Rating: 
Summary: Not as good as The Golden Compass, but a five-star rating!
Review: *First off, if you have not read The Golden Compass then you may not want to read this.* The Subtle Knife is the excellent sequel to The Golden Compass, which simply ends after Lyra Silvertongue walks into the new world through the hole that Lord Asriel has created. You expect it to begin right where The Golden Compass left off, but that is not the case. Instead, it starts by introducing Will, a lonely twelve-year-old in the world that we know. He discoveres a strange hole along one of the roads near Oxford, and walks through it to find himself in the world of Cittagazze, where children roam the streets while the adults are hiding from the soul-eating Specters. It is here that he comes across Lyra in one of the abandoned homes, who is at first frightened to see that he has no daemon. The mystery only deepens in this book, which makes it all the more interesting and waiting for the third book even more (for it ends in a real cliffhanger that is even worse than The Golden Compass). Unfortunately, this book had a slight diminish in quality. It does not establish as much identity for Lyra as it does in the first book, and does not get very exciting or important until about two-thirds through. But a five-star rating nonetheless!
Rating:
Summary: Another winner in the series
Review: This, the second of Pullman's Dark Materials Trilogy, brings the story to a whole new level. It introduces moral and philosophical questions that some might imagine to be too weighty for young readers, and it introduces a second hero, a boy named Will. (well at least that should keep the feminists quiet! - they had a ball with the first book of the series, The Golden Compass). Though introducing Will takes a deal of the focus off Lyra, she did, after all, have the first book more or less to herself, and it is clear now that the trilogy is meant to involve them both. Fortunately, Will Parry is every bit as likeable as Lyra Silvertongue. The Subtle Knife is one of the most amazing, mind grasping fantasies ever to be written. It takes you into places so real you feel like you are part of them. Throughout, Pullman is in absolute control of his created worlds, his plot and pace equal to his inspiration. Any number of astonishing scenes send readers into spontaneous reality checks, and many are cause for eye-dabbing moments - even from the men. "You think things have to be possible," Will demands. "Things have to be true!" It is Philip Pullman's gift to turn what more mundane minds would term 'the impossible' into reality - one that is both heartbreaking and beautiful. Pullman's exquisite touch at building his characters, takes on special significance as he creates both human and spectral forms from many different worlds. His real strength, though, is in his light-fingered touch on subjects as 'adult' as mental illness, man's inhumanity to man, and the possibility of other universes. His writing may be viewed as pure entertainment, yet the concepts he delves into are as profound as any. But here's the REAL intellect of Pullman... he's not afraid to (over)extend many of the commonly-held views about foreshadowing by revealing some of the more astounding theories early in the book. When he permits Dust to escape into our world, you realize just how well you've been set-up, and the true genius of this series starts to show.
Rating:
Summary: Joint Review of His Dark Materials
Review: The point of departure for this truly creative fantasy/parallel worlds trilogy is an inversion of Milton's Paradise Lost. In the latter, Milton presented a poetic account and justification of the divine plan for the Universe. In Pullman's books, the Miltonic version is a distorted view of real events. In the Universe created by Pullman, a powerful angelic force, the Authority, claimed power over the previously created Universe and has been abusing this power for millennia to keep humanity (and other sentient species) in a form of bondage. This bondage ramifies throughout an virtually infinite number of parallel worlds. This trilogy describes a revolt against the Authority and its overthrow. The principle characters are 2 children, one from our world and one from a closely related parallel world with mixed features of the 20th century and Victorian Europe. The initial plot strand concerns efforts to understand a mysterious component of the Universe called Dust or Dark Energy. The following complicated plot is essentially a coming of age story as the two children encounter many exotic features of their and related worlds. The plot incorporates elements of Paradise Lost and the Garden of Eden myth.
The quality of writing in these books is superb. A host of interesting characters and high quality prose. Pullman's imagination is remarkable. He has essentially developed a whole new mythology incorporating elements of modern science, religious allegory, and modern history. Perhaps the only flaw is that he may have packed too much into the final and concluding book of the trilogy, which is an interesting compound of Armageddon, Ragnorak, and the Garden of Eden story.
These books have produced some controversy as some feel that they are anti-religious, even specifically anti-Christian. Pullman has denied this interpretation and suggested that the books are an allegorical attack on all forms of dogmatism and authoritarianism. This disclaimer seems disingenuous. One thing that Pullman very clearly attacks is the idea that there is a separate soul distinct from the body. An important and at times poetically presented component of these books is the idea that humans are an intrinsic, not separate component, of the natural world. Pullman actually presents a pantheistic view of the world with consciousness an immanent and emergent part of the natural world and humans (and other sentients) as particular extensions of this aspect of the natural world. He also allegorically criticizes human attempts to overwhelmingly control the natural world. Whatever he states, these views are a trenchant criticism of any world view resting on the idea of separate and eternal souls.
