1 of 5

Write now Article Tools

Warning: this review contains a fairly detailed synopsis of the series. If you do not want to know what happens please do not read.

INTRODUCTION

His Dark Materials, by author Phillip Pullman, is fantasy adventure made up of three books; Northern Lights, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass. This review will provide a synopsis of each book in the series, which will obviously contain spoilers, then give my own opinions of the trilogy. I will lastly comment on the critical reaction to the religious content of the books.

SYNOPSIS

The first book chronicles the travels of the young and rebellious Lyra from her home in Jordan College, Oxford to the far north of the world. Lyra's world is similar to our own but has some differences. In this world everyone has a dmon, an animal formed manifestation of the person's soul. Lyra and her dmon Pantalaimon leave Oxford to search for her friend Roger, who has been kidnapped by the infamous Gobblers', and find where Lord Asriel, her father, is imprisoned. After first living with her mother Mrs Coulter she joins the boat dwelling Gyptians when she discovers her mother's involvement in the kidnapped children. Together with the help of a Northern armoured bear Iorek Brynison, and a truth reading instrument called an alethiometer they find Roger in a place called Bolvangar where children are being cruelly separated from their dmons, a process which is painful and inevitably fatal. After destroying Bolvangar, with the help of the witches, they find Lord Asriel. The book ends when Lord Asriel murders Roger by separating him from his dmon, and using the residual energy from the process to rip a whole in the fabric of the world.

The second book begins in our own world with a young and secretive boy called Will Parry. Will lives with, and cares for his mother who suffers from mental health problems. His father disappeared a long time ago on an expedition to the far north. After people try to break into his house Will leaves his mother with a family friend and sets out to find his father. He stumbles through a hole into a new world, one tormented by the Spectres, creatures which are invisible to children who feast on adult souls. In this world he meets Lyra who stumbled there through the rift made by Lord Asriel in the first book. Lyra decides to help Will on the search for his father John Parry. Their search intrigues a dark matter expert in Will's world called Mary Malone. Discovering the consciousness of dark matter, or Dust as Lyra

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Book Reviews: His Dark Materials, by Philip Pullman?
We want to hear your view. Write now!