Rating: 
Summary: Definately a "Get Hooked On" series
Review: One of my friends suggested this book to me because I told him I wanted a book like Harry Potter but a little more. After I read the first chapter I couldn't put it down. After I finished the Golden Compass I just HAD to read the other two. These books will make you laugh and cry. My personal favorite, the Amber Spyglass, was truly breathtaking! Even though these are one of my favorite books I wouldn't recommend any of Pullman's other books. I'm 12 and I would recommend this to people 11 and up because of the way Pullman "graphics" some of his scenes. I felt sick at times.Well, I don't think I would even be reading without these books. I would hate it if I went through life without reading this. I felt like a changed person hen I finished this series
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Summary: Stunning...
Review: The "His Dark Materials Trilogy"....ahh, where do I begin? These books are outstanding. They are #2 on my list of favorite books (no one can beat Harry Potter- not even Lyra and Will!). The first is incredible, the second astounding, and the third is utterly amazing. Whenever I read these, I am taken into the world (or worlds) of Will and Lyra. When I stop reading (which only happens if I desperately need to sleep, eat etc.) I am left craving more.Many people have denounced these books for religious reasons. I am Christian, and I admit that I was alarmed by the anti-God views in this book. But I believe that it is fully acceptable to read something you don't believe. Just because I read these books doesn't mean I am going to abandon my beliefs for someone else's. This book is a work of fiction, and should be treated as so. In conclusion, I think that Phillip Pullman has done a more than admirable job in writing 3 of the best books in history.
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Summary: Not just for kids
Review: My then 10-year-old son introduced me to the trilogy, saying Gloden Compass and Subtle Knife were "the best books I've ever read," and that I had to read them. They sat by our bed for two years, and then I took Golden Compass on a trip, was hooked, and couldn't put them down. These aren't just great young adult novels. They're great novels in general. I like the Harry Potter books and eagerly read the next installments, but Potter's characters look like cartoon characters compared to those of Pullman. What I love about Pullman is that people are morally complex. They aren't just good or bad. Good people end up doing destructive things, sometimes for good motives. Bad people, in fact chillingly bad people, sometimes act couragely. But qualities like honor, generosity, loyalty, caring and ravery still matter. It's a much more realistic guide to a messy world. Pullman also raises other challenging issues, like what we're doing to the environment. Without revealing too much of the plot, the image of intelligent bears fleeing the Arctic as their world melts in the face of global warming created by human arrogance will stick with me forever--as a metaphor for what we're doing to our world. One other note. A number of readers have been troubled by Pullman's seeming anti-clericalism. Indeed religious theocracy comes off very badly in the book. But when I heard Pullman speak, he mentioned that there was no figure more morally influential in his life than his uncle, an Episcopal priest, and this made sense to me. I don't see Pullman as anti-religion. In fact the book makes as eloquent a statement for humane faith-based values that I've seen. Rather, it attacks, and rightfully so, a religion that is not a religion of love, but one that is mean-spirited, controlling, and enchanted with its own power. His depictions made me think of the Taliban, or some of America's own bigoted fundamentalists, like Jerry Fallwell and Pat Robertson saying Sept 11 happened because of civil liberties groups, feminists and homosexuals. From my take, these are profoundly moral books, in the best sense, with lessons for young adults and not so young alike, with characters you care about and wrapped in an amazingly imaginative page-turning story. Paul Loeb
Author Soul of a Citizen: Living With Conviction in a Cynical Time... PS--I also think that among the few comparable books are Ursula K Le Guin's wonderful Earthsea fantasies.
