Rating: 
Summary: An amazing finish
Review: Wow. The Amber Spyglass is all I hoped for and more. It brings this series to an amazing and thrilling end. The charectures are great, and the most unique yet. The dialog, the setting, the action, its brilliant. The plot is fantastic and leaves nothing to be desired. Phillip Pullman is an author who knows just how much to sacrifice without ruining the book, but crossing a line to make you cry. I will be sad to see my favorite charectures adventures stop. Simply astonishing.
Rating:
Summary: Breathtaking
Review: This book has to be the finest I have read in the fantasy genre- in my opinion, surpassing Tolkien's Lord of the Rings as a retelling of Paradise Lost. It was also probably one of my favorite books (and I am an avid reader). I enjoyed the book until the part developed with Will and Lyra's journey to the underworld, where I got a little annoyed with them. However, by the time the book ended I was breathless. The heart-rending finale made me drop just one tear, and I have never cried after reading any book (or watching any TV show or movie). I really would like Pullman to write a sequel to this one, the ending is too heartbreaking to leave it where it is.
Rating:
Summary: Six Stars out of Five
Review: October 10, 2000 just may have been one of the greatest days in the history of books, in my opinion. Why? Because that was the date when "The Amber Spyglass," the long-awaited finale to Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy, was published. On the other hand, it may have been one of the saddest days in the history of books, as well: it was the day that marked the end of the mesmerizing story of Lyra.
In the first two chapters, alone, we discover Lyra's whereabouts, how Will is reacting to the events described at the very end of "The Subtle Knife," and more. Will sets off in search of his missing companion, and the story begins.
Once more we are reaquainted with the beautiful Mrs. Coulter, the rebellious Lord Asriel, the fleeing Mary Malone, the armored bear Iorek Byrnison, and the witches. Some of our old friends that were thought to be lost may even intrude. However, we also have the pleasure of being introduced to new characters (Metatron, the Gallivespians, the Mulefa, and others), all as well developed as those from before, who help the story evolve into a spectacular example of excellent literature. What more could a reader want?
Though the highest rating I am permitted to give a book is '5 Stars', I truly believe that Philip Pullman's "The Amber Spyglass" deserves six. Am I suggesting that Amazon.com change their rating system simply so that this book may receive a higher rating? Yes. It's that good.
Rating:
Summary: Well, actually this is more about the series as a whole....
Review: Oh Wonders of Wonders! This is the day long awaited by yours truly! THIS is the day whence I receive the most hallowed "The Amber Spyglass"! As I have not yet read this acclaimed literary wonder, I can not rate it (but I still gave 5 stars, for that is what it seems to deserve) and can only speculate on the marvels that are sure to occur within the text, but nonetheless, I will sing my praises for "The Amber Spyglass"'s predecessors, "The Golden Compass" and "The Subtle Knife". HERE is a Science Fiction/Fantasy series for the ages that is sure to find it's rightful place in the annals of history. Vivid, lively characters populate a host of colorful worlds that seem eerily reminiscent of our own, yet distinctly different. Concepts are placed before you that make you stop and think about the ethics and morality that are rampant in our world. It all begins with a small, yet fiercely courageous girl by the name of Lyra, her ever-present "companion" , Pantalaimon, and their quest of self-discovery and of "destiny" that lead them around their world and beyond in believable yet amazing adventures. In a world that's populated by children and plagued by soul-eating Specters, Lyra and "Pan" meet young William Parry, a boy who has grown up all to fast and is searching for his long-lost father. The two of them make enemies as fast as they befriend allies, for a war is brewing on the horizon; the war that started before time itself and in which the key to victory lies within Lyra and Will...
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful, yet bittersweet....
