The story is brilliant whether one is Christian or not. Enjoy it for it's entertainment value. Friendship, loyalty, and self sacrifice for the greater good of humanity. That a young girl could have such a profound understanding of her own purpose, a greater responsibility than any being other than God Himself. Some people found the books more difficult to read as they progressed, but I feel the story became more rich as you read. A little difficult for a child to read, but a worthy title for even the pickiest reader's bookcase.

I've always loved the classic fantasy works of Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, LeGuin and most recently, J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. However, my absolute favorite is His Dark Materials. Not only is it a bold interpretation of Paradise Lost, another one of my favorite reads, but it's full of completely new ideas, characters, and theories; not to mention it's coming from a completely different philosophical perspective. The idea of parallel universes was enough for me to get hooked. The Golden Compass is probably the slowest reads of the series, but it serves the purpose as being an introduction. Once you read the the Subtle Knife, you will be completely mesmerized; not to mention this series has one of the greatest and most heartbreaking endings ever in the Amber Spyglass. Pullman is a master story-teller and I will never get over the fact that he chose to use a young girl as the main hero - and is able to write her perspective brilliantly.

I loved the trilogy! I couldn't stop reading, Pullman's story-telling talents are intoxicating! I would recommend this book to anyone who loves to read and to be entertained.

As and elementary teacher I have read a lot of books, I read just about anything. So as usual when I heard that they made this series into a movie I decided to read the books before watching the movie. I went into the series with an open mind and some excitement. I found the Golden Compass well written and entertaining. So I quickly moved to The Subtle Knife only to be greatly disapointed. It moved into some VERY strange directions and my interest and energy to read the book started to lessen. By the time I got to the end I was confused and happy I had finally gotten through. With much less excitement I moved on to book three The Amber Spyglass only to constantly think WHAT??? I had to force myself to finish the book. The only reason I did was because I wanted to see if the book could somehow pull it self out the the huge hole it had dug. Nope, didn't happen. By the time I got to the end of the VERY depressing ending I was so relieved to just be finished. I was also left very confused and sad that what started out as a nice read ended up so badly.

I will also add that I tried VERY hard to put my beliefs aside as I read this book so that I could read it with an open mind. But time and time again I was hit with subtle and not so subtle messages. Enough said.

Having said that I did not give this book 1 star for its anti Christian/God message. I gave it 1 star for a VERY poorly written series. As others before me have said if you must, go to your library and check out the Golden Compass and enjoy, but don't waste your time trying to struggle through the next two books or you like me will regret your wasted time. Or I hate to say, rent the movie, it is fairly close to the book and will only take a few hours of your time.

His Dark Materials is a really good series of books. I've never been much for fantasy, nor have I read a lot of children's books. Harry Potter looks boring, so I've stayed away. My draw to these books started with a an e-mail forward last Christmas, one of those alarmist e-mails trying to convince me to boycott the movie due to its "atheist themes."...I wanted to see what all the controversy was about, what could rile up the e-mail mob.

Pullman's story is fascinating. Yes, his story does challenge authoritarianism and dogma. He does so in a way that not only entertains, but provokes thoughts, forcing the reader to challenge his beliefs on human nature. The story isn't necessarily anti-God, as much as it deconstructs the mythology we've created around the worship of God. This theme isn't in any way heavy handed...the story is also one of two children growing up and developing their own worldview.

Despite all the symbolism and controversy, these are 3 very good books that were fun to read.

This is one of the most original fantasies I have read in a long time. I found it a good read. The first book is by far the best of the three. However, I think parents should read them first before deciding to give them to their children. These are very dark stories. The first book alone includes murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, torture, and betrayal. It is hard to know who is the good guy, and who is the villain. It is also openly anti-church (not that I had a problem with that, but some people might).
It is interesting that Pullman, an atheist, has written a trilogy that is actually profoundly spiritual. The positive themes (yes, there are some) include friendship, loyalty, honor, cleaning up messes ( both the ones you have made and those of others ), keeping your word, and generally trying to do the right thing. Pullman presents a different concept of "soul" than has previously been explored.
All in all this is a thought-provoking work, and worth the read, but I would say NOT suitable for younger children.

