The Golden Compass
*** By Philip Pullman. Part of the “His Dark Materials” trilogy which also includes The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass. I’m going to talk about all three.
The trilogy is a fantasy more on the side of magical realism (but really it is a fantasy, not magical realism), and it is very dark and suspenseful. The protagonist is a 12-year old girl named Lyra, from a Cambridge not quite like ours, who is suddenly drawn into an adventure involving serial kidnapping, assassination attempts, gypsies, the Aurora Borealis, original sin, and the possibility of parallel universes. She is, of course, joined by her daemon (literal soulmate) Pantalaimon. The first book follows Lyra very closely for the most part, and the plot is gripping. It’s fantasy at peak creativity, and the writing is very fine as well, unlike 99% of fantasy books.
If I were evaluating the first book alone, I might give it 4 diamonds. I was disappointed by the turn the trilogy took after the first book, but I won't say how except that grand apocalyptic plots and having to follow 30 major characters kind of gets on my nerves. I liked it when the plotpoints were still mysterious and while point of view was limited to Lyra, for the most part.
Over all, though, if you are looking for a good, fun read and good writing, this trilogy is a good bet!
Posted by Lisa on April 15, 2002 03:53 PM