Rating: 
Summary: an enthralling read...
Review: Because The Golden Compass was my favorite book, and because The Subtle Knife left me hanging, it was inevitable that I would be compelled to buy The Amber Spyglass. Braced for another exciting journey with the heroes, Lyra and Will, I was not disappointed. With every new twist and turn Philip Pullman led me through, I was so sure I knew what would happen next. Of course, I never did. The mystery of Mrs. Coulter's real intentions kept me on my toes, and the introduction of the Galvespians thrilled me. You'll never grow tired of Will and Lyra's adventures through the many worlds, and the ending will surprise you so much you'll have to go back and read it again. I stayed up all night just to find out what would happen, and all I can say is, you'll end up feeling just like Lyra and Will at the end of the book. The author's amazing ability to bring you into the book and feel exactly how the character is feeling always excites me. Though The Golden Compass remains at the top of my list, The Amber Spyglass is not to be missed. You must read the first two books, and I guarantee you, you'll want to read the third. Do yourself a favor, get a new look at life, and pick up this book.
Rating:
Summary: Left me speechless- breathtaking.
Review: This was the perfect, long-awaited conclusion to the fantastic series- I literally couldn't put it down. Pullman's skill is impeccable and I have read few series equal to His Dark Materials. Granted, I sobbed my way through the ending, but I could expect no less from such an author. I sincerely hope Pullman will continue the adventures of Lyra and Will, if only so that I can satisfy my imagination with what happens to them after this book ends. Pullman took on a large idea scheme when he started this trilogy, but he tackled it and conquered it, and the result is the best fantasy trilogy since the Lord of the Rings. Thank you Mr. Pullman!
Rating:
Summary: "His Dark Materials" ends with a bang!
Review: Okay, I know I'm not the most intellectual person in the world. I'm a 13 year old girl, so I obviously don't know as much about literuature as a lot of people out there. But when I first read "The Golden Compass", I was hooked on Phillip Pullman's books! He is an AMAZING author...I should know...once I got hooked, I read all his books! Well, you can imagine that the "The Amber Spyglass" was a long awaited book for me...I read the second book, "The Subtle Knife" in February and was waiting for "The Amber Spyglass" since. As soon as it came out, I bought it. I must admit, the first couple chapters weren't so amazing, but the end to it really delivers! If you're worried that you won't be able to sit through five hundred some pages, think again! Once "The Amber Spyglass" catches your attention, you won'te be able to put it down! It's seriously a thrill after thrill. There's one bad part about "The Amber Spyglass" though...it's almost NECESSARY for you to read "The Golden Compass" and "The Subtle Knife" before you read this. Otherwise you won't get the whole BANG of it! To conclude, if you love Lyra, Will, Iorek Byrenson, and Serefina Pekkala, you will love "The Amber Spyglass"...it really delivers. It's a wonderful fantasy suspense book for young and old. (And if you don't know what I'm talking about, go get the first two books of the triliogy. They're worth it!)
Rating:
Summary: FANTASTICALLY BEAUTIFUL!
Review: Phillip Pullman came to speak to my class, and I was intrigued when he started to talk about the golden compass trilogy. Once I started it, I couldn't put it down. I loved how it was so different-and yet the same as the other books in the series. TAS is the, hands down, best book I have ever read! It has such an elegance, I was just blown away by it! READ IT!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful
Review: Anyone who has read The Amber Spyglass and The Subtle Knife must read this book; I read it and I still can't stop thinking about it. The writing is beautiful, and seeing all the loose ends finally tied up so artfully is very fufilling.
Rating:
Summary: Deep and Provocative Novel
Review: I was surprised to see some of the poor reviews this book recieved. I was especially surprised to see the obligatory "English teachers" giving this book poor reviews due to the story being shallow with no character development etc. In fact, I think this book is very deep. Almost every great work of literature had a social, political, religious etc. alternate meaning to it. This work is no different. I was also surprised to see (once again) the English teachers who say that they will not make this book available to their students because of the criticism of an organized religion that is found within. Why should this book not be accepted, when those same teachers cover books such as the Crucible, Paradise Lost, and the other countless novels/books/plays that criticize one group or another. Stundents would not be taught anything if the teachers did not cover works with open (or subtle) jabs at a certain group. As for the surface appearance of the story, I thought it was a very good tale. Lyra and Will are explained in depth, and we are told more about their real character traits. We learn how they think, and how they act. New and interesting characters are introduced to replace the ones covered more in books 1 and 2. My final thought: Don't judge this book harshly because of its hostility towards a religion, and try to see from Pullman's point of you. Just enjoy the book for the story if you don't agree with Pullman's view of the world, and you won't be dissapointed. E-mail me if you have any comments.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing in most respects
Review: Well, I loved the first two books in this trilogy, but The Amber Spyglass was slow going. Dr. Mary Malone's story (and even more the Father Gomez bit) added very little to the book and were generally sections I just wanted to get through to get back to Will and Lyra. In attempting to bring in so many of the characters of the last two books, Pullman only gives us brief and unsatisfactory glimpses of most of the secondary characters. Also his substitution of Truth and the telling of stories for any sort of spiritual life seems not only forced but rather incongruous with many of the decisions his own characters make. I kept expecting Pullman to end the book by pulling together many of his various themes and threads but instead he brought out an overly sentimental (and very false-feeling) ending. As opposed to some of the other reviewers here, I would have had no problem with a sad and sacrificial ending if the sacrifice had seemed worth something. Allowing the dead to lose all their individual consciousness as their molecules become one with the world sounds ultimately merely dull, and saying your "dust" will somehow find the dust of the others you loved in life is only more sentimental puffery substituting for a belief in some kind of existence beyond death--if you're going to challenge religious beliefs, at least have the guts to stick it out the whole way. The dead would be better off sitting around and telling their stories to each other.
