The Subtle Knife (His Dark Materials, Book 2)

Rating:
Summary: Welcome back to Lyra's magical world
Review: In The Subtle Knife we meet again the 11-year old courageous Lyra Belacqua on her quest for the origin of the Dust. Having just slipped through a newly formed astral gate, she finds herself in the world of Cittàgazze, in a city ruled by children because all adults had to flee for the soul-eating Specters. But Lyra is not alone. The 12-year old Will Parry has stumbled by `accident' in this weird realm too. Will is special. He comes from a world where people do not have personal daemons and where they preserve food in tin cans. Despite their differences both decide to continue the search for the truth behind the ever mysterious Dust. Will's own quest to find his father doesn't seem that important anymore, but little do they know that ultimately both will have to pay for this ignorance.

The Subtle Knife is the second part of the His Dark Materials-trilogy. Whereas the first part (Northern Lights, aka The Golden Compass) took quite some time to draw the characters and their setting, it becomes clear early in the second episode that the story really has begun. The breathtaking narrative is dispersed over a few interwoven storylines that neatly come together in a superbly composed climax. But do not be fooled: the climax drives you to a humongous cliffhanger that will let any reader beg for the final episode.

What makes His Dark Materials so special is that although intended as a book for young adults and dealing with a fantasy world, its plot is surprisingly mature. Nothing is taken for granted; the main characters have a strong conscience and consequently will have to deal with it. As a 12-year old boy having to kill a man, no matter how evil he turns out to be, is not something you can easily put away and ignore. Pullman takes this as a given fact and works it neatly into the story. This kind of depth makes His Dark Materials worthwhile for any imaginative young adult, but of course also for anyone who felt like one before.

Rating:
Summary: Huge Disappointment
Review: I really liked the first dark materials book. It was very exciting and Pullman created a great character in Lyra. What the hell happened to her between the first book and the last 2? She suddenly hooks up with a male figure, Will, and she's suddenly a sidekick? Her deferential attitude in this book is completely at odds with her fiery persona from book 1.

Also, if the whole point of these books was to prove you should think for yourself, why have the characters blindly follow this alethiometer when they don't know whose controlling it? It seemed a pretty weak plot device to me.

I won't bother telling anyone not to read it, because if they read the first book they'll be too anxious to find out what happened to Lyra to listen. I know I was! Just borrow it from someone or visit a library so you don't waste the cash. It isn't one you'll reread.

Rating:
Summary: Into this Wild Abyss...
Review: Phillip Pullman does it again. His second book in the His Dark Materials trilogy still contains the fantastic storyline and adventure from the first. Some argue that the new character, Will, steals from Lyra and her fight to avenge her friend. I feel that with the third (a balance of the two), this one acts for Will as the first did for Lyra. Pullman is simply introducing a new character, switching the spotlight slightly.

In the story, Will has known for some time the government wants his mother locked away from her problems. Not wanting his mentally ill mother taken from him like his father, an explorer who disappeared in Alaska, Will kills one while trying to escape his house. Now on the run, he enounters a strange rip in the air, one that leads him into another world. There, he meets Lyra, the central character in 'Northern Lights'/'Golden Compass (same book), who seeks out Dust. They begin to learn more of these "other worlds", the mysterious powers of Dust, and the cruelty of the Church.

Definately a reader. The story does change its perspective frequently though, but if you reread the first before proceeding to this, you'll find it easy to manage. I also stress this book ISN'T a religious statement. The ominious Church is that of one returning to the roots of the Inquisition and expanding. The book simply shows how people use God and his name to justify their malicious acts. Five Stars.

Rating:
Summary: Lives Up to the Golden Compass
Review: If anything, this book is even better than the first. Pullman does such a wonderful job of creating characters who are complex and believable. He does not shy away from the difficult situations his story necessitates. Wow. Hard to believe this trilogy are supposed to be for younger readers--I'm over thirty and I love them and highly recommend them.

Rating:
Summary: Review For The Subtle Knife
Review: I enjoyed this book very much. I think it had some flaws but after everything in said and done, I think this is a wonderful book.

The worst part of the book was the confusing scene changes. It kept bouncing from one new world to another. It was hard for me to keep all the events happening at the same time straight. I got all the little specific details mixed up. I questioned what was happening. I had to go back to remind myself who some characters were. I think that the book would have been better if it was clearer.

After reading the first book I was really looking forward to reading the second. In the first book I enjoyed the strong willed character Lyra. In this book I can see that her presence is important. She is a solid character.

I would definitely recommend this book. I was hooked on it. I thought it was well written and had a wonderful, solid plot. I thought that it had new interesting ideas to think about and ponder. I was a little disappointed with the ending, so I probably would recommend this book to someone who is willing to read all three books. I also wouldn't recommend it to anyone who hasn't read the first one because it would be hard to understand what was happening.


Rating:
Summary: Beautiful but can be disturbingly provocative
Review: NOTE: these reviews encompass all three books of His Dark Materials

These are books aimed at children and written in that vein. The heroine is a 12 year old girl (verging on 13). The books are couched in the fantastic and the allegorical. However, that is not to say that Pullman does not take his readers seriously. He is absolutely unflinching in his portrayals-including those involving violence and disappointment. These are the ways in which they begin to appeal not just to children (who so desperately crave to be taken seriously) but to adults as well. These books have enjoyed some astonishing success and they are well-deserved. Their influence on the genre will be in their presence-we don't think that many authors will attempt to imitate Pullman because they will be too timid to do so. He cannot be matched for how brutally honest he can be with the youth. It will be interesting to see how His Dark Materials will survive the test of time but because they are so antithetical to so many deeply entrenched "traditional values" we think that they begin to suffer a swift decline in future generations as the fear Pullman engenders in other authors will also be felt by parents when recommending books to their children.

WHO SHOULD READ THIS:

A difficult question to put to these books! Indeed, who should read them? Precocious and intelligent children should be introduced to His Dark Materials for they teach and celebrate simultaneously imagination, history, engineering, and physics. For many young readers, these books may be the first that seriously challenge their notions of justice, faith, and adulthood. There is such a great deal to admire about these books and parents trying to suppress them may in fact spur children in to reading them with greater furor. For wit, plot, and technique Pullman is certainly a match for anything Rowlings is doing (if not her equal in reaching larger audiences).

WHO SHOULD PASS:

Very conservative religious parents will be appalled by the last half of the trilogy. In fact, religious adults who read these books often complain of how profoundly annoyed and attacked they feel. Considered and educated readers will sense what we mean when we say Pullman's arguments become a bit facile by the end. Really, it's too bad--though how it could be avoided, we don't know--that His Dar Materials tackles the notions of faith in the way they do because in all respects they are very finely crafted and well-worth the time to read.

(...)

Rating:
Summary: A new author for me but one I'll continue reading
Review: Pullman did an excellent job with this series and particularly with the book the subtle knife. It was my favorite one. All I really have to say is that the characters were excellent. They were as real as they could get from the pages of a book. Wil was awesome. Hes just a mysterious youth with a troubling past and a knack for getting chased by the wrong crowd. He is also incredibly intelligent for his age. Later in the book he inherits the subtle knife...the ultimate weapon.
Will goes on to meet the main character of the Golden Compass, Lyra, and the two start their journeys together. They are quite an interesting pair.
Pullmans world is highly imaginative. It is filled with magic, intrigue, and well thought out plot and characters. AN EXCELLENT READ!!!