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The Amber Spyglass (His Dark Materials, Book 3)

The Amber Spyglass (His Dark Materials, Book 3)

List Price: $19.95
Your Price: $13.57
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 1 stars
Summary: soppy and nonsensical
Review: I'm sorry to say that Pullman's main achievement in this last book is to create yet another soppy paean to adolescence. I was really disappointed in the weakness of the plot and characters. Through most of the book, Pullman is crudely trying to jerk the reader's emotions around... Oh, the sadness! Oh, the joy! Oh, the tragedy! It's all surprisingly amateur, simplistic, and it doesn't work. At least not for an adult reader. But I couldn't like this kind of sci-fi hackery even when I was an adolescent myself. Oh Asimov, Tolkien, where are thou???

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: New Age Harry Potter
Review: The "His Dark Materials" trilogy is written like the unsuccessful love-child of the Celestine Prophecy and the Harry Potter books. I just read that the author is an atheist, but that seems odd since the core of this story is New Age hokum. While the Catholic Church is a den of the most horrid iniquity and the Christian God turns out to be a senile Alzheimer's patient (though power-mad and wicked before senility arrived), even the "physicist" finds honesty and guidance in the I Ching. Witches, angels, herbal remedies, divination, auras... you get the idea. One of the main characters (Lyra), even has a portable wigi board-like device called the altheiometer that she consults throughout the books to find the "truth."

In this Age of Aquarius, the World of the Dead (literally the underworld) sections are the most painful reading. When Will and Lyra find the solution to the misery of these poor dead souls, it's so silly and uninspired I couldn't imagine what the author was thinking.

By the third book, the characters have become cardboard cutouts that can change their essential natures as quickly as the "dust" wind can blow them. And the ending-oh, the ending! Abandon hope all ye who exit here...

I can't say that this trilogy is a complete waste of time. The first two books were mostly fun (although sometimes preachy) and I generally liked both Will and Lyra. By the beginning of the third book, however, I had to start skimming to keep myself awake.

Be aware that for "young adult" fiction, this book is particularly gruesome with graphic torture, murder, dismemberment, and (essentially) cannibalism.


Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Perfect Conclusion to A Stunning Triology
Review: The Amber Spyglass, Philip Pullman's final book in the His Dark Materials Triology, is truly well-written and a satisfactory ending to the saga of Lyra, Will, and the friends. The action alternates throughout the book switching from the experiences of Will and Lyra (which include the Land of the Dead. I can not explain without ruining the book), Dr. Mary Malone, who meets creatures who can see the elusive particle dubbed DUST, and the crusades of Lord Asriel and Mrs. Coulter. New characters are also introduced and old ones are brought back to finish the story. However, the end might just tear your heart out. I honestly couldn't stop thinking about the book after I read it. Though Mr. Pullman sometimes stretches the believability of his story, it remains to be a member of three of the most well-written and stunning pieces of literature ever created.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Masterpiece...
Review: The first two books in this trilogy were fantastic, and this book is just ten times better. From the minute you pick it up, you are immediately engrossed in this story.

The book picks up with Will going off in search of Lyra. After their inevitable reunion, the adventure that ensues is everything that Mr Pullman hinted to in the previous two books. Multi-world travel (including new ones), all out war, a confrontation with a supposedly "all-powerfull" being, and the temptation. What happens during the confrontation with the "all powerfull" is supposed to be a metaphor...see if you can figure it out.

Many people complain that the book is very anti-religous. Those people are not quite grasping Mr. Pullman's intent. He is shedding light on his view of organized religion and its history of oppression. Remember it's one man's opinion.

The story is fast-paced and very exciting. The reader will get very emotionally attached to the two central characters, Lyra and Will. I was very sorry when the stroy was over and can't wait for "The Book of Dust" to be published. I recommend this story to mature teens and to every adult who enjoys well written stories that also make you think about life and what happens afterwards. My highest compliments to Mr. Pullman.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Truly a classic. Excellent book and an excellent trilogy!
Review: This trilogy by Phillip Pullman will be a classic for both adults and children, a claim that is made all too often but is true in this case. If you are offput that this may be a children's book or is too much science fiction, don't be! Under the umbrella of an excellent novel with an intricate plot, well-developed and extremely complicated characters this trilogy deals with physics, organized religion, adventure, personal responsibility and more. His Dark Materials is a haunting and disturbing trio that stays with the reader well beyond the end of all three novels. Only read this after the other two: The Golden Compass and The Subtle Knife.

People read books for different reasons: some like beautiful and lyrical writing, some well enjoy well developed plots, and some prefer novels more character driven. His Dark Materials will satisfy almost any reader. They are the most interesting books I have read in a long time. Pullman did an excellent job in terms of research and searching his imagination, a function not often used. READ THESE BOOKS!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: a beautiful heart-breaking conclusion
Review: Though of these three books I do love the first the most, this book is still amoung my favourites in the whole world. It is just as beautifully written, beautifully created and beautifully different as the other two. When I finished the last chapter I cried for nights before I could recover from not being able to read about Lyra any more.

I know there are a lot of religeous people who find this book offensive but, as I said in my review on the Golden Compass-IT'S JUST A BOOK! The auther has his own views and you don't have to agree with them. These are my favourite books and I'm a Christian. It doesn't matter. People who hate this book also hate the Harry Potter books for the same reasons. Why is this? I do not know. I am also a huge fan of the Harry Potter books. Peole have to understand that just because something published states an opinion that they don't agree with doesn't mean they have to burn it or detest it because they are not being forced to share those opinions. Sure, if you are Christian, be warned before you read these, but I think there really is a message in these books if you block out the anti-religeon.

The only flaws of the Amber Spyglass are that some of the parts with Mary are a bit boring, though that is only because the parts with Lyra and Will are so interesting, and that the auther maybe went a tiny bit overboard with the anti-religeon. The rest is perfect.

I have read this book two or three times (I can't remember which) and gotten at least five friends hooked on the series. I think everyone should read these books. They are true litterature at its best.


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