- Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages
- Publisher: Laurel Leaf Library (30 Sep 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0440238145
- ISBN-13: 978-0440238140
- Product Dimensions: 17.5 x 10.2 x 2.5 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (203 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,395,904 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
At the end of The Northern Lights, Lyra Silvertongue watched in fear and fascination as her father, Lord Asriel, created a bridge between worlds. Lyra and her daemon Pantalaimon are now lost in an alternate universe where they meet Will Parry, a fugitive from a third universe. Will has found a small window between Cittagazze--where children roam unchecked, but invisible Specters suck the spirit out of adults--and his Oxford, which, with its Burger Kings and cars, is frighteningly different from the Oxford Lyra knows. Will's father, an explorer, disappeared years ago, but some odd characters have started asking questions about him. Will has managed to accidentally kill one of them and is wanted by the police. Armed with the Subtle Knife, a tool that cuts any material (including that which separates universes) and Lyra's alethiometer, the children set out to find John Parry, with adults of various stripes in desperate pursuit.
Lyra's finest qualities are her courage and her quick mind. She finds she must use them constantly--not to put too fine a point on it, she must lie and steal to keep herself and Will out of danger. However, she must also know when to tell the truth and when to trust. She does not yet know--though her friends the witches do, and so does the reader--what a huge part she will have in the upcoming battle between Good and Evil. (Age 9 and over) - -Amazon.com --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
'The most ambitious work since The Lord of the Rings... as intellectually thrilling as it is magnificently written' - New Statesman 'Quite outstanding' - The Scotsman
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
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!
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I'm normally reluctant to give 5 stars as overusage makes truly classic books difficult to differentiate, particularly when the book is part of an all-too-common trilogy. However I had no qualms about doing it here.
The Subtle Knife develops the main character Lyra from her adventures and early path to maturity in the Northern Lights and introduces her key comrade Will, as they battle together against and with forces they do not understand.
The Subtle Knife develops the main character Lyra from her adventures and early path to maturity in the Northern Lights and introduces her key comrade Will, as they battle together against and with forces they do not understand.
The story line is tight, well structured and flows at a remarkable pace. The way in which Pullman brings modern theories of Physics into an adventure story is quite an achievement.
A wonderful read.
87 of 93 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Let's just get this clear - I will read anything. I am never not in the middle of reading a book. Whenever I know I'm nearly at the end of one book, I go out and buy another. I can't stand not having a book to read. Let's get another thing clear - I'm only thirteen, so adults reading this might not want to read my opinion - that's fine by me. Ok.
I have all the Harry Potter books, and my friend recommended Northern Lights to me because she said it was like a girl power equivalent to Harry Potter. I thought that sounded pretty cool, so I gave it a go. I realised that it is nothing like Harry Potter at all! Harry Potter is a *normal* boy in *our* world doing *normal* stuff with a twist of magic. The "His Dark Materials" trilogy is set mainly in *fantasy* worlds, but I suppose that you could say Lyra is kind of normal. Apart from the fact that she has a little Daemon called Pantalaimon. In fact, to her a daemon is normal - apparently seeing somebody without a daemon is like seeing somebody without a head - that's the kind of thing that makes this trilogy good.
This particular book is better than Northern Lights, in my opinion. There's a boy and a girl (Lyra and Will). They both come from different worlds - but they're kind of like parallel universes - there is an Oxford in Lyra's world, but it has certain features that are different, such as the aforementioned daemons and a certain Jordan College, which is not at the *real* Oxford Uni. Then there's ANOTHER world which is totally different. Things called spectres haunt and drown the souls of the adults, but the kids are unaffected. How creepy? And you can hear angels - and there are witches... It's all very creepy, which is v. cool.
I would recommend this to anybody who enjoyed Harry Potter, but thinks they are growing out of him. There are some really clever twists, and it deals with emotions and tragedy a lot more than Harry Potter does. I don't know why Philip Pullman isn't getting the coverage that J. K. Rowling is. In my opinion he's a much much better writer. It amazes me how he can know exactly how a little girl actually feels - and the books are so imaginative, you'd think he comes from Lyra's world!
And one more thing - look out for some seriously wicked names - Lyra Belacqua (or Silvertongue as she has now been christened) is a lot more exciting than Harry Potter, or Cornelius Fudge.
Ok, I hope you read it, cos I can't begin to tell you how good it is - you really need to see it to believe it!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Brilliant brilliant brilliant
A fantastic read that holds your attention right up to the last word. Love the characters and did not want it to end.
Published 1 month ago by Corr44
Subtle Knife
Great item and as decribed and quick delivery. My daughter was very pleased with it.Fair price. Thank you very much. Would use again.
Published 2 months ago by Caroline J
Another good book!
I bought this book for my husband as he is reading the trilogy. The book arrived quickly, it was excellent quality and my husband was very pleased with it.
Published 2 months ago by Rosa
secretly marvelous !!!!!!!!!
I have read Northern lights which was a really thought provoking story line which was created by an extremely gifted author. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Calim Daniels
bought as a gift
I bought this as a gift for my sister in law and she absoultely loves it. the whole series is great and i cant wait to borrow them from her!
Published 4 months ago by RichB
great deal
great deal. Price and quality were excellent. The book was a an ejoyable read and it arrived promtly. very happy, thanks
Published 5 months ago by Johnny Goodboy
Fantastic
I'm not nor have I ever been a fan of 'fantasy' books; this book was recommended by a friend and I'm extremely grateful. Read more
Published 5 months ago by R. Watson
Great Read
Mr Pullman can certainly pull it together in the fantasy world. Great read found it hard to put down transported right out of Dirty Wolverhampton into a magical world inhabited by... Read more
Published 6 months ago by telephonegirl
Thank you
The Book was excellent thank you, I am really looking forward to reading it, once again thank you very much
Published 7 months ago by Mrs. Jill Bates
Loved it
I liked 'The Subtle Knife' by Philip Pullman a little less than I liked its prequel, 'Northern Lights,' but I enjoyed that book so much that it was always going to be impossible to... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Claire Lewis
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