Rating: 
Summary: Intriguing start to a series
Review: I've just read THE GOLDEN COMPASS, the first in this series of 3 books, and I am anxious to get my hands on the other two books. It was recommended to me by a woman in her 50s, and I enjoyed it as a woman in her 20s. I think most adults will like this book, as well as most adolescents. This book is darker than the Harry Potter books or others similar to those, so keep that in mind when buying this book for a younger child. Another reviewer mentioned this book in comparison to the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy; this first of the series seems much more interesting and fast-going than THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING however. Basically, this is just a great read. Lyra is brilliantly drawn by Pullman, and the story is vividly brought to life. You can almost taste the coldness of the northern air yourself. And the ending just leaves you impatient to read the next in the series!
Rating:
Summary: The Golden Compass-The Science Of Magic
Review: The Golden Compass by Phillup Pullman, is an exciting novel that combines the truest of all human emotion with fantasy beyond Earth's wildest dreams. The result is a piece of literary gold that trancends age and tastes. A book written for young adults that is equally if not more so appreciated by adults, is a work of fantasy that can be enjoyed even by those who are scientifically minded. The protagonist, free-spirited and capable Lyra, is drawn into a battle that she alone must win or lose, and she must fight the truth of her own destiney. This award-winning and utterly captivating story will have you hanging on every word until its gripping conclusion, and leave you clamoring for the more.
Rating:
Summary: Compass to Paradise Regained
Review: The Golden Compass is the first book in an epic trilogy that is closer in tone to Tolkien's _Lord of the Rings_than the _Harry Potter_ books, but religion and philosophy take center stage. It's still a battle of Good versus Evil, where Pullman updates Milton and Blake by questioning a LOT of assumptions. With the Catholic Church scandal revealing painful new developments every day, Pullman's work becomes even more timely. Are institutions created to teach morality capable of staying moral? Can moral authorities resist authoritarianism? Which is more important, the integrity of the institution or protecting our most vulnerable citizens? All these issues will come to fore in the trilogy. Written as a fantasy-adventure featuring pre-teen Lyra, this first volume features an alternate Oxford (UK) where everyone has a animal-daemon who stays close at hand. Children's daemons change animal form, adults stay settled as one animal, revealing a bit of its human's personality. Armored and intelligent polar bears figure, along with corrupt church adminisrators who kidnap and experiment on children. The Oxford where Lyra lives is also engaging in these dangerous experiments, and ties to the Church are closer than in our world. (Which Church is never specified; while the organization and omnipotence suggests the Roman Catholics, it could as easily be the Church of England in a world where religion is enmeshed with government.) Pullman clearly detests the evil done in the name of religion, which is why the Good and Evil discussion gets intricate. He is not necessarily anti-Catholic or anti-Christian but anti-authoritarian. Anyone who has studied European history will recognize the characterization of a corrupt and overly powerful Church. Lyra represents the The Enlightenment in a world as politically forward as pre-Reformation Europe, and must defeat powerful forces who have no interest in power-sharing. The book works both as a springboard to the Big Questions and as an allegory for growing up and finding one's own way. Literate, informed, evocative, and conceptually brilliant, this supposed Young Adult release will captivate adults as well.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Fantasmagoria!
Review: This trilogy was a great read. I'm glad I bought them all at once, because once you finish the first one, you can't wait to move on to the second and third. Pullman creates an alternate reality, parallel with our own world (sort of like Narnia, but in the second and third books, it is obvious that Pullman is creating an alternate view of god and the afterlife, not the direct parallel that exists in Narnia between Aslan and god), where people have spirit shadows, or daemons, that are attached to them at all times. The first book introduces our heroine, Lyra, and her daemon. We first find her sneaking about in the university where she lives (she's a custodial ward of the university). Things turn pretty black pretty quickly for our young heroine, but I'm not telling you any more, because you should definately read this series!
Rating:
Summary: Read It!!
Review: This Book is a must read! If you enjoy fantsy books, you will love this book no matter what age you are.
Rating:
Summary: Youv'e got to read this!
Review: Im only 12. This is one of the best books i have ever read. I have also read the subtle knife and is equally good. I havent read the amber spyglass yet but cant wait to read it. Lyra is a young girl unaware of the dangerous and perlerious journey ahead of her. She and her dæmon (animals that are part of a person and have the ability to change shape when the person is a child) set out on a quest to rescue roger, lyras friend. Before she leaves the master of Jordan College gave her an instrument the aletiometer that can tell the truth if you can read it right. Lyra is confused all about "dust" a special type of particle the chruch authorities wish to destroy. While on her journey to the north she discovers and expierences the perlerious journey and also learning the truth. this is a must read book. You would understand it better if you read it . I soo cant wait till they make the trilogy into a movie. sooon after the lord of the rings the last of the movies shows on the big screen theyll start shooting the golden compass in 2004.
Rating:
Summary: more than a kid's book
Review: I bought this series for my grandaughter last Christmas and she loved it. Being desperate for a good diversion, of which there are few, I picked this 1st book up a couple days ago and have been amazed at how much fun this "old" kid has had sharing the adventure with Lyra, how developed the characters have been, how fantastic her world. It's great adventure on many levels, and no more only for children than is Tolkien.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful. Simply beautiful.
Review: THE WHOLE SERIES is full of colorful characters, comming of age, action, romance, and a BRILLIANT storyline. WARNING!!! This trilogy may offend christians. But trust me, its not too bad. The author's main goal was NOT to put down christianity, but to express how life should be lived honorably and to the fullest. The main character Lyra is a caring, trustworthy, stong, and loving girl who's actions are very "christian" in value. Only the most gullible of christians would be influenced to abandon their religion after reading this story. I dont recommend this trilogy to the close-minded! This trilogy has and will continue to make a great impact on readers (IN A POSTITIVE WAY). The story of young love may jerk a few tears (as it did mine). Besides "Of Mice and Men" (when george has to shoot lenny) this was the only book that made me cry. This story makes ou ponder abot life also. i first read this book during some "dark times". it made me realize that life is to be lived to the fullest and cherished. we only have a short time to live, so we might as well make it memorable.
Rating:
Summary: My favorite book
Review: I loved reading the book the Golden Compass by Philip Pullman. The book is the first of a trilogy. It is about a girl named Lyra. In Lyra's world everyone has a thing called a damand. A damand is an animal that has a bond with you. When you are a kid in their world your damand can change into different animals. When you grow up your damand stays in a certain form. The form that the damand picks explains the person. A damand cannot go far away from its human.
The book is about a church thinking that your damand is bad. They steel kids and remove their bond of the kid and their damand. This would put the kid in dismay. They were know longer whole. Many of the kids die.
Lyra goes with lots of people to stop the severing. When she was there Lyra finds out that her mother is the head of the group. This is only the beginning of the book. I encourage you to read this book and read the whole trilogy
Rating:
Summary: The Best Book I Have Ever Read
Review: With many twists and turns this book keeps you on the edge of your seat and begging for more. The author describes feelings and emotions like no other author ever has with any of the books I have ever read. An awe-inspiring glimpse into worlds beyond our own that makes it the best book I have ever read. Philip Pullman takes readers into a whole new world with mystical creatures and many other amazing things. Although the book is fantasy, Pullman makes it seem so life-like that it could be happening right now.
| 
