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The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, Book 1)

The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, Book 1)

List Price: $20.00
Your Price: $14.00
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The Nonbeliever's Narnia?
Review: Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy has acquired the reputation of being a sort of Narnia for Atheists. This reputation is, at least by the end of "The Golden Compass", largely unearned. Though the religious beliefs depicted in Pullman's fantasy universe throw their real-world parallels into an interesting light, there is nothing that compares to the explicitly Christian message in C.S. Lewis' classic children's books.

"His Dark Materials" is set in the Edwardian England of a parallel universe, where Pullman's fantastic reimagining of the staples of English children's literature makes them fresh again. The action begins at an Oxford full of stuffy dons, and the main character, Lyra, is a familiarly plucky urchin. She sets off on an arctic adventure in which she flies in hot air balloons, fights nefarious Tartars, and befriends fierce talking bears. The result is a heady mishmash that seems equal parts classic adventure tale, C.S. Lewis, and Edward Gorey. Pullman makes this all bracing stuff, but it's the ideas woven into the plot that hook you. Most compelling are the daemons. In the world of "His Dark Materials" every human has a daemon, a talking animal familiar that serves as a lifelong companion. The most affecting relationship in the novel is between Lyra and her daemon Pantalaimon. It is emotionally familiar to anyone who has ever loved a pet (and Pullman doesn't refrain from pulling loyal-animal-in-peril heartstrings) but goes much deeper: daemons and humans are like Siamese twins bound by invisible flesh. Life as a fully autonomous human is as unthinkable as life without a head. The philosophical implications of this union give the novel a subtle but potent extra punch.

In comparison to the novel's musings on identity, the religious stuff seems pretty tame. Some of the evil conspirators Lyra must elude are members of a church faction that hides naked political opportunism behind a veil of orthodoxy. Pullman is having some subtle fun here, but doesn't invent anything worse than the real-life machinations of Reformation-era Europe. In the world of "His Dark Materials", theology and particle physics are all mixed up together. But again, given modern science's origins in religiously-minded "natural philosophy", this seems more historically astute than theologically mischievous. The end of "The Golden Compass" quotes from a parallel-universe version of the Book of Genesis, which makes a great teaser for Book Two, but should prove heretical only to those determined to be offended.

Does Pullman show his true, insidiously humanist side later on in the series? I don't know, but I'm hooked enough by the first book to find out.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: More magical fun
Review: For those of you, and I know there are many, who have found the delight of magical books such as Harry Potter, then you are sure to love the Golden Compass. First of a three part series, it is about a young girl named Lyra. She is extremely adventurous, brave, and just, well, a kid. However, when children start disappearing, Lyra is put to the test as she becomes entangled with finding the kids. Obviously it goes past that, but I do not want to give it away. Trust me, it is a terrific and cannot put it down book. Read the whole series if you like, but definitely try the first one.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Parents beware...
Review: I just finished book 3 of the trilogy, and I have to admit I'm quite disturbed. All three are extremely well written. The characters are fully realized. There were a few brief moments where I felt the "hand of the author" tweak the plot to make something happen, but for the most part I was convinced by the world the author had created. However, PARENTS SHOULD BE WARNED BEFORE LETTING THEIR CHILDREN READ THESE BOOKS! Pullman has been compared to C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. Lewis and Tolkien write from and use metaphor to express their Christian beliefs. Pullman blatently attacks all religion. Parents should be aware of the following (Normally I would never give away plot points in a review but in this case I feel I have to make an exception): In these books God is senile, the blblical Enoch is now a power mad angel who lusts after women and is trying to take over all worlds, the afterlife is depicted as a prison camp, and the only way for the world to be saved is when two twelve year old children become lovers. Depending on how you feel about things you may also be shocked to find the two main angels who help our hero and heroine are gay. Pullman's point, ultimately, is that you can take one of two paths in life: Religion, which is followed by the "stupid" (his words, not mine) and Wisdom. In Pullman's world the two aren't compatable. I give it three stars for the writing, though I completely disagree with the message.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Top-notch fantasy
Review: I've read a lot of fantasy in my life, from Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and Peake through Brooks, Donaldson, Eddings, Rowling and Zelazny. It gets harder and harder to find fantasy that does not have a been-there-done-that sort of feel, but Philip Pullman has done just that with his trilogy, which is both exciting and a completely unique sort of fantasy story.