Rating:
Summary: Nothing and Everything I Expected
Review: Wow. I think it is safe to say that no book I have ever read (or series, for that matter) has affected me quite like Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials." "The Golden Compass" was devoured in a matter of hours, and quickly became my favorite book of all time. Tied with this honor was its sequel, "The Subtle Knife." Finally, after 3 years of anticipation, Pullman has delivered on his promise of an epic so large in scale it will leave its readers breathless. It's an incredible story; War in Heaven, multiple universes, creatures that defy the imagination. OK, enough with the hype.I'm sure the moral and religious implications of "The Amber Spyglass" will be debated a great deal in the time to come. I, a Christian myself, am in no way bothered or upset by some of the "sacriligious" or "heretical" themes in the novel. A word of caution, however: Those who refuse to open their minds to other possibilities or to realize that Pullman is simply telling a story will be quite offended. Open your mind to those possibilities, and you can grasp a deeper message; not one of the stupidity of religion, but of the importance of making your own decisions, not allowing others to determine things for you. I tend to think that we all need our belief system questioned once in awhile. Those who truly believe what they profess will not have a problem with it. Another key issue I've read about is the ending. Of any book I've read, this was definitely the most heart-wrenching. From reading these reviews, I have come to the realization that I was not the only one to have my insides torn out upon reaching the series' conclusion. It seems to be a very common occurrence, actually. Perhaps I'm a bit too much of a romantic, but for days (and nights) I could not keep the sadness away. Grief, that's what it was. Plain grief. I could not shake the feeling I got from reading of Lyra and Will, having realized their love, finding that they will never be able to see each other again. Most troubling to me, however, was the image of Lyra and Will, sitting at a bench once a year, knowing that their love is so close, yet so far away. I think perhaps I sunk into a slight state of depression for a few days. Never has any book done that to me, nor do I suspect one ever will have that effect on me. Though "The Amber Spyglass" left me a bit on the down side, I quickly recovered and realized the power of this novel. I cannot help but recommend it to all my friends, my family, and to anyone who might read this review. It is simply amazing, and though I have not the eloquence of Miss CelticStorm16, suffice it to say that I doubt I will ever again be so impressed with a work of literature than I was with Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy. If Pullman were ever to write another of these books, I would gladly snap it up without a moment's hesitation. Sadly, however, the story has come to a close, as all good things must.
Rating:
Summary: the Amber Spyglass- a fitting end
Review: I didn't think it could be done but The Amber Spyglass is more thrilling ang gripping than the first two dark materials books. I fell into the book right away. The descriptions of emotiong on the characters wrenched at MY heart! I fell in love with the beautiful terrains of each individual world which were so intricately described I believed I could be there. The theories presented to the characters were things I- like everyone on Earth at some point in time- had questioned before. Every thought, every emotion, and every sight was right there with me as I made Lyra and Will's journey. I'm only sad that this is the last of a truelly wonderful trilogy.
Rating: 
Summary: Off track
Review: How ironic that Phillip Pullman, who has complained about the awful preachiness of Lewis' Narnia series, has himself written the final book of his trlogy as a hateful tract against Christianity and Catholicism. What a shame that he allowed the bitterness and anger of his ego to overshadow what could have been one of the most brilliant stories ever written. James Joyce, through the character of Stephen Dedalus in Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man, spoke of art as being either pornographic (eliciting desire or fear), didactic (teaching a lesson) or fine (creating aesthetic arrest). Sad to say, The Amber Spyglass is nothing but pornographic didacticism. Those looking for confimation of their nihilistic and narcissistic approach to life will find much to revel in, but those who have experienced the ineffable joy of God's love will find nothing here except an ego in spiritual arrest.
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