Review: Yes, this book is a worthy ending to the series, and well worth the long wait. For the longest time I was actually afraid that this book would be a disappointment, since the Subtle Knife seemed to be floating around in terms of plot. This book, however, was done beautifully. It is not the best thing ever, but it's good. But, one of my only problems is the sudden change of heart for Mrs. Coulter. It's still beyond me to see how someone as thouroughly disgusting as her can suddenly begin *caring* about her child overnight. Oh well. At least we know that because of her, Lyra wants to have kids and take care of them well. The span of the story was quite entertaining too. (By that, I mean the number of worlds it was set in.) I especially enjoyed the mulefa, though I had the most insanely difficult time imagining how their claws worked. The other new additions to the plot, the Gallivespians and the new angels, are also entertaining, though absurdly annoying at first. And, personally, I thought the Land of the Dead was, well, scary. If that was how death was forever, I'd try to live every moment of my life. The whole concept of death being spent in an eternal wasteland is simply horrible. At the end of that arc, I laughed aloud, happily. I really did. The resolution of that portion of the story was so insanely wonderful that you just have to feel good for the dead. The idea of being freely distributed and happy in the living world of the mulefa is much more welcome, even if you may not be consious. (Then again, if you have no consious thought, are you human? Did you exist if nothing remains? Sort of like how your memories can't be real since they're happening now, so they may not of happened before... Waaaait, let's not start that now. *slaps self*) It is almost comforting to know that their souls will become dissolved to seach out portions of those who they knew and loved. Especially when considering the ending. Ah, the ending, well... I suppose it is good to see the heros not get everything they want, I agree. However, this ending was so incredibly bittersweet, especially since I can relate to it, almost painfully so. Anime fans will understand me when I tell them that this is the same brand of bittersweet that the ending of Escaflowne was. Through the whole book you see Lyra and Will clumsily bumping together like children who've fallen in love but don't realize it yet. All of the observers can see how they feel by how they treat eachother, only those two are oblivious. The ending was so insanely bittersweet as a result, especially since at this point Pullman has so effectively written his characters that you do feel for them. Or else I'm just weird and nobody else was bothered by the ending... (I can relate to it because I'm trying to maintain a relationship with the most wonderful person in the world... who is two thousand miles away. The ending shook me up for a little bit.) Personally, I'd be happier if the "not get everything they want" involved some major character dying (other than those two), instead of something like what really happened. Still, this book is a great buy. Check it out if you have the time - it's wonderful. Well worth your money. Go. Buy. Read. Go on.
Rating:
Summary: Amber Spyglass is stunning
Review: "The Amber Spyglass" is a wonderfull book. For this book to fully reach audiance expectations, it would have to be evan greater than "The Golden Compass" and "The Subtle Knife". "The Amber Spyglass" easily reaches, and surpasses, expectations. Pullman magically weaves his stories with incredible suspense, beautifull language, and charecters who we all love and wish we could know. This book neatly ties up loose ends left by the earlier two. It is a story of bravery and sacrifice. It is both thrilling and heart wrenchingly sad. We readers could not have asked for anything more.
Rating:
Summary: The Best book in the world
Review: Hi, my name is Aislin White. The amber spyglass is truly a work of art. When I fininshed reading the golden compass and the amber spyglass, I thought there couldn't possibly be a way to end such a trilogy. But I was wrong. The golden compass introduces Lyra and her dæmon pantalaimon; the main characters of the story. It also introduces the alethiometer and Dust: a mysterious substance that the church seems to be afraid of. The subtle knife introduces another main character (an important one at that) Will Pary. The subtle knife is also brought into light. In the amber spyglass, Lyra and Will travel to the land of the dead to see if they can rescue their long -lost friends. The true Mrs. Coulter shows through, and Dust is finally understood. Finally, Will and Lyra realise that they must part and complete their task of closing all the wounds in the universe made by the subtle knife. And so his dark materials ends, in a sad, but perfect way.
Rating:
Summary: I waited for three years for this...