In the Golden Compass, we are introduced to Lyra, an eleven year old orphan living in an alternative version of Oxford, where technology and government have developed differently. Everyone in this world has a daemon, a spiritual companion that takes the form of an animal, and that is just one of the things that gives this world unique character.

Lyra learns that there is a mysterious substance called Dust that exists in the Arctic which has arcane properties. Her uncle is pursuing the Dust and in the process has been put in great danger. Lyra is intent on rescuing him as well as saving a friend who has been kidnaped by the Gobblers, a strange group said to be experimenting on children. Along the way, Lyra picks up many strange allies and enemies and gets into deeper and deeper danger. There are witches, warrior bears and the fortune-telling alethiometer (the golden compass of the title). And there are even other worlds.

I am mentioning only the barest elements of the plot to keep the reader from being deprived of the pleasure of discovering the wonders of this book himself. And though there are those who have said this book is okay for young Harry Potter fans, I would disagree. Both in subject matter and narrative complexity, this book is aimed at an older audience. I have enjoyed the Potter books, but this is a more deeply magnificent story and an easy five-star selection.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: captivating!
Review: with action from morning to the setting of the sun, this book leaves you with wonder. the well-developed characthers in The Golden Compass define this book as full of personality, and you find yourself falling in love with the strong-hearted bear. bravery and fantasy surge through this book right to the end!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Golden Compass
Review: The Golden Compass is the first book in the trilogy "His Dark Materials." The other two books are The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass. The Golden Compass is an exciting, adventurous book about a girl named Lyra Beleque who happily lives at Jordan College, having mud wars with the Oxford gyptians, and exploring the roof and wine cellars with her friend Roger, the kitchen boy, her whole childhood life. All of that changes though, when the children stealing 'Gobblers' come to Oxford and Lyra is sent to live with the amazing Mrs. Coulter, while discovering her amazy destiny. Lyra finds herselft sailing North with the gyptians, flying with clans of witches, fighting and befriending deadly armored polar bears, and making tough, life threatening decisions that could change the coutcome of the future forever! Explore The Golden Compass with Lyra and her comrades in this exciting fantasy that will keep you guessing the whole way through.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: stunning
Review: This is a great book, as are all the others in the series. I loved it and couldn't put it down for a minute! Wonderful plot, great characters. This is the first book where you meet Lyra and some other friends. Please read it! Its one of my favorites!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: An Excellent Piece of Literature
Review: My mother had an older copy of "The Golden Compass" in our bookshelf at our apartment, so I picked it up since I was looking for something to read when I was at work. After finishing it, I was glad I picked it up.
The main plot puts the main character Lyra on an incredible journey that has danger at nearly ever turn to which she seeks out the question that puzzles all: What is Dust? She is also on a quest to save her friend Roger from The Gobblers, who inturn have their own plans with the dozens of children they capture. I can't give too much away, but since this is Book I in a series of three, this is a nice kick off to Pullam's His Dark Materials trilogy. He manages to create vivd, Narnia-esque scenery and flare within every turn of the page, leaving you wanting to read on.
The only flaws I could only point out where that he created Lyra to act like a young teen; perhaps somewhere between the ages of 13 to 15 (She is in truth 11, but her characterzation makes her appear much older) and their are sections inwhich he tries to be too political and scientific, thus creating long and boring conversations and sequences that I had skipping through and having to re-read in order to piece the story. I also felt that, despite this is a so called "young adult novel", adults would understand it fairly well too without feeling dumbed down by the vocabulary and such.
All in all, if you enjoy a good fantasy novel, this is a much read.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Golden Compass
Review: I absolutely loved this book! Lyra's journey through worlds and times is so compelling and page-turning. At times it's a little hard to follow, but at the end of His Dark Materials you feel like you were one of the characters and you feel like you've lived their experiences. It's a great book for all people and it's so powerful and moving. You can't dislike this book. I advise everyone, every single person, to read theese books. They're truly a work of art.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: This book is great!!!
Review: This is an example of great young adult writing. It doesn't hide anything like some books try to do, assuming that the kid doesn't have a grip on reality. Instead Pullman assumes the reader has a pretty thorough reading history and isn't naive or squemish. A great heroic story that leaves you wanting more.


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