Rating: 
Summary: The Amber Spyglass- an instant classic
Review: I see that other readers have already summerized this book in its entirety, so I will simply leave my comments. First, Pullman is an excellent writer, and this trilogy can quite literaly suck a person in and refuse to let them out. His style captivates not only your mind, but your heart. This is one of those books that forces you to feel for all the characters, always wondering about them and- at times- worrying for their safety. That is what makes the ending so terribly tragic. The story capivates, the characters come alive, and Pullman has written something that will leave me dreaming of daemons for years to come. The tragic ending leaves you wishing for more...and can spark your imagination to come up with some other way of forcing the conclusion. But no points off for that, it is truely a work of art.
Rating:
Summary: Totally and utterly enthralling
Review: I began reading this series to my two girls, ages 8 and 10, when we finished the Narnia books and were casting about for something new to read. We loved the Golden Compass and the Subtle Knife and waited with impatient anticipation for the Amber Spyglass. Never for a minute were we disappointed with the result. My girls would cry in frustration when I stopped reading at the end of a chapter and send them to bed, then I would "cheat" by reading ahead after they went to bed. We NEVER wanted it to end, but couldn't wait to find out what happened. While I understand that some Christians are offended by this series it opened many avenues for discussion in our house about God, Christianity and religion as a whole (and we are Episcopalians by the way). We compared it to Narnia and talked about much of the symbolism. It was a wonderful journey that we hated to end!
Rating:
Summary: The Amber Spyglass
Review: Lyra is kept in a forced sleep by her newly discoverd mother Mrs. Coulter, with her newly found love for Lyra. Lyra must make a big sacrafice to aplogize to her friend Roger, who had been killed by her father Lord Asriel. they will seek help from the tinney Galviespians, and Iroek Bryinson. Mary Malone travlrd to a planet were the creatures there can see dust. They help her make a spyglass that enables her to soo dust too, and she discovers that the dust is drained out of all of the worlds that has ever had a doorway opend into it by the Subtle Knief. An assasan was sent to kill the tempter, before she tempted Lyra with the possibilty of her making the wrong choice. destroying every conscience being in every world.
Rating:
Summary: The End of the Journey
Review: Lyra is a girl from a world not too different from our own. One of the only main differences between her world and ours is that in her world everyone's soul lives outside of them in the shape of an animal. It is called a Daemon. Mrs. Coulter, who is Lyra's mother, and Lord Asriel, who is Lyra's father, are also from that world. Mrs. Coulter is keeping Lyra sleeping with a potion. Meanwhile, Will, a boy from our world, is searching for Lyra. Two angels are looking for him because they know that the knife that he carries can cut between any two worlds, and that if they bring that knife to Lord Asriel, the leader of the rebellion against the church, he will acknowledge them even though they are low ranking angels, because the knife is needed to win the war. Dust is the glimmer from angels from all of the worlds that is slowly disappearing. The church is trying to destroy Dust, and the rebellion is trying to save it. Will refuses to go to Lyra's father before finding her, so one of the angels goes to Lord Asriel to tell him what has happened and the other one stays to protect Will while he is looking for Lyra. The most interesting aspect of Lyra is that she can create stories on the spot, and she captures everyone's attention. When she starts to tell a story at the end of the book, the whole room crowded close to her, even the ones who knew that the story was utter nonsense. Anyone who enjoys magical fantisies will love it. It is wonderfully detailed, and the author keeps you interested from the first word of the trilogy to the last. The characters are beautifully portrayed and creatively three-dimensional which gives the story an exciting twist.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book! (hope your not too Christian)
Review: I loved the whole trilogy! I say that the trilogy is a must-read for anyone who needs a break from the tedium of God this, and God that. The books are also great for those who are Christian, but want a taste of a world where the fundamentalists are the villians, and the liberal are the heroes. Great books, I must reiterate. The first volume is appropiate for ages 9 to adult, the second is slightly more adult, and the third is most adult, with some light sexual content, and is appropiate for about 13 and up. Great books to grow up with.
Rating:
Summary: 100% Wonderful -- 0% Disappointing
Review: As entertainment, this set of novels is beyond comparison! (I haven't read Harry Potter...so maybe I'll find something to compare in those if I ever read them...) Here is one great story! Full of adventure -- nothing short of classical mythology can touch it. And, this book exceeds any expectations the first two novels may have created for the reader. But these are more than entertaining books. Mr. Pullman explores a view of formal religion that many would consider heretical. Yet he should be given a chance to speak without being shouted down. In proposing a view in which every creature works to make life better for others -- and concentrates on the present issues of existence rather than looking forward to a Heaven beyond one's own world, Mr. Pullman shares something that is more deeply moral and life-affirming than many would believe. Indeed, his view is more truly "Christian" than much which purports to be so. I began my review of the first book in this series by saying that I had given up hope of ever reading anything which inspired a deep sense of wonder in my mind. And that I looked forward to seeing if the other two novels would be as wonderful. Now, I can say, YES! These books are amazing! The only thing which would be more wonderful would be to learn what else happens after the conclusion of this trilogy. Perhaps, Mr. Pullman will give us those books one day!
Rating: 
Summary: So Very Disappointing.
Review: This is definitely one of the more disappointing books that I have ever read. I loved both of the first two books in this series, and was excited to discover how Mr. Pullman would answer the intriguing questions that he posed in those earlier works. Unfortunately, in many cases, he does not answer them at all. Unlike many of the other reviewers, I have no problem with Pullman's message about the church. In fact, I give this book two stars instead of one, because at least it may make some teen-agers think about deeper issues. However, I felt that after he had created such a marvelous world, he cheated his readers by leaving so many threads hanging loose. As a secondary criticism, I also thought that the writing was not nearly as well done in this book. I felt jolted by a few awkward changes in the point-of-view. The dialog seemed much more stilted, and the character motivation far less clear. Overall, I got the feeling that this series should perhaps have stretched into 4 or more books so that Mr. Pullman would have had the time to properly wrap things up.
Rating:
Summary: The Amber Spyglass..
Review: I was left hanging at the end of The Subtle Knife, nearly crying to know what would happen next. And the minute I opened the Amber Spyglass I knew I wouldn't be disappointed. I stayed up for four hours straight in the middle of the night reading of Will's struggle to find Lyra and keep her safe, of the Chevalier Tialys and the Lady Salmakia's journey to bring the children to Lord Asriel, and of Mary's meeting with the mulefa. I have never felt so strongly about a book, and although an avid reader, I must say I have never in my 14 years read anything better. The Hobbit impressed me, The Amber Spyglass amazed me. I have cried over many books but never so much when Lyra left Pan, or felt so much joy for Lyra and Will. If you do not read this or the other two books in the trilogy, you are robbing yourself of this treasure that the gifted Philip Pullman has extended to us.
Rating:
Summary: absitively,posolutly,splendirifous
Review: I absolutly loved this book,though i thing that the 1st one was the best. Definitly worth the long wait!!!I fell in love with this book! But for all you people who feels it is offensful to your religion, IT'S JUST A BOOK!! it's not telling you to go out and do anything!
Rating:
Summary: Simply amazing.
Review: As were the other two, this book is amazing, and wonderful, and heartbreaking. Those bashing the book for what they perceive as its anti-Christian bent need to stop and think for a moment: the book is set in a universe that fairly clearly isn't our own -- unless you've been noticing windows opening between worlds recently. Ranting about how Pullman is offending you because of his portrayal of the Church throughout this series makes about as much sense as complaining that daemons don't actually exist. It's fantasy; detach yourself and enjoy it.
| 
