Rating: 
Summary: BEST BOOKS EVER- 100% AWESOME
Review: These books are the best books that I've ever read. They are also the saddest. I cried for two days and still can't get those books out of my mind. The main character of atleast the first book (other big characters are there too) is a girl of about 11 or 12. She's stuck in the middle of this war between worlds (this book's more of a philosiphical book than a fantasy or sci-fi though it's sort of like both of these kinds of books.) I have a friend who read these books too, they're about her favorite ever. If you don't read these books I truely feel sorry for you. You aren't a true human being until you read these books. I am thirteen and it's really hard to get me to like a book. I read at least one or two books every two months and I know I'm a good reader but it's hard to get me to enjoy a book. I loved these books! They're the best books ever, though they will affect you a lot. Beware, they aren't just blah-blah-blah every day books. They're fun, exciting, page turning books also, though. Thanks for reading my review.
Rating:
Summary: Brought me back to fantasy
Review: I had really given up on fantasy--I was really tired of rehashed Lord of the Rings take-offs and never-ending series a la Wheel of Time, et al. An Amazon.com email showed up in my inbox (which I don't even usually read) about "The Golden Compass." It intrigued me enough to order the first book, and suddenly I was hooked! This was some of the best fantasy I'd read in YEARS! Original, fresh, yet not too out there--it was vaguely reminiscent of some of Connie Willis's longer works, but from an 11-year old's point of view (for the record, I'm 32). I can't recommend this highly enough, especially to people who are getting tired of "traditional" fantasy.
Rating: 
Summary: THE SAVAGE EDEN
Review: Taken as a whole, HIS DARK MATERIALS (THE GOLDEN COMPASS / THE SUBTLE KNIFE / THE AMBER SPYGLASS)is a original, inventive, entertaining and uneven work - while the first two books steadily build plot, suspense and personalities, it is let down by the end with plot twists from out of nowhere, a complete redirection of the purpose and goals established in the very first pages of THE GOLDEN COMPASS (known as THE NORTHERN LIGHT in the U.K.) and personality shifts that go against the grain established so carefully from the start - but don't let this put you off the series - there is much here to enjoy and ponder. While often listed and marketed towards the YA crowd, the themes presented here are far reaching and very deep. The nature of God is brought into question, as is the need for the Church, the role parents play in their childrens lives, power, responsibility, friendship and muder. There seems to be little that Pullman will not thrown in and play off of - and at times it works very well (as is the case in the introduction of Will in the opening pages of THE SUBTLE KNIFE - heartbreaking), and sometimes not (THE AMBER SPYGLASS has several asides and issues that if more time could have been spent would have filled three more books, easily - but as is stands, they fall short). Although while adult in nature, these books are still easy reading for kids - those who enjoyed HARRY POTTER (or the REDWALL series) will have no trouble here understanding what's going on, in fact there are times in the book where they can't help but understand, as Pullman will spend several pages laying out a textured map of the plot and personalities so clearly that sometimes there is very little surprise later on in the following books. In the end, HIS DARK MATERIALS is a stunning set of books - flawed, true, but still light years beyond most books on the market today.
Rating:
Summary: Imaginative, entertiaining and thought-provoking
Review: I recommend to anyone considering this purchase that they check out the huge collection of user reviews for the individual books in the series (i.e. The Golden Compass, etc.) You'll get a good idea of reader sentiment from those. In fact, there's little I can write here that hasn't already been covered, but I'll chime in and say that I enjoyed these books immensely. The plot is gripping, the story rich in detail, the characters complex and engaging. Readers who are concerned with Pullman's treatment of religion should be mindful of the distinction between belief, spirituality and faith on the one hand, and the political machinations of religious institutions on the other. I think Pullman's criticism is focused on the latter and well-justified.
I just bought this boxed set as a gift for my brother on his 13th birthday (I'm an adult), and I'm sure his experience in reading it will be different from mine. But I expect he'll enjoy it equally.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful, terrific and spectacular
Review: Definately a group of books for people to read (if they haven't already) as they await the fifth Harry Potter book. Philip Pullman's series is beautiful. It takes place both in our world and in a world like ours, but not. The first book, The Golden Compass, takes place in this alternate world. The second book, The Subtle Knife takes place in both, but connects these two worlds. The final book, The Amber Spyglass, takes place in both, plus others. It sounds confusing, but it is great. Beware, though, that the end of the series is not like any other book that you'll ever read...
Rating:
Summary: WOOOOOOWWWW!!!!
Review: Pullmans triology is a masterpiece dspite what others may say.
The ideas in it can only be the work of a genius and talented author.
I dunno how he thought some things up but I'm grateful to him because they make such a great read. Deamons are very cool and Pan (and later in the amber spyglass,) Kirjava are wonderful!!
I like everything about these books and there is NO reason to be put off reading them. They explore a great deal of puzzling but spectacular things and their are lots of amazing subplots that branch off from the main plot that will leave you dazzled and wondering.
The characters are almost real and places descriptions so life like it's to think of them as part of a story.You almost believe that Deamons and Deaths and Dust exist and you wonder about the other worlds...like the world of the dead........
