Rating: 
Summary: A REVIEW OF THE EXCELLENT 'HIS DARK MATERIALS' TRILOGY!!
Review: Two and half years ago, I was lazily browsing in my local library for interesting books to help me pass the summer holidays with when I happened to stumble across an old and used book that was slumped in a corner of a bookshelf. The book was called 'THE GOLDEN COMPASS'. I didn't think it looked very interesting but strangely enough it was the first book that I read when I got home. Three days later as I closed the last page of the book feeling anxious of what Lyra's next adventure would be, I also felt completely awestruck. I had never read a book like the Golden Compass before. It was completely stunning! In the last three days, I had felt gripped and astounded by the storyline. Lyra travelling to find her kidnapped friend Roger only to be caught herself in camp like children's prison where scientists were carrying out horrendous experiments on the children in order to discover the true meaning of 'dust'. The children were being gruesomely separated from their daemons (which were part of their very souls)! The book also introduced us to Lorek Brynisson and the Witch Serafina Pekkala who both helped Lyra and Roger with the other children escape from the prison. I felt that the book was beautifully written with very believable character descriptions. Obviously I had now become a huge fan of Phillip Pullman and thus eagerly rushed out the next day to buy the next sequel to 'The Golden Compass'. I found the next instalment to be 'The Subtle Knife'. This book introduced us to a new character called Will who had just killed a man and in his escape had stumbled upon a glass like window which had led him into another world. The world of the Citagazze. Here he meets Lyra and becomes the reluctant owner of the subtle knife. Him and Lyra then set of an important journey with her searching for the meaning of 'dust' and him searching for his father. Again I felt completely entranced by this book, managing to finish it in just two days. It was a perfect sequel to 'The Golden Compass' consisting of a full satisfying story but still managing to end with a gripping cliffhanger. The end of the subtle knife left me aching for its prequel. Therefore you could understand my disappointment when I learnt that it wouldn't be out for at least another two years! I MEAN TWO YEARS IS A LONG TIME TO WAIT FOR A BOOK! However, as it turned out, I was EXTREMELY WRONG! I bought THE AMBER SPYGLASS on Monday and by Tuesday I had finished it. It was by far the best book that I had ever read! I was sceptical at first that Pullman would be able to out-do the previous two books in the trilogy but he managed it and then some! As with the first two books, I found myself again being captivated with the storyline but there was a feeling of awe as I felt that Pullman was treading in a direction that no other writer had gone before. I mean TO SUGGEST A WAR IN HEAVEN WITH GOD BEING THE ENEMY IS JUST COMPLETELY BOLD AND DARING! I liked the fact that Pullman wasn't afraid to go to against a belief system that most of the world believed in (and has believed in for thousands of years), and then completely destroys that belief system. In the Amber Spyglass, we were again introduced to old characters like Serafina Pekkala, Lorek Brynision, Farder Coram and the Gyptians. We were also introduced to new characters such as the Lady Salmakia and the Chevaliar Tialys (the Gallivespians) and the low ranked angels Baruch and Balthamos (aawwww). Also present were Mrs coulter who I found was as captivating and unpredictable as ever and the all powering Lord Asriel. The storyline of this book was of Will travelling to find Lyra with the help of Baruch and Balthamos. Lyra had been taken by Mrs coulter at the end of the Subtle Knife. On his Travels, Will meets Lorek and on hearing of Lyra's capture, Lorek decides to help Will find her. On finding her, Will and Lyra ( along with the reluctant Gallivespians) then decide to travel to the world of the dead (him to talk to his father and her to seek final forgiveness from Roger as she felt his death was her fault). I don't particularly want to give away too much of the ending form this point but it will make you cry or feel gut-wrenchingly sad for a period of time. I ACTUALLY CRIED AFTER READING THIS BOOK AND FOR A FEW DAYS AFTERWARDS AND I HAVE NEVER CRIED AFTER READING A BOOK BEFORE! Despite the main storyline the book also had a few deeper moral meanings and guidelines. It encourages it's readers to always try to keep an open mind, to think more rather then remain passive recipients, to always seek to find new meanings to things and to not always put their needs first. The Amber Spyglass was by far the best book in the trilogy consisting of an extremely satisfying and yet so simple conclusion to the 'His Dark materials' trilogy. It was certainly a book that made me think which I have never encountered in other books before. The Amber Spyglass is indeed an ambitious and classis epic which should be treasured by all those who read it.
Rating:
Summary: intoxicating
Review: The Golden Compass was one of the best books I've read in recent years; I was disappointed by The Subtle Knife, though, so I was a little hesitant about reading The Amber Spyglass. It being the last, I particularly didn't want to be disappointed. Oh my, was I ever not disappointed.
The book is a little overcomplicated at times, with too much going on, too many characters being introduced, the motives of existing characters being thrown into question, too many places to keep track of. It's to Pullman's credit that it all remains comprehensible rather than dissolving into chaos, but there are definitely moments of sensory overload. I still give The Amber Spyglass five stars, though, and recommend it more than highly, because even when I felt a bit muddled, it was so emotionally compelling that I was entirely caught up in it (I'd say I couldn't put it down, but it's a sad thing when I _can_ put a book down the first time I'm reading it, so it wouldn't be saying much at all). There's a desperate quality to this book -- everyone in it knows the end is coming and they're all rushing forward, trying to impose their vision on that end -- that I as the reader could not help but absorb. And yet there are moments of absolute peace in it as well. In fact, one of the things that makes it work, that makes all the fantastical things you have to accept to get through it acceptable, is that occasional sense of peace, the moment of respite as the characters come to terms with what is happening and what they must do. That pacing, that depth of characterization moved me as I can remember few books ever doing.
