Rating: 
Summary: Not For Kids
Review: I picked up these books based on the recommendation of quite a few people on the net. These books are quite well written and plotted. That said I would like to place a warning with these books. If it is your intention to teach your children Christian values and doctrine then you should ask them not to read these books until they are well grounded in the faith and truth, if at all. Phillip Pullman has very intentionally crafted the books so that they are a direct attack at Christian faith and doctrine. He has created a philosophy of naturalism mixed with a form of reincarnation and humanism. I anticipate that many may read this review and claim I am trying to stifle free speech or to keep children from hearing all sides of a matter. That would be a shifting of the argument. Pullman's world and philosophy is no more solid than the Spectre's he writes about. He attempts to muddle truth with emotional arguments while ignoring the reality of the inspired Word of God, historical evidence of the persona and work of the sacrificial Jesus, and the possibility of the Creation. Over they three books, good and evil are quite muddled. By the end of the series, the church is very definitely evil, God has never existed, and the Authority who claims to be God is a sadistic dictator. While employing no truth and evidence, he attempts to discredit the Church (not necessarily hard since humans are fallen beings and susceptible to sin) and the existence of God (more difficult because God demands faith based on the evidence in the Word and in Creation).
Rating: 
Summary: Engaging
Review: Philip Pullman takes on a huge, complicated set of ideas and concepts in this work. He has been compared to Tolkien, and certainly there are some similarities. Like Tolkien, he takes on epic ideas that fork into multiple ideas and sub-threads. Like Tolkien, the first book was written as an introduction to the characters and main themes, and one gets the sense that Pullman himself did not fully understand the scope his work would eventually take by the third book. However, unlike Tolkien, Pullman's work is so vast that it actually gets away from him - the themes and major ideas he wishes to convey are closed, but the ideas are so diverse that the tie-ins seem contrived and stretched. The first book introduces us to the idea of infinite parallel worlds, connected by something called "Dust". In one particular world, the soul is a physical extension from the body, a reflection of a person's true nature that takes animal forms called "daemons". The girl Lyra is caught in the middle of a struggle between opposing forces, each of which seem to be evil. Lyra's true path lies tied to both, and Pullman let's his imagination run wild, keeping the themes relatively simple - the concept of Dust, the concept of Daemons, and really neat ideas like armored talking bears and beautiful long-lived witches. The second book introduces us to a second protagonist, Will, who learns to wield a knife that can cut windows between worlds. However, now we learn that the war of opposing forces is really a war between God and Reason, with Dust (which we learn are particles of dark matter that "are" consciousness) the constant between worlds. We gain the full measure of how evil Lyra's mother is, how ambitious her Father is, and are introduced to angels and vampire-like specters. The third book takes off, with concepts of death, souls, ghosts, angels, the true nature of God, particle physics, existence, Love, and the end of the battle between God/church and Reason. These are huge concepts, and Pullman has a very hard time keeping them all in line while maintaining all the characters. Certainly the concepts themselves are incredible, but half-way through the third book Pullman stops developing lesser themes, concentrating on the battle between God and Reason, Good and Bad, and Life, Death, and the sum parts of consciousness (Body, Soul, Ghost). Overall, Pullman's writing style is excellent, he has an incredible imagination, the works are dark and very deep, and he tackles ideas most writers would never dare tackle (and those who have tried usually fare much much worse). Had he been able to successfully tie everything together, these would be masterful epics, worthy of comparison to Tolkien or Lewis. As they stand they are very good, far deeper and richer than the oft-compared Potter series.
Rating: 
Summary: dull, dull
Review: I slogged through the first two books and kept hoping for some more character development. By book three, I was worn out. I couldn't get beyond the first paragraph of book three. The writing is a perfect entry for one of those horrible writing contests; "It was a dark and stormy night"... style.
Rating:
Summary: BEST!
Review: These books, all 3, are really captivating. I admit, to me, the first in the series (the golden compass) isn't as great as the rest. You have to be totally focussed on the reading, because the plot twists and the developments can confuse you otherwise. Favorite series for life!
Rating: 
Summary: A decent try
Review: Pullman presents the reader with an alternative view of the metaphysical and physical. God, spirit, soul, matter. He's got some nice ideas and makes a decent effort to explore and develop them, but in the end it's lacking in credibility. I mean, a story's got to posess an inner credibility, an inner logic. Here, Pullman's story has too many flaws. Reading the pages, I give up trying to believe in his universe(s) and the last book became purely a "make it through"-run. But OK - apart from serious faults in fundamentals, Mr. Pullman has a good command over language and scenery. He writes well, and has a nice imagination. I'll give him that. Some reflecting on the art of storytelling, and Pullman will be a winner.
Rating: 
Summary: Oh man, that was fun!
Review: I really enjoyed these books! The storyline is great. I couldn't put these books down, and I love all this contrversy it has caused! Read these books ASAP, and you will be in for the best read of your life!
Rating:
Summary: Phenomenal! Breath taking and wonderful!
