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Once Upon a Time in the North (Hardcover)

by Philip Pullman (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
RRP: £9.99
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Once Upon a Time in the North + Lyra's Oxford + The Firework-maker's Daughter
Price For All Three: £14.83

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Product details

  • Hardcover: 112 pages
  • Publisher: David Fickling Books; 1st Edition edition (3 April 2008)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0385614322
  • ISBN-13: 978-0385615235
  • Product Dimensions: 17.2 x 11.6 x 2 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 6,003 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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    #4 in  Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators > P > Pullman, Philip

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Product Description

Amazon.co.uk

Bonus content inside the book



Product Description

When Lyra is studying at Oxford University, she comes across the story of Lee Scoresby and Iorek Byrnisson's first meeting, many years ago, along with much evidence of the adventure that brought them together. When a young Texan balloonist, Lee Scoresby, comes down to earth in the harbour of an Arctic town in the North, little does he realise that he is about to be embroiled in an out-and-out political brawl. Lee and his daemon, Hester, find themselves the target of political factions trying to take over the running (and oil) of the town. And also resident in the town are huge arctic bears, ignored and patronised by the people and treated like second-class citizens. When Lee and Iorek first meet, they cement a friendship that will continue throughout their lives, as the tensions and pressure in town lead to a deadly conclusion...Another wonderful tale from a master story-teller, giving us more extraordinary insight into the world of "His Dark Materials".
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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Once Upon a Time in the North
70% buy the item featured on this page:
Once Upon a Time in the North 4.3 out of 5 stars (20)
£7.49
His Dark Materials Boxed set: "Northern Lights", "The Subtle Knife", "The Amber Spyglass"
9% buy
His Dark Materials Boxed set: "Northern Lights", "The Subtle Knife", "The Amber Spyglass" 4.5 out of 5 stars (234)
£15.75
Lyra's Oxford
8% buy
Lyra's Oxford 3.2 out of 5 stars (47)
£3.88
The Firework-maker's Daughter
8% buy
The Firework-maker's Daughter 4.4 out of 5 stars (13)
£3.46
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Customer Reviews

20 Reviews
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 (12)
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3 star:
 (2)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.3 out of 5 stars (20 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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152 of 161 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Joyous but short, 2 April 2008
By ds (Whitby, UK) - See all my reviews
  
First things first, let's get the rating out of the way. I give this book four stars simply because it isn't long enough. And I was a little disappointed when I'd finished it because I just didn't want it to stop. Perhaps that's a sign of how good the book actually is.

But to take off that star, one has to consider the reasons why it deserved the full five in the first place. The title should give things away just a little; this is essentially a western short story. And a rollicking good one too, because this is the tale of how Lee Scoresby the aeronaut and the bear Iorek Byrnison first met. The events take place a full thirty-five years before the climax of His Dark Materials Boxed set (His Dark Materials), when Lee is but a young man of 24 and newly introduced to the balloon he has recently won in a poker game. As a result his flying is best described as inexpert.

So it is that Lee (and his daemon Hester) arrive in the town of Novy Odense and become involved in a stand-off between a put-upon sailor named van Berda and the power of corporate privilege. After meeting a shady figure from his past, Lee decides he must choose a side, which is how he comes across Iorek.

As you'd expect from something written by Pullman, the story reads with an effortless grace and is beautifully and finely observed and constructed. The extras, like Lyra's Oxford before it are in turn intriguing and useful, including documents and artefacts connected to the narrative itself, as well as a board game, 'Peril At The Pole'.

The last couple of pages are especially curious and relate to Lyra and her correspondence with a minor character from book one.

As with Lyra's Oxford, the slight disappointment is that there isn't more to read but it seems as if, for the moment, this is the way Pullman will realise this world: in fits and starts, and I suppose this is better by far than nothing at all.