I loved Pullman's "His dark materials" trilogy , that's why I bought it as a gift.

Phillip Pullman's Dark Materials Trilogy is nice recreational reading. It helps clear the mine from all the routine stuff that we all face every day.

The set of books by Philip Pullman arrived in excellent condition in their own display box. Thank you Amazon.com for your wonderful work.

I thought just as a read it was great fun, mostly the first one, I didn't love the second two nearly as much as the golden compass. But they were still a fun read. But as an older reader I love the ideas of man, heaven, and god. When people say that this book is trying to insult religion and/or christianity don't take their word for it. I do not beileve that is what Pullman was trying to do, he wanted to make you think, and give us a new idea of what life and heaven might be, or mean to us. And he never quite says which side is right or wrong. I strongly suggest these books to anyone who likes to think or just a fun and interesting read!

I just finished re-reading Phillip Pullman's astonishing trilogy for the third time. No, I'm not an eager 11-year-old desperate for a Potter substitute. I'm a thirty-two year old English teacher happily immersed in the modern day renaissance that is children's fantasy. Of course, like any renaissance, there are the founding fathers, such as C.S. Lewis. There are the, at times, appallingly bad writers like Stephenie Meyer and there are the highly capable, thrilling storytellers like Madeleine L'engle, Lois Lowry, and J.K. Rowling.

And then there is Phillip Pullman outstripping them all with his spiritually complex, daringly original trilogy, "His Dark Materials."

The great thing about Pullman's series is that it works on two levels. Adult readers (and even academics) will note his ingenious use of literary allusions, scientific theories, history, and various myths and religious beliefs to bring to life not just multiple worlds, but multiple universes. Young readers will appreciate his carefully crafted, highly suspenseful plot, his exciting descriptions of exotic worlds, and his heroic, compelling characters, all of whom must suffer and make difficult choices in a time of great upheaval.

I dare not give any plot details away--the twists and turns are too clever to ruin--but I do want to say a word about Pullman's contribution in terms of fantasy literature for young girls. This series is certainly one that boys will enjoy, chalk full as it is with giant armored bears, action-packed battle sequences, texas ballooners, gyspies, and a young boy, Will, who becomes the second protagonist when he shows up in book two and learns to wield a knife that cuts through the very fabric of the universe.

However, unlike, say, "The Chronicles of Narnia," which demonizes female power, or "The Lord of the Rings," which pushes women to the side, or even "Harry Potter," which, let's face it, is mostly about a young boy's quest, "His Dark Materials" centers on Lyra, a feisty, smooth-talking, brave, highly independent, young, intelligent female protagonist. She absolutely explodes gender expectations and her adventurous, hilariously gutsy spirit leaves you realizing just how few strong female characters we have in fantasy children's (or young adult's) literature. Pullman reverses expectations again with his sympathetic depiction of female witches and with his complex portrayal of Mrs. Coulter, who is neither entirely good nor entirely evil.

I also want to say a word about the controversy surrounding these books, a controversy that says more about the insecurities of certain fundamentalist Christians then it says about the books themselves. Some Christian groups (especially when "The Golden Compass" movie came out, which by the way, does not capture the immense scope of the first book in any way) would have you believe that Pullman is advocating nothing less than the death of God. They are incorrect in this assessment, however, because what Pullman really advocates is the death of mindless dogma that results in people unthinkingly following precepts they have not examined for themselves. His books argue against those who use their religious authority to manipulate and gain power for themselves, especially those who persecute people who do not adhere to their narrow codes of thought and conduct.

The "authority" who dies in book three is not a god of love; he is the "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" deity, a god who gladly sends people to a bleak, joyless afterlife, a god who once lusted after power and is now kept alive by those who seek power in his name. If you worship the God of love, of brotherhood, of forgiveness, of infinite understanding and wisdom, then Pullman's novels are no threat to you. That kind of god is absolutely in keeping with the spirit of these books, which are closer to being agnostic then anything else, but are certainly not atheistic.

