Rating: 
Summary: Incredible book- took me to another world
Review: The His Dark Materials trilogy is an incredible, imaginative trio of books. All well thought out, cleverly crafted, a designed to take you to other worlds. I was left craving more of Lyra and Will's world(s) after the second book, and I got it. This trilogy is number 2 on my entire book list (sorry- no one can beat Harry Potter). I loved a devoured this book, myself wishing I could climb through a window in the air into the town of Citagazze (is that how you spelled it?) or into so many of the intriging worlds. You may be wondering why, then, I chose to rate this book with 4 stars. Although I only have 1 complaint, it is a big one. Me, being a very religious christian did not enjoy the anti-god (sorry if that is too harsh) portion. I will not complain however, because everyone, Including Pullman is intitled to there opinions. I just warn you that if you are teetering on the edge of the religion decision, don't take this book to seriously. There is a God! Just remember this is fiction. The part about no god is just as true as the part about talking animals. Once again, I do urge you to read this book if you can understand it is a work of fiction, because it might well be the best work of fiction on the planet. (Not counting Harry Potter- of course.)
Rating: 
Summary: Truly amazing
Review: I just finished this book today. It was a moving, at times shattering experience. The emotion the writer manages to evoke in some of the scenes (like the one where Lyra is forced to leave her daemon, and of course the one where Lyra and Will actually realise they're in love!) is almost - well, I'm no writer and am probably putting it badly, but the effect was almost physical.I mean, I know I cried. I liked how Mr Pullman combines total innocence with sensuality in Lyra and Will's experiences. At the end, though, the writer's message - about this world being the only one that matters - seemed a little obvious and jarring.And while the most attractive characters in the book (again, by my standards) have got to be Mrs Coulter and Lord Asriel I was a little unconvinced by Mrs Coulter's sudden change of heart - hell, even Asriel was! I totally agree with what earlier reviewers have said about this book: you do have to keep an open mind when reading it but I don't think your personal beliefs ought to have any effect on the way you respond to a good piece of fiction. And as for Lyra and Will being too young to fall in love, well, they're not ordinary pre-teens, are they? This is a great book that, apart from being a fun, interesting, engrossing story, also has serious things to say about the nature of good and evil, of religious beliefs, the process of growing up, and also about being human.
Rating:
Summary: A window into another universe
Review: I have just finished Philip Pullman's trilogy and found each volume yielded up a treasure-chest of delights and surprises. The great strength of the books lies in the author's ability to create worlds which seem as real as our own and to people them with characters with whom readers can sympathise and identify. Younger readers will enjoy being swept along in a fast-moving stream of adventure, while older readers and adults will appreciate the literary references and philosophical issues raised in the plot. My only reservations about The Amber Spyglass is that sometimes the author seems to have bitten off more than he can chew and has difficulty keeping all the strands of thought and action together. The style of writing also tends towards the verbose in this final volume. Therefore I enjoyed the first two books more. Nevertheless there is no denying the achievement of the author in creating such a large cast of vivid characters and painting detailed pictures of imaginary worlds and beings. Like many other readers, I was moved to tears by the portrayal of the love between Will and Lyra. Those who object to the "anti-Christian" sentiments in the book should think more carefully. It is precisely this kind of narrow-minded intolerance that Pullman appears to condemn. Indeed, one of the few pure "villains" in the trilogy appears in the final book in the form of the fanatical priest, Father Gomez, and he comes to a bad end....There are many positive ideas in the books, such as the importance of love, loyalty and friendship, which are not out of keeping with Christian ideals. To sum up, I would highly recommend this and the other two books (they must be read in order) in the Dark Materials trilogy to anyone who enjoys a good story which is well-told, gives plenty of food for thought and which will linger in the imagination long after the last page is turned. It will appeal to adults and younger readers alike. I think younger readers who have read widely of other literature (e.g. C.S. Lewis, English poetry, the Greek myths, etc.) will get even more out of it.
Rating:
Summary: AMAZING!
Review: I LOVED it! This book has got to be one of the best books I've EVER read! Trust me on this, I have very high standards, and The Amber Spyglass meets them wonderfully. Just one thing, in order to think as highly of this book as I do, you must read Book 1 and Book 2, or you will be lost. It won't be a huge burden, though, because those two are just as wonderful and great. Once again, you HAVE to read this book!
Rating:
Summary: One of the greatest written of our time
Review: This surely is one of the greatest fantasy books of all time. The way Pullman mixes it up with the 2 prequels will leave you amazed and gratefull that he ever took the time to write it.The only thing is, you must read the two books before it too fully understand it and get the full amazement, so read them FIRST!
Rating: 
Summary: A good book, but not up to the standards of the first two
Review: The Golden Compass hooked me into this fabulous series. The subtle knife took it in a brand new direction. Those two books set a standard for "His Dark Materials" that I don't feel Pullman remained true to in The Amber Spyglass. It seems to me that Pullman used The Amber Spyglass to preach the details of his own particular brand of secular humanism to an already devoted group of fans. Although I personaly do not prescribe to his particular view, I am willing to accept most any belief system as it forms a basis for fantasy and science fiction writing (after all, it IS a fantasy) but I feel that Pullman rushed the story and cut corners on the character development. It seems that all of the adult characters are preaching the same message over and over again in various different ways (wait a minute - why is everybody on the same side now?) This book hardly has a climax and the main events that seemed to power the story in the first two books are over almost before you realize it. The last few chapters are quite good and do offer a great ending to the series, but the middle 2/3 of the book is not an example of Pullman at his finest. Read this book to finish the series, but beware that it is much less story and more philosophy / anti-religion than the other two books.
