Bubbajay's Totally Awesome and Well Researched Book Review

His Dark Materials By Phillip Pullman
I really recommend this series. Its a trilogy of The Nothern Lights, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass.

In a nut shell, we start off in a parallel world were the Reformation never happened and neither did the two World Wars. People also have personal Daemons which are a physical manifestation of themselves (its get weirder and more fun).

The writing style is actually quite light and although the book is marketed at 'young adults' ("nosin' around, nosin' around") Pullman advises that he had no particular audience on mind. To that end there are some great ideas explored about the soul and the nature of identity, awareness and consciousness. As well as an ever quickening pace of an adventure that involves armoured Polar Bears, Zeppelins, murderous children, angels, tourture and fanatical priests.
In comparing these book's to the Harry Potter series, the principal difference in my opinion is Pullman is a better writer. He knows when to economise, when he has painted a scene with just the right amount colour for us the reader to see as well as allowing us to see though the eyes of the characters. He also has that rare talent for a fantasy writer to be able to invent names without employing the lesser used consonants.
I've never been a fan of the Fantasy Genre for the simple reason that, to me, the author spends far too much time inventing the setting, its history and people's and too little time on prose. The story doesn't seem to want to move along without the usual crutches or clichés.

His Dark Materials works for me because its is simple on the one hand and on the other explores some really great ideas about humanity, evolution, quantum theory.
I can't imagine what some children will make of it, but for me it was good fun.

Four Ninja Stars: ****

PS If you do decide to buy it, look for special edition covers (not the movie tie in's) in the back of the book there are some 'bonus features', that mark Pullman out as good writer.