In fact, to call Pullman's books anti-religious is to miss the heart of his luminous story, a story that dares to re-imagine Eve's fall, as well as a new way to view death, a story that celebrates life itself--all the passion, joy and sorrow life offers, all of the physical pleasures of everyday life--in a way few novels do, let alone children's novels. This series is, in fact, one of the most deeply spiritual works I've ever come across, rewarding intelligent seekers of all faiths.

Come with an open mind and you will not be disappointed.

I just finished re-reading Phillip Pullman's astonishing trilogy for the third time. No, I'm not an eager 11-year-old desperate for a Potter substitute. I'm a thirty-two year old English teacher happily immersed in the modern day renaissance that is children's fantasy. Of course, like any renaissance, there are the founding fathers, such as J. R. R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. There are the shallow, appallingly bad writers like Stephenie Meyer and there are the highly capable, thrilling storytellers like Madeleine L'engle, Lois Lowry, and J.K. Rowling.

And then there is Phillip Pullman outstripping them all with his spiritually complex, daringly original trilogy, "His Dark Materials."

The great thing about Pullman's series is that it works on two levels. Adult readers (and even academics) will note his ingenious use of literary allusions, scientific theories, history, and various myths and religious beliefs to bring to life not just multiple worlds, but multiple universes. Young readers will appreciate his carefully crafted, highly suspenseful plot, his exciting descriptions of exotic worlds, and his heroic, compelling characters, all of whom must suffer and make difficult choices in a time of great upheaval.

I dare not give any plot details away--the twists and turns are too clever to ruin--but I do want to say a word about Pullman's contribution in terms of fantasy literature for young girls. This series is certainly one that boys will enjoy, chalk full as it is with giant armored bears, action-packed battle sequences, and a young boy, Will, who becomes the second protagonist when he shows up in book two and learns to wield a knife that cuts through the very fabric of the universe.

However, unlike, say, "The Chronicles of Narnia," which demonizes female power, or "The Lord of the Rings," which pushes women to the side, or even "Harry Potter," which, let's face it, is mostly about a young boy's quest, "His Dark Materials" centers on Lyra, a feisty, smooth-talking, brave, highly independent, young, intelligent female protagonist. She absolutely explodes gender expectations and her adventurous, hilariously gutsy spirit leaves you realizing just how few strong female characters we have in fantasy children's (or young adult's) literature. Pullman reverses expectations again with his concept of the witches and with his complex portrayal of Mrs. Coulter, who is neither entirely good nor entirely evil.

I also want to say a word about the controversy surrounding these books, a controversy that says more about the insecurities of certain fundamentalist Christian groups then it says about the books themselves. Some groups (especially when "The Golden Compass" movie came out, which by the way, is awful) would have you believe that Pullman is advocating nothing less than the death of God. They are incorrect in this assessment, however, because what Pullman really advocates is the death of mindless dogma that results in people unthinkingly following precepts they have not examined for themselves. His books argue against those who use their religious authority to manipulate and gain power for themselves, especially those who persecute people who do not adhere to their narrow codes of thought and conduct.

But to call Pullman's books anti-religious is to miss the heart of his luminous story, a story that dares to re-imagine Eve's fall, as well as the afterlife, a story that celebrates life itself--all the passion, joy and sorrow everyday life offers--in a way few novels do, let alone children's novels. This series is, in fact, one of the most deeply spiritual works I've ever come across, rewarding intelligent seekers of all faiths.

Come with an open mind and you will not be disappointed!

I purchased this box set after seeing the movie and out of curiousity (to see what the Christian Coalition was up in arms about). Books 1 and 2 were fine but when I got to the 3rd I could not finish it. I am a Protestant and perhaps this will turn some folks off from reading this review - perhaps it won't for others. Pullman is an admitted atheist and has advised he wrote these books to be an antithesis to C.S. Lewis' works - Chronicles of Narnia. Pullman has criticized Lewis' works (and everyone has a right to do so of any work, don't get me wrong).

I was actually offended by the fact that Pullman is using children in the story to further his atheistic agenda. There is brutality against the children by the so-called church in his story, making the church out to be a bunch of crazy, evil people... These children are abused psychologically and killed by these very same people. The main character's father and mother are insane as well - not something I see as virtuous at all. Aside from that, Pullman takes the topic of God further by suggesting He is a deceitful and lying entity(I won't spoil it with a more detailed explaination for you if you so choose to read this literature).