Review: All I can say is I am without words. This is the most beautiful story ever written. Book snobs, should lay off. I adore Harry Potter and worship LOTR. This book is in it's own place. My question is...Why are all these religious fanatics reading Fantasy in the first place? Just to have something to argue about? Burning Harry Potter is atrocious...My GOD, get a life! There are far more meaningful things to rant and rave about.
Rating:
Summary: This is genius.
Review: I can't begin to express what these books mean to me. These are not merely books of fantasy and, though they can be enjoyed by the young, they are not children's literature. In fact, most people under the age of twelve probably won't fully comprehend what we're talking about here. What we're talking about is a kind of genius and depth, power and passion that haunts you well after the final page of the third novel. We are not just talking about kids who set out to save other kids and have funny talking animals for friends. We aren't just talking about a great adventure that is brilliantly imagined and evoked. What we are dealing with here is an examination of a human's relation to its soul, and what, when all is said and done, truly makes us human. Sadly, whenever I tell people about these books, I meet with vacant smiles and slight interest (after all, we can't take a children's fantasy too seriously.) It isn't until I explain that these books are a retelling of Paradise Lost (and they most certainly are, an exquisite rendering) that I see that spark of real interest and pleasure. Oh, so we're talking about LITERATURE. Coming to my point: these books need to be taken out of the science fiction and children's sections in bookstores and placed on the shelves under literature. That's the only proper place for these works. Onward with the story. Unfortunately, here's the truth. I can't tell you. It's not that I want to surprise you, it's that I really can't. There's too much to explain, to have you understand. The best I can do is this: Lyra is a young girl living with her daemon (a physical extension of her soul; everyone has one) in Oxford. Lyra lives in a different universe from ours. She enjoys a happy, carefree life until circumstances force her to leave and eventually to run for her life. The major problem: Dust. Not normal dust, but a capitalized 'dust', one that may be the very secret to growing up, changing, and the key to the beginning and the continuation of the universe. Lyra is entangled in a strange prophecy relating to Dust, as is young Will, a boy from our universe who enters into hers. The two join forces and embark on a magnificent journey across time and space, meeting armored polar bears, a hot air balloon flying Texan, priest assassins, angels, ghosts, harpies, witches and on and on. There's too much to fit in here. The books are titled 'The Golden Compass', 'The Subtle Knife', and 'The Amber Spyglass.' Each title refers to a magical object that proves invaluable in the quest. The compass is an 'alethiometer', a truth-telling device that can answer any question in the world. The knife is a way to cut holes from one universe into another. The spyglass is something that allows a person to actually see Dust, which is in the air all around us. In the end, Lyra and Will must protect the Dust, and in turn the universe. They will also be forced to make an unbearable sacrifice to ensure the safety of all places and peoples. I haven't even scratched the surface of what we are dealing with here. We have characters that are so real you laugh when something wonderful happens to them, and cry when tragedy strikes. I had to put the second book down when I was halfway through to allow myself to sit on my bed and just sob. I won't say what happened, but if you become invested in these characters, you'll recognize the moment I'm talking about. This review is maddening to me, because I'll never be able to explain why this is wonderful, why this is precious and why this is absolute genius. You need to read these books and discover for yourself what exactly I'm struggling to tell you. Pullman has crafted something that is so heartbreakingly pure and original it actually, honestly hurts me to think about it and to remember the state of wonder I was constantly in while reading. These books have everything. Humor, drama, mystery, fantasy, romance, action, trust, betrayal, friendship, pitch-perfect dialogue, gorgeous imagery, and the most intense originality I have seen in any book in a long time. As much as I love Tolkien's 'Lord of the Rings', I feel Pullman is the first writer who might, in time, nudge the 'Rings' trilogy out of its niche and secure the 'His Dark Materials' trilogy's place in true literature. Pullman creates a world you've never imagined, and he does it while fleshing out each and every one of his characters until you feel as if you know them, you feel for them and understand the decisions and sacrifices they make. These books are really, really that good. I can't begin to explain the genius at work here. It's something you must experience for yourself. Do yourself a favor and read these books. Don't deny yourself this incredible pleasure.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent indeed
Review: I would echo all the praise that others have lavished on these books - they're magical. But the person who says they are not an attack on religion is just plain wrong - Pullman has publicly said, on many occasions, that (and I paraphrase) he believes that religion is superstitious nonsense, and is very clear that the books are, indeed, partly intended to show just how ludicrous many religious beliefs are. These are complex allegories, and religion is right there in the middle of his allegorical gunsight.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing books! Even for the deeply religious!
Review: First I would like to say that these books are among the top SF or Fantasy books I've ever read! In reading some other readers reviews, I noticed the only bad reviews were the ones that were worried about the religious implications. I am whole heartedly a christian, what these other people are forgetting is THIS IS A FANTASY STORY. IT DOESN'T EVEN TAKE PLACE IN OUR UNIVERSE!!! Pullman has the right to create whatever type of universe he wants. (even a hypothetical one where the Almighty ruler is not good at all)
So for those of you who may be easily offended about your spiritual beliefs, remember: This book is not about OUR God, or our angels or even the Satan we are all familiar with.
With that said, Pullman is what every writer should inspire to be like. Incredibly imaginitive and willing to take risks.
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