Rating: 
Summary: A slight disappiontment
Review: "Lyras Oxford" is not what I had expected from Philip Pullman, one of the main reasons being it's length. The book is only about fifty pages long, which gives you no chance to become reaquainted with Lyra and Pan and actually care too much about what is going to happen next. This book has a lot of potential, but compared to the other works of Philip Pullman, it definately didn't reach it.
Lyra never really seems to have any of that fiesty personality that was uniquely hers in the other "His Dark Materials" books, she seems like any other young teenager. However the reason for that may be because[SPOILER for people who have not finished the Amber Spyglass] of the great loss that happend when she had to leave Will and know that she would never see him again. I can imagine that that would have an effect on her personality and outlook on life, perhaps making her loose some of that fiestiness that pulled readers in in the first place. Whatever the case, this book never really gives you a chance to find out. It does, however, have the atmosphere of a teaser for more books with Lyra and Pan. Dare we fans hope for anymore books to join the Dark Materials saga?
Rating: 
Summary: A Small Jewel of a Book
Review: Although it was a very short story, I was captivated by its many layers of meaning. It isn't only what it seems to be (as Pullman reminds us at least twice in his comments of Baedeker). The introduction of an alchemist -- who understands what alchemy is really about -- pleased my Jungian soul. And the transformatioin in Lyra -- though it seems small -- is a profound one, as she begins to learn what it means to be home. The artifacts are intriguing. Who wrote the note about Mary Malone's home? Was Makepeace on that cruise and, if so, who did he meet and what happened? While I am yearning for the length and detail of The Book of Dust, this little book gives me more than enough to contemplate while I wait for it.
Rating:
Summary: Could this little book be leading to something more???
Review: As an avid lover of the Dark Materials, I was excited to see this book on the shelf. I picked it up immediatley.
I have to admit, yes the book is short, containing a story of approx. 49 pages. It is a quick read and not to the depth of the Dark Materials trilogy... HOWEVER, upon reading the introduction this leads me to believe there is something more on the horizon (or at least I'm hoping so). I believe that anyone who is a fan of the Dark Materials will enjoy this little tid bit for what it is. It takes place after the trilogy and shows how life has gone on for Lyra and Pan. It leads me to the conclusion that more is to come...
Pullman is a delightful writer. His words are wonderful and picturesque. I highly recommend this to any fan of The Dark Materials.
Rating:
Summary: Little story, pretty package
Review: As much as I knew from my obsessive searching on the internet that this would be a short story, I was initially disappointed in the actual size and length of Lyra's Oxford. First, the story: I enjoyed this short story about one incident in Lyra's life. I have been curious to see how Lyra adjusts to life after the BIG EVENT at the end of the first trilogy. It was nice to have a little story instead of an entire novel in which to do this. My burning question was how Lyra adjusted to the loss of her relationship with Will and it was answered quietly and succinctly in just a few sentences. Will is only mentioned a few times in this short story, which is perhaps as it should be. How would Lyra get any work done or really live at all if he was more often foremost in her thoughts? I know from some of the things I've read elsewhere that the materials in this piece of work are supposed to connect to others to be published later on. I am eager to see how they do connect. We now have artifacts such as a map of Oxford and a postcard from Mary Malone to add to this new installment in Lyra's life, in a way that reminded me a bit of Nick Bantok's Griffin and Sabine series. If you are going to put out short little books with interconnected clues, however, they need to have publishing dates close together. I gave up on the Griffin and Sabine books when too much time between them made me loose momentum. I doubt this would happen with Pullman's work as I am more dedicated as a fan to this material, but I could see too little published too far apart turning off potential new fans.
Rating: 
Summary: disappointing
Review: Considering how good Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy was, and considering how much I loved those books, I had high expectations for anything that would be published as part of that universe. I was excited to find out that Pullman was publishing a little story featuring Lyra. The book weighed in at about 60 pages, so I knew it wasn't going to be epic, but the expectations were there. I was disappointed. The story is that Lyra is back at Oxford several years after the events of His Dark Materials. She, and her daemon, see a daemon bird flying in being chased by a huge flock of birds. She rescues the daemon who tells Lyra that she needs to help the daemon find a professor, one who can help the daemon's witch. It is a very short story, and while there is a wee sense of adventure, this slim volume has none of the charm and wonder of His Dark Materials. Other than our familiarity with Lyra, we are given no reason to care about anything that happens. This book feels like a teaser. In the introduction, Pullman writes that the extras (there is a map, a post card and sundry extra information besides the story) may be from a different world, may be from stories already told, and may even be for a story yet to be told. He is teasing us with a larger story, a grander tale than Lyra's Oxford. It raises my expectations that Pullman will deliver a story large in scope, reminiscent of His Dark Materials. But, even that hint of something to come only deepens my disappointment with this book. Simply put, there is nothing there. As a story, it is weak. As an continuation of His Dark Materials, it does not live up to the past greatness. All this book does is serve to remind me how good the main series is, and how much I would love to see a new series. Skip this book.
Rating:
Summary: Lyra's Oxford
Review: even at the discounted price, the book still felt quite small, relative to cost. however, it is indeed necessary for all fans of his dark materials. while the story is ... small, the included materials do give us hope for the upcoming book of dust. and the illustrations are beautiful.
