Published 2 months ago by Brenda Bateman
5.0 out of 5 stars
different
Not my usual reading but thoroughly enjoyed it.Shall look forward to reading the sequels. Found him thro. one of the competitors on "Priceless"
Published 2 months ago by porgiwil1
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great item
this is a great product, it arrived very quickly and was well packaged. I would recommend this item to others.
Published 4 months ago by Rachel Gorrie
5.0 out of 5 stars
Totally spellbinding and remarkable this outstanding fantastical...
*Film tie-in edition (The Golden Compass) - stunning motion picture.
`There are worlds beyond our own-
the Compass will show the way... Read more
`There are worlds beyond our own-
the Compass will show the way... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Lucinda
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not my usual type of book but totally gripped!
These books were leant to me by a friend who insisted I read them. I would never normally pick this sort of book but couldnt put it down - you are taken into another world by... Read more
Published 4 months ago by ciara
5.0 out of 5 stars
Northern Lights
This is the first in the "His Dark Materials" trilogy and although it took a little while to get into - once in I was hooked.
Published 5 months ago by Eileens53
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent
Great story, better than the film by far. This book was bought to complete a set as I read the trilogy some time ago. Written for children but a great adult read.
Published 5 months ago by MR ANDREW W FORECAST
3.0 out of 5 stars
Northern Lights read in under 3 hours?!?! REALLY?!?!
I just have question for anyone who has listened to the unabridged version. Apparently the running time is 2 hours 30 mins. How on earth is this possible? Read more
Published 5 months ago by Mild Dill Hotpot
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