Rating:
Summary: Lost for words... But my tears speak for me
Review: This book is the most wonderful book i've read in all my years. It is destined to be a classic, and forever and always will be destined to remain the most splendorous book of all time in people's hearts, never to budge. For others it shan't sit on the old shelf, collecting dust, but instead be read agian and again, never to be put down until the reader finally falls asleep from too much excitement, where the ever so real characters Lyra and Will will join their wondorous dream adventures. The book was wonderfully entertaining, and kept me busy almost every moment i didn't have something else to do. When my mother asked me to do chores and such, I would wail, saying that i couldn't put down the book, for fear of losing that magic feeling of standing beside Will, or missing Lyra, or wondering what Miss Malone might do next. "This is truly a page turner," was all I could tell her, breathless. When i finally did do my chores, all I could think about was what might happen next, and I would bite my lower lip, in pain of utter suspense, hungry for the thousands of words on the pages of that golden book that painted vivid pictures in my mind. They still remain there today, for I've read the book five times already. That doesn't mean I'm done with it. I'm reading it a sixth time. In this book, the search that only just began for Lyra in the Sublte Knife continues. Will meets new strange beings, angels, as does Mary Malone, and a whole new species is born--the Mulefa, gentle civilized creatures that travel on wheels. Joining the cast are many other delightful beings as well. After finding Lyra, finally--and no, i won't say how, i don't want to spoil it for some of you chaps out there--Lyra wants to rescue her old dear friend Roger, who departed from this world weeks ago, and headed toward the 'Otherworld'. Meanwhile Dr. Mary Malone has traveled through one of the rips in the air and into another world herself, finding the gentle mulefa and making a splendid Amber Spyglass. Will Pan, Will, and Lyra be able to save Roger from his imprisonment of death? And what might Mary Malone discover meanwhile? What friends might they make along the way? And what might be told about the powerful Lord Asriel, and the Lady Coulter? Readers of all ages, young and old will love this powerful conclusion to Lyra and Will's adventure, though some shall share the pain of the characters at the end, tears--joyous and sad-- running down their faces, which were just moments ago buried in the book. As was my face. As was mine. And my mouth was lost for words. The story was just too good for my simple minded words. Some people will be miserable to know that the trilogy is over. I hear there is a companion however, telling about the birth of Angels, and where they come from. If this is true, i shall eagerly await that, and also eagerly await the arrival of a rumoured movie based on the whole trilogy. Perhaps a miniseries. This book has inspired and touched people of all ages, (it's even inspired me to write my own book and send it to the author himself!), and i believe that anyone who has the chance should read it. Shall you?
Rating:
Summary: Lyra and Will in the Garden of Eden.
Review: The Amber Spyglass is my favourite book of His Dark Materials trilogy,I think it's one of those once-in-a-lifetime fantasy books,those that after reading them make you feel you've learnt something. And behind all the story lays a sort of "mith":Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. Meanwhile Lyra's and Will's adventures take place, trying to explain us what the whole story is all about:growing up.That time when you're not a child but you're not an adult either. And you've got to trust yourself and choose the right path to go through ,from being young and inocent to be someone with experience. I think Pullman suggests that when Eve made the original sin, that action is what makes us be humans. Cause that's our nature and nobody can change us.We guide ourselves by our feelings and emotions not by the fact of right or wrong and that way we're happy , we're doing what we ourselves like to do not what somebody else wants us to do.
Rating:
Summary: A Stunning, Beautiful Conclusion to a Wonderful Trilogy
Review: I had waited anxiously for this book to come out, worrying all the time that it wouldn't live up to what I hoped it would be. Thankfully, I was wrong. Pullman masterfully pulls together the many threads he prepared in the first two books (which were no less wonderful) to weave a beautiful yet saddening tapestry of literary genius. I understand why many people were bothered by the sad ending, having myself cried after finishing it, but I am at the same time glad that Mr. Pullman resisted the temptation to keep it going on and on. It could easily have turned into another Harry Potter, spawning more and more movies and books and toys (and do we really want Pantalaimon plush dolls, with little microchips that make them talk? or a video game that features Will and Lyra in an all-out battle against another renagade angel? i certainly don't). I am glad that this trilogy at least has not sold its soul to the big publishing houses as Harry Potter did. I also believe that to read these books you must have an open mind. I am disturbed by the fact that many of the reviewers that didn't like the book (which, might I add, is entirely your own choice) attacked the portrayal of the love between Lyra and Will. What is life without love? And when I say love, I mean love in all of its forms, not just love of God, if you believe in a God. It is important that you have an open mind when reading this trilogy. All in all, I feel that this trilogy is comparable to the Lord of The Rings (though I still feel that the Lord of the Rings is more enduring so far), and I think that this will go down in history. Eat your heart out, J.K. Rowling.
Rating:
Summary: The Amber Spyglass
Review: After reading His Dark Materials books, Phillip Pullman and his books have climbed to first on my list. This stunning conclusion is bound to become a classic.( Along with the first two.) I felt the tug at my heart as Lyra left Pan on the shores of- wait! I can't tell you! Remember Mary Malone of the Subtle Knife? she's back, buiding a spyglass to see Dust. She is befriended by wheeled creatured(?! ). Her place is found in this wonderful trilogy. A must read for any book lover (kid or adult.) IT's a wonderful book that comes to a magnificent end. Three cheers for Phillip Pullman!
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