Even if you have read certain reviews that put you off don't let them convince you these are "bad" books coz they're far from it and at least deserve to be given a chance. You'll most likely find your doubts wrong and will be cursing yourself for not reading them sooner.
Rating:
Summary: review for His Dark Materials
Review: I think I first read The Golden Compass when I was eight, and it instantly became my favorite book. I had to wait a long time for the sequel, The Subtle Knife, which I found to be just as good as the first one. The Amber Spyglass, though, was a disappointment to me. Nothing turned out the way I wanted it to. I didn't want Lyra and Will to grow up in the end! I, like Lyra says in the first book, wanted Pantalaimon to be able to change forever. Most of all I hated how Mrs. Coulter's personality suddenly changed. In the first two books she was like the main "bad guy", but in the third book it was totally different and I didn't like the change.I have read a lot of other peoples' reviews on these three books and a lot of adults who read them thought that they were even better for adults than for kids. Some said that kids probably wouldn't really understand it, but I think we can, and it's even better for kids to read it becuz it's about kids, and I like the fact that, if I was in those worlds, the spectors wouldn't be able to get me, and my daemon would be able to change. Also, a lot of people didn't like that Will was added to the story. I think he's a good character, but I do think that he sort of took away from the character of Lyra, becuz she didn't seem to be as brave and everything in the third book as she was in the beginning. And some people didn't like the books becuz the church was bad, and there was no God, instead there was "Authority", who was just an angel who had gained power. I'm Christian, but I had no problem with that. The Golden Compass and The Subtle Knife are really good, and, even though I didn't like the third one, I would recommend this trilogy to anyone. That was a review that I wrote quite a while ago. I think I was thirteen. (Now I've just turned sixteen.) I wouldn't consider THE GOLDEN COMPASS and THE SUBTLE KNIFE my favorite books anymore although they are very well written and creative. I still really hate THE AMBER SPYGLASS. The ending was very contrived; it was like Pullman created this whole situation JUST SO Lyra and Will couldn't be together, although another flaw in this book is that I didn't give a damn if they were together in the first place. One thing I don't like about these books is the way Pullman conveys the idea that people grow up when they reach puberty, which is pretty stupid. Everybody in the books "grew up" a lot earlier than people really do. I also don't like that Pullman left so many questions unanswered with the last book. I still don't get why the specters can affect the adults but not the kids; Pullman never really said what the real difference was, why daemons stop changing. I have heard one or two people say that these books made them think about becoming atheists. That kind of surprised me since it didn't have that effect on me at all. I became nonreligious a couple of years after reading the books but I definitely don't think HIS DARK MATERIALS had anything to do with it. I do kind of like the way Pullman portrays the Church as evil, because way too many books and movies try to make a point that religion is good (think A WALK TO REMEMBER and SIGNS). Personally, I really don't like religion, so that was a cool thing about HIS DARK MATERIALS. I also think that the author is amazingly creative. How many people would ever think of all this stuff? So I would still reccomend the first two books in this trilogy, but not the third. Which is too bad, because I waited years for that one to come out.
Rating:
Summary: 5 stars? more like 10!
Review: Oh WOW! What a triology!!! What an awesome set of books!
I think Pantaliamon is the best and I like Kirjava too.
The last book the amber spyglass is soooo sad! :( Poor Pan!
I think that the gallivespians are great too!!! Its sad about them aswell!
This book is great i'd need a thousand pages to express my thoughts on all the mystreys in them!
dont be put off by people saying they're bad dont listen they are fab!!!
Buy them all!! The Amber spyglass is the best!!!!
10 out of 10
100 out of 100
101%
These books are the books of all books!!! Hehe i mean read them all they are well worth your time!!
Rating: 
Summary: SO disappointing
Review: I absolutely love fantasy (usually) but was incredibly let down by this series. The first book was wonderful. I immediately bought the next two- and hated them. I love reading about other worlds, and the daemon idea is great, but I didn't like that some characters died (main ones) and others crossed over in my world (drinking coke, riding in cars, etc.) And the first book paid a lot of attention to character development, while the next two were incredibly rushed and hurried feeling, with confusing, badly-laid out, not-well-described worlds and religious theories. Plus, after the first one, the humor just disappears. Just goes away entirely. I read this series, and the reviews of it, with great excitement, but I was completely uninspired by it. If you like fantasy, other worlds, young children going toward their destinies, and, for god's sake, good character development and humor, buy something by David Eddings. (...)
Rating:
Summary: His Dark Materials /Trilogy
Review: As a new reader of Philip Pullman ( and now most likely his greatest fan ) , I had a hard time over the first 100 pages , but was completely involved in the story and bonded to the characters after.
I never had so much fun and pain reading books like in this case, especially because Pullman here deals with the major features of life - faith, religion, deception and most important love ! I was completely overwhelmed by the power and depth of The Amber Spy Glass as I never expected a children's book being so dark and serious without being heavy .
I will miss Lyra and Pantalaimon very much , in fact while reading the books I caught myself more than once hoping and wishing I could ( or would ) have a Daemon !
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