An essential purchase for fans of His Dark Materials.
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18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Size Isn't Everything, 22 April 2008
By P Lagiarism (Surrey, UK) - See all my reviews
Those that have read Pullman's trilogy will find this book an interesting expansion upon the character of Lee Scoresby; how he became an aeronaut and how he met Iorek Byrinson. It is the size of a child's storybook, perhaps two chapters' worth of a normal novel - so you will finish this within a couple of hours. As a stand-alone novel I wasn't left satisfied: it would be better included as an appendix text or supplement to a reprint of the trilogy. It's also very expensive in the shops for what you're getting - the price here is more realistic. Nevertheless, a nice supplement for collectors and fans.
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51 of 56 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A delight for any His Dark Materials fan, 12 April 2008
By J. Takata (London, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)      
What a joy this book was to behold!

"Once Upon a Time in the North" has the feel of a Cowboy Western story set in the Arctic (perhaps in homage to Sergio Leone's "Once Upon A Time In The West"). It tells the tale of how the 23-year-old Lee Scoresby (already equipped with his unique charisma we have come to love) first encountered his life companion Iorek Byrnison. As an ardent fan of His Dark Materials, it was delightful to notice some happenings here and there that later formed details in the main trilogy - such as the circumstances in which Lee took Iorek onto his balloon, or how he acquired his balloon and rifle. At the end, we also get the briefest of insights into what Lyra is up to after her adventure, which was a nice touch and lures us to further speculation.

The presentation and layout of this novella can also only be described as a delight. The cloth-backed cover and the engraved illustrations are striking, reminiscent of a regal and deluxe 19th Century collectors' edition; meanwhile the fold-out board game and other snippets of authentic-looking media tickle your imagination. It's a type of book where you cannot help but feel tenderness and love for.

Pullman's writing here is once again masterful: there are passages of flowing description, juxtaposed with tension and a quick unfolding of events. Not one word seems unnecessary or out of place. While people may say it was not long enough, I believe that the book's compactness and self-containedness makes the reading of this book a far more fulfilling experience than "Lyra's Oxford" (which at times felt loosely constructed and meandering). It is not intending to be the fourth book in the trilogy and should not be treated as such; rather, it is simply a small treat to enrich our knowledge of Lyra's remarkable world.

While we eagerly await Pullman's meatier and more substantial "The Book of Dust", "Once Upon a Time in the North" is a superb 'snack' to keep us going. If you are a His Dark Materials fan, do not hesitate to buy!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it's a shame it wasn't longer. Even though it's short it's entirely captivating and very interesting. Read more
Published 27 days ago by C. Hughes

5.0 out of 5 stars How Lee and Iorek became friends
I enjoyed this more than 'Lyra's Oxford' because it has more depth and complexity of plot and character. Read more
Published 7 months ago by M. Black

5.0 out of 5 stars Scoresby
An introduction to Lee Scoresby which makes him more like Lee Marvin and the magnificent seven - a real sharp shooter. A good short read.
Published 8 months ago by David J. Clifton

4.0 out of 5 stars Inessential but fun
This prequel is the story of how Lee Scoresby met Iorek Byrnison (characters in the His Dark Materials trilogy, and if you haven't read that, better to start there than here). Read more
Published 14 months ago by M. G. Wilson

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful book
"Once Upon a Time in the North" is the book for everyone who read "His dark materials".
Excelent book.
Published 14 months ago by M. Walka

4.0 out of 5 stars Short but sweet
I throughly enjoyed this book. I was a little disappointed that it was so short as i wanted to keep reading, hence how good it was. Read more
Published 14 months ago by B. Ward

5.0 out of 5 stars A good little read...
Having recently read HDM I was keen to read more of Pullman's work, so bought this one. A very enjoyable, very short story. I read it twice on the day it arrived. Read more
Published 14 months ago by D. L. Parker

5.0 out of 5 stars a nice little extra
As a huge fan of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, I am quite prepared to read anything else from that universe he is kind enough to write for us. Read more
Published 16 months ago by le chic le freak

5.0 out of 5 stars Funny little thing :)
Again you find yourself reading a review written by a fan of Philip Pullman's work. I must say, if you are a fan as well - BUY IT! Read more
Published 16 months ago by Maria Lindholdt Jensen

3.0 out of 5 stars Not what I hoped
It's too short.
It doesn't tell you much more about the dark materials universe.
It's just a straight forward story the two main characters meet and sort out a... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Thrud Fan

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