In short I was spiritually disturbed by this series. I am a very open minded person when it comes to books. I love to read sci-fi, fantasy works (I love Dune as an example) but this series I could not tolerate. I am offended by Pullman and quite frankly, his writing stinks in general - it's awkward for a lack of a better word/description. I say it again, having this pointed towards children and using children to fulfill his atheistic agenda is outright obnoxious.

I have this box set in the cardboard recyclying can. Very disappointed in this series.

When I saw the Golden Compass movie The Golden Compass (New Line Platinum Series Two-Disc Widescreen Edition) and the excellent acting of Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig (much different than his 007 role that same year, obviously), I wanted to read the book. Then I saw the reviews of the trilogy written by Phillip Pullman and was taken aback by the lower star reviews, accusations of religious suppression and not allowing these books to be read by children (winner of the British Book Award for Children amongst other top accolades!). Gosh, where was I, back in Puritan New England?

To be a brief review, The Golden Compass was much richer than the film. Lyra Belacqua is a brat of the girl, knows the ropes and has street smarts and is a compulsive liar. She lives in an alternate reality where one wears ones' soul, which is in the form of a "daemon", an animal that lives as you live and takes on a personality that reflects your own. Wolves for soldiers, snakes for lawyers, that kind of thing. Someone is kidnapping children. When her best friend is kidnapped as well, she searches for him, has a run-in with Mrs. Coulter (quite the nasty b*tch with the nasty smile, which Kidman captured well in the film), giant bears in armor and the discovery of a secret lab up north that would make Frankenstein jealous. An ending that could mean the end of all dimensions. Kinda reminded me of Crisis on Infinite Earths (comics story) mixed with Harry Potter, sort of. Slow slogging, but picks up the pace quite well. The movie ends about three-quarters into the book.

The Subtle Knife is a knife that can cut a hole into any universe. Its acquisition of it requires physical loss and despair. Will feels he's up to the task. With a father who abandoned him long ago and a mother who is one card short of a full deck, he meets up with Lyra from the last book. This is their story. But it's also a story of the Church. The Church in this universe is suppressive, and wants to stop Lord Asriel, who wants to start a new war against "The Authority". Complete with angels and vampires that suck your soul out of your body, I can understand why a narrow-minded, shortsighted evangelist might feel offended. But come on! It's a fictional story. A fantasy with angels and demons. The author `s message is not kill all religion and destroy God. It's a story of hope, honor and integrity, friends and foes. What struck me is wondering who the bad guys really were. A bit long on plot and short on realism, but hey, it's a fantasy.

The Amber Spyglass introduces a scientist from our own time who slips into a third dimension. You see, there are holes into other universes that some people forgot to close up. She finds a race of creatures who live by an interesting code of honor and cooperation. The Amber Spyglass is an instrument that can see Dust, this stuff that seems to be composed of the "stuff" of the universe. The "kill God" plot is secondary to the fate of Lord Asriel, Lyra and her love for her parents and Will. Definitely lessons learned here would be satisfactory for any parent to pass onto their children.

So is Phillip Pullman trying to create atheists from his novels? No. No more than J.K. Rowling is trying to create witches and promote potions and spells with Harry Potter.

These stories won awards for their language, integrity and merit. God is Love and that's what the story's about. Can't be simpler than that. I'm no stranger to religious bigotry and intolerance. This set of books is far from that conclusion.

Overall, 5 stars for the bravery of the author to tackle controversy through the instrument of fantasy stories and the development of Lyra, a character who learns there's more to life than lying and street smarts!

Shipping was really fast, books were in great condition! I read the trilogy in two weeks!

I somehow skipped over these books in my adolescence (though I read and enjoyed another series of Pullman books) and I'm SO GLAD that I've finally gotten around to reading them because they are truly amazing. Not only full of adventure and intrigue and many well-sketched characters, but also full of deeper meanings and issues that I might not have picked up on as a child. All three are wonderfully rich and suspenseful and as soon as I finished the first I knew I had to read on through the end. If you haven't read them I would highly recommend it and if you haven't read them since your childhood I would suggest reading through them again. Truly thought-provoking and wonderful.