Rating: 
Summary: Would be careful to discuss this book with your children
Review: As a parent, I was very alarmed at the conclusion of this trilogy. I really enjoyed the first two books. Pullman writes beautifully and elegantly. If you are a parent, and your children wish to read this series, you might want to read these books first and you should be aware: 1. Pullman is clearly very anti-Christian. I am not a Christian myself, but found his dark view of organized religion to be so extreme that it was very disturbing. 2. This series is actually not just anti-Christian, but really attacks religious beliefs. 3. It was bizarre that the series never touched on other religious beliefs besides Christianity. Pullman, ironically, despite his clear anti-Christian beliefs, seems to accept that it is the one and only correct depiction of God, Heaven, Hell, etc. 4. There is definitely a darker sexual undertone to the relationship between Lyra's parents - not explicit, but "domination." 5. I am alarmed that these books are targeted at young adults (teens), but the reader and parents are not warned of the nature of the content. The dark nature of these books could be very disturbing to some young people. 6. Personally, I think it's good to expose my child to alternate views that may not agree with those of our family. However, a book that is as diametrically opposed to my family's values as this one warrants discussion with my child. My child read this, and enjoyed the series, overall, and we also had some stimulating conversations as a result. I am very glad that I read this series as well so that we could have those discussions.
Rating:
Summary: Poorly Written
Review: As an avid fan of young adult and mature fantasies, I was eager to read Philip Pullman's trilogy. I was very disappointed. Although he plainly has a creative mind, his presentation of his plot is difficult and annoying to read. His characters are suprisingly one-dimensional and hard to care about. Fans of the Harry Potter series would do better to look to up and coming authors like Garth Nix and Tamora Pierce, or to fantasy classics such as The Chronicles of Narnia (C.S. Lewis) and The Lord of the Rings (Tolkien). I would NOT reccomend these books to my friends, my parents, or the children I babysit.
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Summary: Great book, touching and well written. From Joanna Hirst
Review: When I first started reading the first book I was reading until 12:00PM! Then my mom told me to go to bed. I kept thinking about the book all night. It was such a good book that I began to beleive that I was Lyra, the main character. I cried at some parts of the book and at some parts I burst out laughing for no reason at all. I highly reccomend this book and I hope my information will help you. Philip Pullman is a fantastic author and I would so much love to meet him. Before I read his books my favourites were Harry Potter and any Jacqueline Wilson books. I just hoped the story could go on forever...
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Summary: Review of His Dark Materials
Review: This is one of the most gripping stories I have ever read. It was next to impossible to put down.
Pullman a powerfull and emotional ride with his characters. I highly reccomend this book to anyone who appritiates great fantasy.
Rating: 
Summary: Unabashed bigotry
Review: Pullman has talent as a writer - there's no doubt about that. And his trilogy about Lyra Silvertongue (nee Bevaqua) starts off strongly - .... But as this series progresses, it becomes increasingly clear that Pullman hates all religion - Christianity in particular, and Catholicism with an especially vicious vengeance. ... ... When he begins categorizing the Catholic Church as pure and simple evil, however, and all members of the Church as complicit - well, that's simply wrong on many levels, particularly in a kids' book marketed as an alternative to something as positive and wholesome as Harry Potter. ... ...
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Summary: The Best Books in the world; the worst cover art!!!
Review: These are excelent books. i have read them all 3 or 4 times. i think everyone should buy them. but DO NOT BUY THE BOXED SET. the covers of these editions are horrible. i was in a bookstore one day and i saw the boxed set and i wanted to see the covers (because most of them are excellent)but when i took a closer look i was disqusted. TGC and TSK have real people on the front and these pictures ruined in my mind what i thought they looked like. now i can't get those pictures out of my head for the life of me. buy the KNOPF editions. they are much nicer and better. but remember, the books are excellent, only this edition is horrible
Rating:
Summary: Simply Amazing
Review: ...This is a powerful trilogy, all the more gripping because it tackles head-on some of the most difficult philosophical aspects of human existence and self-awareness. Harry Potter is merely a flirtation with the imagination compared to the ambitious intensity of the golden compass trilogy. It's mesmerizing but also hard-hitting; you can't walk away from the story without feeling eaten away, as if you'd left part of yourself in that other world. The closest thing I could compare this series to would be the Wizard of Earthsea trilogy by Ursula Le Guin, also a fantastic and somewhat dark exploration into the spirit nature of man. However, Pullman is far more focused on religious metaphors--specifically Christian metaphors--and is certainly overt in his anti-Christian sentiments. Pre-adolescents (under 12) might have a difficult time appreciating the philosophical ramifications of the story, and conservative Christians will find the content somewhat challenging, to say the least.
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