Review: ...and it was worth the wait! At the end of "The Subtle Knife" I didn't believe that Pullman could end the series and have it still make sense - everything was too complicated, there were too many questions, a million characters were scattered across several worlds, and no happy ending was in sight... I thought bleak thoughts. I dreaded some tired "Deus ex Machina" or similar device to bring all of the storylines together. I dreaded this becoming another "Otherland" (no offense to the godly Tad Williams). I dreaded.. ooOOOooh so much. Pullman has changed my dread to joy. I won't go into details here, but this is indeed one of the most inspired, original and thoroughly enjoyable series I've ever read. Published as juvenile fiction and nearly as popular as the Harry Potter series, I still wonder how kids get through them. I've had several long discussions with friends who have read these books (one of whom studies Old English texts)and the questions never end. There's always a new connection to be made. So, pick up this book and find out what becomes of Lyra, Will, Lord Asriel, Iorek, Mrs. Coulter (don't you just *hate* her?!?!) and Sarafina... you will not be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Well worth the wait; and the $57 too
Review: After reading Northern Lights (known in the USA as The Golden Compass) in 1995, and The Subtle Knife in 1997 (both on the days they came out), and after 3 rather abrupt letters to the author himself, I have been breathlessly awaiting the arrival of book 3, and it has lived up to speculation. I cried so many times throughout this book, and was up till 5am reading it. Never have I read a better series than His Dark Materials, and I doubt I ever will. I love the mulefa, I love the wheel-pods, I love everything about this book, as I loved everything about the earlier two. Philip Pullman is a creative genious, and Amber Spyglass is, in my opinion, the most magnificent book of all time. As I live in the UK, I paid $57 to get this book from the USA, and it was well worth all those hours of work I had to do in order to raise the money. In book three, Philip Pullman combines all the spectacular events of the previous books, and his writing skill is as amazing as ever. Perhaps some will find this book blasphemous, I don't know - all I know is that this book surely deserves to go down as the greatest book in history, far superior to the childish-humour of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books. In book three, Lyra and Will come together once more, and with the magnificence of Philip Pullman's writing, and the wonderful plot, this book will make you long to kill Philip Pullman, when you discover there shall be no more of Lyra's adventures. Book one was amazing, Book two left me awestruck, and Book three made me realise just how good Philip Pullman can be. This is the author at his best - nothing can compare with the sheer magnitude of Amber Spyglass, and I hope beyond hope, that Philip Pullman will continue to enlighten this world with books as good as Amber Spyglass. I feel unable to read anything else now, knowing that nothing could compare with the book I finished at 5am this morning. Every part of this book is superb, and though I wanted to kill Philip Pullman after the ending, I longed to kill him more after what he named the title of Chapter 19, and then he put it at the front of the book, where we'd read it too :-) As someone once said, Philip Pullman should be chained to his keyboard for another book, and I can only wait in wonder, to see what this amazing author will create next. As Philip Pullman once said, "We don't need lists of rights and wrongs, tables of do's and don'ts. We need books, time, and silence. Thou shalt not is soon forgotten, but Once upon a time lasts forever." And in my bookshelf, Lyra's story will live forever too, until the time comes when I feel able to re-read this masterpiece, and maybe then, there shall be less tears than the first time, though I doubt it very much. Sophie Anne Stott - Founder of the Philip Pullman fan club - Oxford
Rating:
Summary: Great!
Review: Phillip Pullman finished up this series very well. He expands on what happens with the subtle knife. The ending is very good--but it still leaves you wondering a little bit more. Some parts are very sad (you get to hear about Lyra's "Great Betrayal" which the master of Jordan College prophesied with the alethiometer) but in others it is just as happy as always. Phillip Pullman is a great writer, and this book was just as imaginative as his past ones. However (DON'T READ THIS IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE BOOK) he goes a little bit to far to make it sad at the end. You can sort of tell that it was an afterthought for them not to live together. Right towards the end, when you hear that they can't live together because of the differences in the world, you KNOW that they're going to fall in love. In my opinion, it would have been better without that (both falling in love and not being able to live together.) They should have been good friends and lived together.
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