I would not expect to see this fantasy series on a recommended reading list put out by the Catholic Church. He is clearly not a fan of heroically/autocratic religious organizations.

The book chronicles the actions and adventures of a young girl and her friends against a corrupted, power hungry "church". The characters are well developed and seem "alive" in every sense, including the non-human ones. The book holds together well. There is a lot of action, good dialog, suspense, etc., everything that makes for a good read.

I would have given the series a 5 star rating, but I was not satisfied with the ending, although some may disagree.

All humans in Phillip Pullman' universe have a "daemon" spiritually attached to them, that is a reflection of that humans soul. The daemon can take many shapes when the human is young, but as the human matures into an adult, the daemon takes its permanent form.

As a Protestant Christian, I decided to read these books because I wanted to have an educated opinion of them and all the controversy surrounding them. The result was that I came away with an odd mixture of opinions.

First of all, for all parents out there (especially Christian ones) these are NOT books for young children to read. They contain scenes of graphic violence, they encourage lying and rebellion. They glorify preadolescent, and extramarital sex, even if it is in a very subtle way. For those who care, they are the most anti-Christian, anti-faith story books I have ever read. Philip Pullman is an atheist/agnostic and makes it abundantly clear in his trilogy.

Secondly and from a purely literary point of view, Pullman is a very gifted writer. He knows how to weave a fascinating story. He makes one care about his characters and the fate of his worlds. The correlation to "Paradise Lost" is brilliant. Sadly, he has thrown away his potential to write about truly great things by choosing to ruminate on his own hatred of "organized religion' i.e. Christianity. It is very pointedly Christianity he writes against and not just any organized religion. He makes no comparisons at all in the books to Islamic jihads or other religions which have spawned blood baths. I also find it interesting that he makes no allegorical allusions to any kind of non-Christian political party which uses its power to oppress people. The communist party is responsible for millions of deaths and its leaders are comprised almost solely of atheists. Would have been interesting if he had mentioned them.

He uses his books to drive home his own agenda and believe me he DOES have an agenda. As opposed to the relatively harmless Harry Potter books, it is impossible to read these stories and deny any ulterior motives. Pullman himself has stated that his intention in writing these books was to influence children toward atheism. This is a direct quote from "The Amber Spyglass": "The Christian religion is a very powerful and convincing mistake, that's all." How in the world do people argue that these books are not anti-Christian?

A third conclusion I drew from these books is that Pullman has a terrible, terrible understanding of Christianity itself. I mean he really does not get it. (I suppose this is true of all atheists) His experience with the Christian faith is only that of the politics, rules and corruption of the Catholic Church. He has no grasp whatsoever of true faith in the God of the Bible. He knows the Bible but he does not understand it. He views sin as "natural pleasures" and depicts resistance to it as "repression". He also seems to suffer from the delusion that Christianity discourages any kind of sexual pleasure. This is a gross misconception. God strongly encourages it as long as it is within the bonds of marriage. (Read "The Song of Solomon".)

I was both disgusted and amused at Pullman's depiction of "God" as a feeble and geriatric being. I assume that this character is a fantasized version of what he thinks God is really like. The last book especially is overflowing with the relief he would evidently feel if the world were to discover that God was simply a fraud. Poor man. If his "God" were truly the one running the world it would be in a much worse state than it actually is. I suspect that, contrary to Pullman's claims that he is an atheist or agnostic (he can't seem to make up his mind which) he is in reality a misotheist (one who hates God). If he were simply indifferent to God and to Christianity, then I don't see the reason for him to basically write a three-book rant against the two, ending with "God" being killed. There's definitely some kind of negative feeling going on there.