Rating:
Summary: Riveting Continuation
Review: The Subtle Knife, the second book in the His Dark Materials series, is a powerful and riveting continuation of the story that began with The Golden Compass. The story opens with a new character, Will Parry, who lives in Oxford in our world. Having killed someone, Will stumbles upon a window that takes him into a new world, Cittagaze. There, he meets Lyra Belaqua, the hero of book one. Together, Will and Lyra explore two worlds together, in search of Will's father. Along the way, they meet old friends, with the return of Serafina Pekkala and Lee Scoresby, new friends, such as Dr. Mary Malone, old enemies, in Lord Asriel and Mrs. Coulter, and new enemies, in Sir Charles and the Specters. They also make important discoveries, both in the field of Dust and finding new and important tools in their everlasting fight. A powerful novel, the Subtle Knife will leave you waiting in anguish for the conclusion of the trilogy, The Amber Spyglass.
Rating:
Summary: What an incredible book!
Review: Some books, the plot happens and is over before the end comes. Others, the plot doesn't develop until the very end. The Subtle Knife is like neither of those. You'd be sure the whole book had happened if there weren't a hundred pages left - but things keep coming up! However, this does not mean that none of the events in the book are linked to any of the others. You can't put it down! This book introduces a new character, Will, who plays a central role in this book and it seems will do in the third as well. It also introduces two new and different worlds, and answers many questions left over from the first book, the Golden Compass, while leaving out the answers to new questions. The end - if it could be called that - leaves readers begging for more. Good thing the third book is coming out soon, or I'm sure His Dark Materials fans would die of anticipation! A thrilling middle of the trilogy and a must-read whether or not you have read and/or enjoyed the first book.
Rating: 
Summary: Good middle book
Review: The Subtle Knife is a good middle book of a trilogy and in some ways a good 'link' book-not quite as good as the first in that you lose some of the novelty.Though Pullman makes enough changes for it to be still quite fresh;New Worlds,new good/bad guys etc while still having our mainstay links through the book in Lyra,Mrs Coulter,Asriel,Byrnison.It's a compulsive read-I read this very quickly as I did the first.Again,good fun and an easy read.Better than the Harry P books (for me) and,very readable for an adult.I do think that when reviewing childrens books that the reviewers should put their age down as I think it's no good a kid reading my thoughts on it to help them decide (I'm 40 yrs old)-and likewise no point in an adult using a ten year old to help himself decide if to get the books.I wish when I was a kid though,that at school,they made you read books like this rather than shakespeare etc.I would say,if you're an adult with kids,buy it,read it,and lend it to them!
Rating:
Summary: Great Book! Great Series!
Review: The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman is Amazing. It is an interesting fantasy novel that has tons of action. This book includes magic, battles, fantasy, science, and friendship. This is also a great series. The reason I would choose this book over the Amber Spyglass is because the Amber Spyglass had so much action and things going on that it got tiring. Also it was very long. The Subtle Knife is about two children, Lyra and Will, who embark on a fantastic journey that takes them through many worlds. They meet outrageous allies and enemies such as angels, witches, talking war bears, and small bug-like Gallivispian spies. This book was great and is a must read! I would give it 5/5 Stars ***** It is also a great series. I think it is destined to become the next "Harry Potter."
Rating:
Summary: Great Book! Great Series!
Review: The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman Is amazing. It is and interesting fantasy novel that has tons of action.This book includes Magic, Battles, Science, And Friendship. This also a great series. The reason i would choose this book over the amber spyglass is because the amber spyglass had so much action and things going on that it got tiring. Also it was very long. The Subltle Knife is about two children, Will and Lyra, That embark on a fantastic journey that takes them through many worlds. They meets outragous enimies and allies such as angels, witchs, talking war bears, and small bug-like Gallivispian Spies. This book was great and is a must read! I Would Give It 5 STARS! ***** it is also a great series. I think it is destined to become the next Harry Potter.
Rating:
Summary: Not The Absalute Best...
Review: Like i said. It's not the absalute best but it still is a good book. I was able to put it down BUT i couldn't. Lyra, Will, and Pantalaimon are riviting characters and they seem so real. It puts a new perspective for me on how preacius life could be and how savage people could be.
Rating:
Summary: ¿A Great Continuance of a Wonderful Fantasy¿
Review: (Four and a half stars) The first book took place in Lyra Belacqua's world and the second book takes place in a new world between hers and the one we know that is infested by Specters, a ghostly personage that feasts on those who have passed puberty. This book introduces a new character, Will Parry, who is thrown into this series when he comes across a doorway between our world and this new world. Inside he befriends Lyra and finds a powerful knife which can be used to move between worlds. Together, Will and Lyra join together to pull each other through their challenges as Lyra learns more of her great destiny and improves her understanding of dust and the origins and usage of the alethiometer. The action isn't as strong as the first book, but this is still a wonderful story. If you've read and enjoyed the first book I would highly suggest picking up this one and continuing from the first book's cliffhanger. A lot of questions are answered in this book and a few more questions are introduced as well. It all makes for a fantastic finish in the third book.
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