Rating: 
Summary: Excellent for teens, and adults may actually like it better
Review: This is written at a young adult level, but the theme is rather complex. They say this will be a movie, and it does at times remind one of the next Harry Potter. But I wonder how they will make a politically correct movie out of a trilogy whose central theme is the effort to destroy God and tear down the gates of Heaven, and whose ending involves young teens (13? or less..) evidently having sex. Its complexity and daring in both regards will have more meaning to adults than kids or teens. The first book in the trilogy (introducing Lyra's endearing character) is superb. The middle book (as middle books and movies often do...) lags a bit as the complexities of the plot are interwoven, but no conclusions or resolutions are reached. I think the first book is vastly superior to anything that follows, but perhaps the single best part of the entire series is the truly heartrending conclusion, as the heroes battle with their obligations and hearts. The conclusion, again, has overtones and layers that adults may appreciate more than kids. On the whole, the series is very well done, even if the plot complexities seem sometimes meandering, unexplained and/or often unnecessary (the Mulefa? Mary?).
Rating: 
Summary: Five stars for audacity
Review: Many have characterized this book as an 'atheist' tract. That is nonsense. Atheism denies the existence of God, whereas God certainly exists in the book. Of course, he is portraid as an impostor who, by trying to hide his imposture, becomes the root of all that is evil. But that does not make the book atheist; we can call it 'demiurgic'. We can also call it 'luciferic' ('satanic' is a bit too harsh) because we are supposed to cheer for those who rebel against God and end up killing Him. So top marks to Pullman for courage. Writing such a book, especially for a children/teenager audience, is an impossibly dangerous taks, yet he achieved a fantastic commercial and critical success. Good for him! I appreciated many things about the book, most of them previously pointed out by other reviewers -- hence the 5 stars. There are also many things I didn't like about the book. A work of such scope is bound to have many holes and raise many questions, I understand that. But I consider this a major question which should have been dealt with: what is the relation between the Authority and the Church? This is important for two big reasons. First, if the Church is a genuine representative of the Authority then it cannot be blamed for its actions in trying to protect and preserve the Authority. The actions of the Church, even though harsh at times, would be justified. Just like Lord Asriel's killing of Roger is justified by his bigger mission. If the Authority himself is evil, then the Church is, or may be, as much a victim of manipulation as anyone else. Second, if the Church is not a genuine agent of the Authority then killing the Authority is pointless. Killing the Authority did not even stop the leaking of Dust anyway; in fact the leaking of Dust was caused ultimately by the war against Him: by the Knife and by the Church's bomb. After Lyra's return to Oxford the Church is still in power, but some vague reforms are brewing. But the Authority is dead, so the Church had become illegitimate. A weird situation. I think this question, of the relationship between God and Church, is so big that another book is required to sort it out. In fact, by going gnostic rather than atheistic, Pullman gets himself into a bit of a difficult position because he accepts the main claim of the Church as the representative of God on earth. I'm curious how this will work out. Finally, I didn't care much for the mystic romance between Lyra and Will. Romantic love seems to be becoming the official religion of the 21st century, with all the ensuing nonsense. If one is rational enough to dismiss all religion as a mistake based on fear and prejudice rooted in tradition, why not dismiss romantic love as jealosy and infatuation triggered by raging hormones?
Rating:
Summary: I can't think of a title.
Review: Many people have complained about the "atheist" or "agnostic" theme of these books. I say that they are wrong... there clearly IS a God in this book, he's just not a good guy. Instead, this book is a good way to introduce your child to early Christian thought, including that of the Gnostics, who seem to agree more with this book than atheists. As far as the book is concerned, I always found it a little difficult to read, and the concepts were a bit slow going. If your kid doesn't like to be challenged, then he or she should not read this book. However, if you're willing to put a little bit of effort into reading, I think the payback is worth it. Children don't renounce their religion because of a book, not if they've been raised correctly.
Rating: 
Summary: uncertain
Review: I started out really liking the books, and what religious confusion I had, I expected to be resolved at the end as most novels are, and at least impartial, but I found that what pullman says about religion, well, basically christianity, in these books very disturbing. Pullman's "God", the Authority, is portrayed as a rather tyrranical ruler who has grown old to the point of death, with the protagonistic angels being against God, and the antagonistic angels are power-hungry and rule creation. Also, some elements of this book are not things i would tell a child to read, such as the evil of the protagonist's demented parents. It has children turning away from what is supposed to be good, and one has killed people. I think the only thing a child could derive from these books is that God is bad, many disturbing thoughts, and moral confusion. It also has a disturbing theory of hell, which everyone goes to and lives in fear and misery for all eternity. In all, this prevented me from properly enjoying a series that was otherwise very well written and exciting.