The end result is a confusing and morally ambiguous world view. I don't envy him it. His books are populated by broken families and separated loved ones. His explanation about death is basically lifted from the hindu religion. I could not figure out what his heroin's great "choice" was supposed to have done for the universe. There is a definite flavor of nihilism and anarchy by the end of the third book. He tries to reconcile it all with a neat little moral admonition, which I suppose is his version of the meaning of life; basically to be good and learn a lot and work for grace, but it falls flat. (Incidentally both of these concepts are directly contradictory to Christianity; we are told that we cannot work for grace, it is freely given and that "All our righteousness (being good) is like filthy rags." Isaiah 64 4-9)

The whole time I was reading HDM, a verse from the Bible kept popping into my mind: "For the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those who are being saved it is the power of God." I Corinthians 1:18) Poor Philip Pullman is a shining example of the first part of that verse.
In ending, I would actually encourage people (older people) to read these books. They are a fascinating insight into an atheist's faith system, not to mention ripping good stories. (If you can stomach all the polemic.) When you're done with these, I challenge you to go read the Bible cover-to-cover and compare it against Pullman's personal gospel. I know which one I'm sticking with.

I would only rate "His Dark Materials" with one star except that I have to tack on an extra one simply as a nod to Pullman's writing talent. I hope one day he might use it for God's glory as opposed to rebellion against Him.

Now having dared to express my opinion, I shall serenely await a volley of abuse accusing me of being a judgmental, self-righteous, deluded, close-minded, preachy, bigot. Apparently that is the norm among Christians these days.

I have only had time to read the first novel, "The Golden Compass". This is a great start to a fantasy trilogy. Great fun for young readers and adult readers as well. I can hardly wait to get through the next two books and see where Pullman goes with this epic story. A must read for fantasy enthusiasts!

I bought the trilogy looking for an opportunity for my imagination to take wing. Philip Pullman does a great job of bringing this adult back to her childhood and the ready fantasy I found there when learning how to interpret and understand a complex world. I loved the drama, passion, and loyalty of the heroine. It's an exceptional read. . .

His Dark Materials Trilogy (The Golden Compass; The Subtle Knife; The Amber Spyglass) (His Dark Materials)I bought this as a new set and received exactly what was advertised. I've only read the first book as of yet, but must say the book was WAY BETTER than the movie. Can't wait to read the remaining two. Process of ordering and receiving book set was easy and fast. I will definitely use this site again for future purchases.

I first was introduced to this trilogy by a friend that had the audiobooks. It was a fantastic story that kept me on the edge of my seat. The characters are full of life and the story is jam packed full of excitement. If you want a story that will take you to other worlds and draw you into them, check this one out!

I just finished this trilogy. Amazing accomplishment by Philip Pullman. To describe these as children's books does not to them justice, as they are written at a very sophisticated level. His prose is delectable, the story moves at a fast and never lagging pace. Yes there are children as protagonists, but I am an adult with no children and read these eagerly for myself alone. HIs scope is staggering and the overall story inventive and original. I've read the Harry Potter series and this trilogy is FAR SUPERIOR in my opinion, mainly because the writing is so much better and more complicated (though not to detract from JK Rowling). I really had no idea where the story would end so my attention was held to the last page. This series of books is really of the highest order of fiction and deserves a place among the great adventure fiction that has been written to date.

**Spoiler Alert: Do not read this review, if you haven't read the books yet and plan to do so.**

The trilogy starts promisingly, and I was quite happy with the first book. It reads like an allegory of our own world. I am an atheist/agnostic and have very little sympathy for the catholic church, so I found some of these themes quite appealing and interesting. But as the story progresses in the second book the characters start getting more shallow, and less interesting and the story starts getting illogical twists that just seem to make no sense in the context of the story line, the plot seems to follow the whims of the writer and not it's own inner logic that the first book promisingly build up. The third book continues this trend. Nothing makes sense anymore. And don't understand this wrongly. A fantasy story doesn't have to "make sense", but it has to follow it's own set of rules or the storyline is shattered. When the rules are broken the reader starts feeling he's being manipulated. While the world of the first book was full of life, promise, hope, wonder and achievement when the world was on the brink of a great war and children were being kidnapped, the ending of the third book is the emotional opposite - after the universe has been saved.
The way Pullman forces apart the two kids who saved the universe is more arbitrary and manipulative than the catholic church, makes less logical sense than Leviticus, and is cruel as the inquisition. The two kids have killed and have seen death, they have lost all their loved ones, they have lost their friends, they are alone in the world except for each other and they have just fallen in love to give them hope. And at just that moment Pullman pulls them apart for the arbitrary reason that a single specter (a bit annoying creature, but something the angels and ghosts and the knife can combat) could enter the world every ten years if a window between the worlds was kept open. Compared to the wonders, achievement and joy the inter-action and collaboration of the different worlds could achieve that is a very very small price. And not just these two kids but the larger context in which the good forces of different worlds could combine their powers. There is nothing free thought, no wonder, no compassion about the way Pullman concludes the trilogy. The values the ending reflects are the very same values, anti-imagination anti-freedom, Pullman set himself to challenge. The third book is just horrible. One of the worst endings I have ever read.

