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The Amber Spyglass (His Dark Materials) (Paperback)

by Philip Pullman (Author)
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (346 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Paperback: 544 pages
  • Publisher: Scholastic Point; New edition edition (14 Sep 2001)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 043999358X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0439993586
  • Product Dimensions: 19.8 x 13 x 4.6 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (346 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 123,122 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Product Description

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



Product Description

Lyra lies sleeping in a cave near a rainbow, drugged into unconsciousness by her mother, Mrs Coulter, whose love for her daughter closely rivals her own ruthless ambition. Now, the latter threatens to overcome the former, as she strives to prevent the events which are dependent on the decisions Lyra is fated to make. Meanwhile, Will-scarred and traumatised after his last, fatal meeting with his father-seeks blindly for her, with only two of Lord Asriel's angels as companions on his dangerous search. The two are fated to meet once more, however, and begin their most treacherous journey. For Lyra owes a great debt, and she must repay it-she must rescue her friend from the Land of the Dead. Neither are prepared for the terrible sacrifice they must endure, or for the universal consequences of their actions. Lyra and Will must play their part in the war between the worlds and heaven...
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The Amber Spyglass (His Dark Materials)
84% buy the item featured on this page:
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Average Customer Review
4.4 out of 5 stars (346 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Ending!, 8 Dec 2006

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!
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars It sounds sad, but I can't recommend this book enough, 15 Mar 2004
By Robbie Swale - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)      
This review is from: The Amber Spyglass (His Dark Materials III) (Hardcover)
I know it does sound sad, and most customer reviews just say "yes, it's great, it's the best book I've ever read" and that sort of thing. In this case, though, I think it probably is.

The intricacies of the plot, the characters and the ideas are incredible and enveloping. The story is fast-paced and multi-faceted. The emotional involvement is second to no other book I have ever read. It is a very sad book in parts, but also very uplifting. It made me believe in love, and life, and all those sorts of things.

You may not be as emotionally malleable as me, and so may not find youself affected so profoundly by the book as I have been, but if you enjoyed Northern Lights and The Subtle Knife, then there is really nothing to do other than to read this one and be astounded. If you haven't read those two titles, then be very aware that this is a trilogy and that it will make much more sense if you read them first.

Above all else this book highlights the dizzy heights that Philip Pullman's story-telling can take you. It is a classic book in a classic trilogy. What more can be said?

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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A classic concoction of cunning and cleverness!, 6 Aug 2001
By A Customer
This review is from: The Amber Spyglass (His Dark Materials III) (Hardcover)
Pullman's third and final Dark Material's book is as phenomonal and groundbreaking as the previous two at least. Using a recipe of adventure, love, emotion and fantasy he has created a universe (well several, apparently) of his own. The first book since Lord Of The Rings to actually depict a world where you could actually live. Also in likeness to Tolkien's masterpiece, it has some amazing battles, I won't spoil it for those who haven't read it, but the final one is incredible. I found this book enthralling and read it in two days.

The plot at the start is about four or fivefold with several storylines slowly running their course. As in many adventures the seperate 'subplots' eventually merge into a wonderful finale. Then for about seven chapters at the end there is the twist that every reader was waiting for...

This book will be brilliant forever. Its greatness lies in the 'subtlety' (a word frequently mentioned in His Dark Material's 2) of the web of characters, universes and relationships. Lord Asriel for instanceis a perfeect example. A complex, sometimes unruly individual with very centred ideas. Compelling stuff...

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars Very poor end to a confused trilogy
With 300+ reviews already, I am sure I am wasting my time here but I feel I need to get this off my chest. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Steve W.

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Buy!
The best buy I have made in a while.
It has everything you need from a fantasy story and I never put it down.
A real must own book for all the ages. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Martin Dent

3.0 out of 5 stars Not a book for the impressionable
I have read all three novels in this series. The content is total fiction, of course, even so I felt myself wince on more than one occasion, regarding the obvious disregard... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Mr. Anthony Topham

5.0 out of 5 stars book
part of a set, I couldnt get in to it by hubby said it was brilliant.
Published 4 months ago by Janine Goodbourne

5.0 out of 5 stars A Brilliant Book
The Amber Spyglass is one of the best books I have ever read and is suitable for people of any age apart from young children as the plot is quite complex with lots of twists and... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Flavia Rowson

5.0 out of 5 stars Final book in Pullman's triology doesn't disappoint
For lovers of fantasy, this book, the third in the trilogy is just as exciting and page turning as the first two. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Victoria

3.0 out of 5 stars Muddle Earth
I lost interest in "The Amber Spyglass" about half way through, but ploughed on in the hope that it would pull together the many loose ends to a satisfying and coherent... Read more
Published 6 months ago by hw

1.0 out of 5 stars Ridiculous and awful, gone off on some crazy tangent
I loved the first book, 5 stars, the second was good, the knife was a clever idea and it's 2 sided blade was clever. But what the hell happened here. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Mr. M. A. Yates

4.0 out of 5 stars A very big read
The last of the trilogy and a very big book so if you want a quick read Or get bored easy then this book isn't for you,
After being introduced tp pullman thorugh the film... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Mr. Robert Davis

3.0 out of 5 stars It's o.k..................
After reading both Northern Lights and The Subtle Knife in the space of a week, and enjoying them both, I was really looking forward to ploughing my way through The Amber... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Catrin Williams

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