Rating:
Summary: sweet hello from a far away freind
Review: fiishing his dark material trilogy about 6 month ago, and still missing lyra and will, i was very happy to learn this book came out, i've read all the reviews saying it's a cach-in and not as good as expected, and you know what? they are correct. it's a very sweet book, tiny story that you read in an hour along with a beautiful map and a few other semi realistic items. but the story, exept for a few interesting points, and a beautiful opening note, is really too short and uninteresting to make you feel like you are turly meeting lyra and her world again. i do hope phillip pullman would write more books in this series, but i can't really call this one a book, it's rather a promo for somthing that might be worth reading in the future.
Rating:
Summary: A juicy little piece, taken for what it is
Review: First and foremost, I recommend this book strongly to fans of the His Dark Materials trilogy. Not only is it an excellent collectible, but it also brings the reader back to the thought-provoking, imaginative world Pullman crafted in the trilogy. To those readers unfamiliar with the trilogy, I suggest you read the trilogy before attempting this short story. You won't regret reading Pullman's work, and it will make this little volume much more enjoyable. Besides, this book may spoil the ending to the trilogy for some. If you feel incredibly compelled to tackle "Lyra's Oxford" first, however, I imagine you would find it both an interesting and intriguing read. Indeed, it is a short story. I was disappointed to see it come so swiftly to a conclusion, as are most readers, I'm sure. However, we must not forget that it is just that--a short story. And as such, it does an excellent job. Typical of Pullman, the story can be read on several levels. First and foremost, it's a good story and a quick read. Deeper than that, however, is Pullman's flair for sparking thought in the reader. Between the story itself, the added artifacts, and Pullman's introduction, one could spend days dissecting the full meaning of this tiny book (a task that I fully intend to undertake). It especially feels like this episode is merely an opening chapter to a greater epic, which for now must be imagined by the reader. A quick reader can digest the story in under an hour. A creative romantic could draw it out and savor the full story and beyond through several reads. A dedicated scholar could conceivably turn it into a lecture circuit. So to those who feel it's too short, or that the artifacts are irrelevant, perhaps you need to try reading it more closely. A hint to ponder: try to find some time paradoxes between the present and history given in the book. That's where I'm starting my investigation. To conclude, this is a juicy little red book. With a tantalizing story, scratching the surface of a much larger meaning, peppered with intriguing artifacts and wonderful artistry, it is a necessary companion to past, present, and future His Dark Materials fans.
Rating: 
Summary: "Everything Means Something..."
Review: First of all, if you have not read Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy, then don't attempt to read this story, as you'll be utterly baffled. But if you have, you'll be treated with another glimpse into the parallel Oxford that Pullman so vividly created and explored in "Northern Lights/The Golden Compass".
The book itself is beautifully presented, bound in cloth and filled with engravings of the city by John Lawrence, a style of art that perfectly matches Pullman's atmosphere of a gritty, turn-of-the-century English city. Included in the book is a quote from an Oxford guide, an introduction, the short story itself intitled "Lyra and the Birds", a map of Oxford, and then a collection of bits and pieces that may or may not mean anything: a page from a directory, a postcard from Mary Malone, and a pamphlet and timetable from a cruise ship.
The story itself is set mainly at Jordan College, two years after the events that transpired in the trilogy. Lyra is on the roof of the college when she and Pantalaimon spot a witch's daemon being attacked in the sky by a flock of starlings. Coming to its rescue, the daemon (named Ragi) claims it has come seeking her help. Its witch is very ill and only the gold elixir of the alchemist Sebastian Makepeace can help. Lyra promises to help, but there may be more going on here that she's aware of...
The story is short and sweet, with several familiar names and faces popping up, and concerning the theme of "meaning" that Pullman explores throughout the book. But primarily, Pullman seems happy in extending and exploring his marvellous Oxford - describing the streets, the architecture, the *feel* of the place, and I had no complaints in this regard. Pullman's Oxford is one of the most detailed and interesting created worlds in literature.
Pullman tells us in his introduction that all the things included in the book "might have come from anywhere. They might have come from other worlds" and that "all these tattered bits and pieces have a history and a meaning." That is the reader's challenge when they explore this small volume - to watch out for clues and connections within the words that may point to other subjects Pullman has touched on before.
For instance, we are told that Mary Malone's postcard was written before her involvement in the apocalyptic battle of the trilogy - and therefore the presence of the hornbeam trees on her postcard would mean nothing to her. But do they ring a bell with you...? Likewise, on a list of reading material found on the back of the map "Marisa Coulter" appears as an author, and make sure you read the page from the directory carefully - it has mention of another alchemist in it, and another strange occurrence involving him, a witch and the birds of the city...
Does all this point to more books concerning Lyra? I'm not sure. At times I thought for sure that he was hinting at something bigger to come, whilst other times I believed that the book existed simply for its own purposes. I guess only time will tell.
Rating:
Summary: Know what you gonna read. Lovely!
Review: First of all, this not a His Dark Materials-style book. Just a short story about Lyra and Pantalaimon, two years after the events of HDM. If you have read HDM, sure you felt quite sad about the ending, and you gonna feel relieved with Lyra's Oxford, as you see her keep going with her life. Don't expect a long story about something completely new, because it en't near HDM in any way. Just a 64 page book about a short story happening to Lyra. I loved it, as I loved HDM since the first chapter. And you gonna love Lyra's Oxford too.
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