Not recommended reading for children. I don't mind the anti-catholicism angle, but the way the reader is manipulated and how imagination and wonder are cruelly restricted is not a message of freedom. Completely puzzled how the second and third book have generally got good reviews.

I am agnostic and not a religious person. However, these three novels are anti-christian and anti-catholic in particular. They substitute another religion in place of Christianity. They deal with organized religion as an absolute evil.
The stories are not nearly as well written as the Harry Potter novels. The universes they portray are dark ones. The title of the trilogy: "His Dark Materials" is a fitting one.

First, I went into it with the understanding that it was an atheistic book. And maybe the metaphor he uses simply isn't (to me) accurate and he does mean the antagonists to represent organized religion, not God Himself, but to me, the metaphor seems almost pro-Satan. Again, it may be that I'm being a bit too technical when looking at the metaphor. But when you take character A and equate it to God, then character B does NOT, to me, represent atheism or free thinking, but Satan himself. Or maybe you're supposed to take it a step further, and believe Satan *is* Man and there are no forces of Good and Evil, but rather, Human and a tyrannical higher being. But I was surprised by how the tone of the book (seems to) denounce the actual Person of God, not organized religion. I also found the POV a bit one-sided. Apparently, if you are a God follower, you must be stupid or evil, end of story.

Second, I found his writing style so bad, I'm surprised it made it past the first editing, much less the final. He writes in the third person, but he jumps perspectives within the same page, sometimes within the same paragraph. You don't follow the characters' thoughts very well, because he's constantly jumping from one to another. Additionally, he tries the metaphor technique, but he obviously thinks his audience is too stupid, so he barrels through with an explanation. Seriously...if you're going to use a metaphor for a story, stick with it. Don't SUDDENLY explain EXACTLY in REAL LIFE what is happening because to do so, you must leave the story. In this way, he reminds me of Ayn Rand, who will spend 4 pages on a monologue about real ideas in an otherwise symbolic storyline, but at least her writing style was superb; his is not. Also, everyone -- from the main children character to people who seem to represent the Vatican -- speak in what I assume is supposed to be a low class English (except for the "Texan", whose verbage seems to be based on John Wayne movies). Another thing he does that annoys me is, he fills in parts of the plot by having the characters simply tell a story about how something happened,; the audience does not experience the events as part of the story, but is simply told via the character telling someone else. He also uses the word "desperately" a lot even when it really didn't make sense ("she was desperately hungry", "He seemed desperately naive", "Ann desperately wanted to just finish the series").

Third, some of the ideas are so complex, it's obviously geared towards adults or older audiences. But he tries (to me) to really emulate CS Lewis' simple style (I think he wrote the trilogy in response to the Narnian Chronicles), who writes the NC for children. It just doesn't work. It might have if he had stayed within the story but he REALLY REALLY REALLY wants to MAKE SURE you know what he's trying to say. He is not a subtle writer, in which case he shouldn't try to use a subtle technique.

Fourth, the entire series is plot-driven. I have always been of the thought that any good book/show/movie is character-driven, and you may disagree. But he makes his characters act how they need to act to move the plot along, even if you might think it's very out of character. I didn't feel any of the characters, not even the main characters, or the different worlds, had any depth. He tells you WHAT the characters think/do but not why.