Rating: 
Summary: Almost as good as I expected...
Review: The Golden Compass and the beginning of the Subtle Knife create the most powerful and unique world I have ever seen. However, the promise they set up and the expectations I had for the rest of the series became so high that it could not be fulfilled. Pullman tries to take on an entire philosophy of life, and in the Amber Spyglass he seems to lose some of his tight, perfect vision as he tries to cover everything at once. It gets, frankly, too preachy as the morals become both blatant and cryptic. Still, it is a very impressive end to one of the best trilogies I've ever read, and is worth the longer read.
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Summary: A bad end to a beautiful series...
Review: The "His Dark Materials" series was a promising set of books for a relatively low key author, but I beleive that the series degraded from a could-not-put-down-book to something else. The stress I felt at the end of the "Subtle Knife" was unbearable, and (I thought that) soon my questions were going to be answered with the Amber Spyglass, but as I read it, something felt wrong, like this was not the same author. No longer did I feel like I was reading something completely unique. At the end of the second book, it talked of Lord Arisel's war against God. This whole part of the story was left in shambles, which didnt make sense to me. Many are saying that Pullman's own thoughts came into his storytelling. I no longer want to reread this series anymore. It has now become another forgotten series of fantasy books in the huge world of fantasy writers, and though I feel this is wrong to condemn this series I cannot help saying that this entire set of novels fell apart at the end, leaving me dissatisfied.
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Summary: Pullman a heretic?
Review: It has been said that science fiction/fantasy writers have a twofold responsibility. The first is to bring to life characters, creating a set of circumstances that are believable and interesting to read about. The second is to create a world where these characters live that is just as believable as the actions they are committing.
Philip Pullman does both of these things with the deftness of a master. His worlds are startlingly different from ours and yet the similarities resonate in a profound way, causing the reader to be stimulated by his philosophy as well as being entirely engaged by the characters within the story. To be sure, his view on christianity will cost him some readers, but the religious aspect of the novel is an interesting thread within the fabric of the story. It is an important thread, connecting the actions and purpose of the characters, but a thread nonetheless. To dismiss the work as heretic or satanical is to be blinded by a stiff view of the world, and an incorrect view of the worlds in which Lyra, Will, Serafina Pekkala and Iorek Byrnson operate.
It is a rare thing to read a book of such mastery. Pullman is a storyteller of the first degree. That he uses a volatile subject as the basis for his tapestries does not diminish the art of the work as a whole, but is a testament to his prowess as an artist.
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Summary: An amazing book!
Review: I read The Golden Compass in seventh grade and then The Subtle Knife later that year, which were both fantastic. I was anxious for the last book to come out but it didn't for several years. When it finaly did i bought it immediately. This was easily the best book in the trilogy. Pullman's writing style was much more in-depth and detailed, and the story just drew me in from the first chapter. I had come to know all the characters and the story line moved me to tears. The dream sequence in the first several chapters was one of the most ingenious styles of writing i've ever seen. I will remember Lyra and Pan and Will and their adventures for the rest of my life. This represents the superlative in fantasy writing!
Rating:
Summary: As superb as the former two books
Review: I read all these 1-star reviews of the Amber Spyglass and I can only agree with Philip Pullman as he says that Christianity is about discriminating people who are different from you. Why can't Christians respect his ideas? Why do they have to feel offended? BR>You must have an open mind to enjoy His Dark Materials trilogy. If you do, you'll have the best time of your life with the books. The plot is beautiful and you'll fall in love with the characters. It's very thought-provoking as well.
Rating:
Summary: good ending
Review: this trilogy was quite good and i do recommend it to everyone. it is creative and original.
Rating: 
Summary: New Age slop
Review: Pullman's Dark Materials trilogy presents God as an evil puritan who hates sex, and presents Satan as good guy who brings knowledge. I'd laugh if it weren't for the fact that this [junk's] already old; the Satanic Bible was published more than 40 years ago, and Pullman does nothing to advance the Satanist vision. His writing reads like a humorless episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I read an interview with Pullman in a British paper. He thinks that the US is ruled by "fundamentalists" and that it's illegal to teach evolution here. What a dope.
Rating:
Summary: Another review
Review: I'm sure TAS doesn't need and extra review, but here's my shpeal anyway. I enjoyed the story of The Amber Spyglass very much, and was quite enthralled by the characters. Truly, I have never felt as strongly for a character in a book as I have for Lyra and Will (I cried...). Again, the slightly (ok, gigantic) anti-religion theme was a little bothersome to the plot, but I think the characters and writing made up for it. I probably wouldn't recommend this to anyone younger than 10 or 11, but older than that should be fine. I enjoyed this book greatly, and I advise you to try it for yourself! (Only after you've finished 'The Golden Compass' and 'The Subtle Knife' of course).
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