Rating:
Summary: A Breathtaking Creation
Review: I do not believe that it is possible to better His Dark Materials as a trilogy - as anything. I have never been so engrossed and enraptured by a work of fiction as this - it is a perfect whole, many layered and complex. Intellectually challenging, stimulating and rewarding but also humanly engaging. Will and Lyra and most of all Mrs Coulter are breathtaking literary creations. Some books flare in a burst of publicity and then age and fade away, I think that these three will grow and grow - what a way to start a century! Masterful. His Dark Materials defies categorisation - to see them as childrens books or cross-over books is a nonsense. They are books for everyone and anyone. Read them and weep.
Rating:
Summary: AWESOME! WONDERFUL!
Review: This series is the best i've ever read. though it does show a darker side of the christian faith, i do believe that it is extremely well written! if you have a problem with make-believe or whatever, dont read it. but you'll be missing something great!!!!!!!!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Agnosticism under the cover of children's fantasy
Review: What started out as an excellent fantasy yarn became more and more darker as it progressed. Although Pullman's narrative style is good and he paints a realistic fantasy world, what should be worrying for all parents (never mind of what relegious leanings) is his indirect attack on relegion. This becomes more apparent only in the last book of the trilogy when a " senile god " is revealed whose dominion is being run by the villainous Archangel. Thus the stage is set for the final fight with the Arhangel, with the senile deity being a bystander. Notwithstanding the brilliance of the narrative and the various plots and sub plots, I wouldn't recommend these books for any children until they are adult and have formed their own opinions about relegion and the role of the Almighty. One wonders whether the author is insinuating what seem to be his own personal antireligous convictions into the minds of innocent children or else this was just an undesired ending for a complicated struggle between good and evil. Unfortunately the evil here represents relegion.
Rating:
Summary: This is not a children's book
Review: This is an extraordinarily subtle and complex exploration of the journey from childhood to adult. The themes of the modern world (science run amok, put to evil ends, environmentalism, religious fanaticism etc.) are skilfully interwoven with stories as old as the Illiad (the journey, the search for home, the loss of innocence, the meaning of death). Yes it is anti-religious, or at least anti the formal human interpretation of religion: Pope John Calvin, indeed ;-). But it is also a profoundly spiritual book about the great journeys we make in life: from innocence to knowledge, from life to death, to a recognition that we are all mixes of good and evil. It's about first love, and losing first love. The background is Milton's 'Paradise Lost'. It resonates with all of us because this is the journey each of us took to go from childhood to adolescence to adulthood: learning that people change, that good people can do bad things, that sometimes we are those good people doing bad things, learning the wonders (and perils) of making love, that we gain lovers, and lose them, that people will love very much will be lost to us through death. It is a wonderful book for a teenager, struggling with all that stuff, and for us, as adults, who have made that journey and are probably still a little confused by it. Probably of all the 'children's' fiction I have read, only Lord of the Rings had the same sense of wonder and also the same taste of the bittersweet.
Rating:
Summary: a very good fanasy for all ages
Review: When I first read this book it was for a quick read. I picked up The Golden Compass for a trip I had to make. I thought it would be a good read. Boy was I pleased. The characters are beliveable and likable. I've heard other people say don't let children read this because it will upset their faith. But I don't think that is true. I know a lot of children who've read this book but still are faithful. I mean if you have so little faith in you children teach about the religion and stop protesting books. I personally liked the story about The Authority and the Angels.
Rating:
Summary: Unique plotline, characters. Almost loved it.
Review: One of my friends really loves these books, so I finally decided to read them. Well, they weren't as horrible as I thought they would be. Just kidding, I actually liked them a lot. I may even put them on my wish list, but then again, maybe not. I didn't really like the way the author talked about God. He sort of acted like God could be destroyed, and I didn't really like that. I mean, I know it was a fantasy and all, but it made me kind of uncomfortable. But, onto its good points: the author is really original. He took some ideas from other books, but gave them a sort of twist which made the books really unique. I also liked the way he developed his characters. For example, at the beginning, Lyra was a wild little barbarian, and by the end of the Amber Spyglass, she matures into a sensitive girl who thinks about others. Overall, a pretty great book that I would recommend to ages twelve and over because of some violence and scary moments.
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