Those are my gripes. Overall, if he had simply stuck with the story, then this would have been a very good children's series, written for juvenile audiences. But he wants to make sure you know he has higher ideas behind it. I think the Narnian Chronicles (and maybe the Lord of the Rings...there is some debate if Tolkien also meant his series to be religious) work because you are never 100% certain Lewis MEANT it to be religious. In fact, reading it as a kid, I didn't realize there was any Christian connotation. But Pullman pulls too many direct parallels to the Bible and the Catholic Church, he leaves no doubt where he is trying to head. One parallel at the end made me LOL; it was so absurd...just ONE MORE NAIL...DO YOU GET IT? SEE WHAT I'M TRYING TO TELL YOU? I HAVE TO TELL YOU THIS ONE TOO, JUST IN CASE THE MILLION OTHER UNSUBTLE HINTS I GAVE LEFT YOU ANY DOUBT. I tried to just read it as an enjoyable fiction but he keeps slamming you with these comparisons so it becomes a chore to read.

Oh one more gripe -- he obviously only has a problem with Western religion, not organized in general. Apparently the Taoists and Buddhists had it right, though.

Volume 2 of this handsome trilogy package from Knopf came with many of
the later pages improperly bound, with portions of each sentence cut off
in the gutter. Someone in Knopf quality control wasn't paying attention.
I bought the Pullman trilogy for my wife as a gift, and it came shrink-
sealed, so the problem originated with the publisher, not Amazon.

I've read a number of one-star reviews that compel me to write a review myself. What I think is disturbing is the lack of recognition of the spirituality in Phillip Pullman's writing that reviewers seem to have. This book is not a testament of atheism. On the contrary. There is a VAST difference between spirituality and religiosity. I think Pullman attempts to make these differences more stark in his story-telling.

That does not make one an atheist.

Like the characters in the book we are invited to look beyond our own limited vision of our world and our concepts of what we believe God to embody. Pullman is not out to destroy God, rather he is out to destroy the reification of spirituality. Those that criticize this series on this basis are missing the point entirely. I suggest you go back and re-read with an OPEN mind.

For those who have not read it, it's an enjoyable series that at times can drag a little bit in plot and have seemingly point-less diversions. The arc of the story is not limited to one book but rather all three. See it through and you will understand. Read with an open-mind...because when it comes down to it there is no other way to be.

I greatly enjoyed this trilogy, and would definitely recommend it to other readers. It does have some complicated themes however, so I would probably lean towards 14 and up for the readers age.
One note, the second book had two pages that were narrower then the rest, and error that obviously occurred in manufacturing, fortunately, the text on the pages is complete. Otherwise a very nice package.

I read this series solely because of all the anti-religious hype created by Christians surrounding the movie "The Golden Compass." I'm a Christian myself and believe that Christians are a fickle bunch of people who get excited about the littlest of things, so I thought I'd read this series for myself and decide if it was truly anti-religious or not.

The conclusion I came to was: yes and no. The first two books barely touch religion at all. Sure, we mention the church and some of the weird and evil things the church is dabbling in. But the church scenes are few and far in between. The Golden Compass is more the story of Lyra traveling all over creation with a ton of different characters. Some people praise the first book as being very exciting and whatnot, but I find it absurd in many cases all the things Lyra does. I frankly don't care about her adventure or what she is doing at all. And the first three or four chapters of the book--entirely boring. Some people write that they were hooked within the first few pages--I don't see how that's possible. The first chapter was the worst chapter of the entire series. I would've put the book down right then and there but I kept reading, hoping to find what all the controversy was about.

And I couldn't find much controversial in the first two books. Many people write that these books aren't for children. Perhaps you could argue that the violence is too much, or some of the weirder parts are too much (like the group of people that drill holes in their skulls. What's that all about?). But from a religious standpoint, there's nothing in these first two books that's going to derail a child's faith and make him or her into an atheist.

The thing that bothered me the most about the first book (and all the books really) was the concept of daemons. What's the point of them? They serve no purpose at all! Pan rarely talks to Lyra, and when he does, he has nothing interesting to say. Why? Because he is Lyra! He's just an outward extention of her. Daemons rarely contribute anything in the fight scenes, they rarely do anything practical. They are simply there for cute purposes. In The Golden Compass, the kids think it's SO HORRIBLE that daemons are separated from their partners, but as a reader, I could care less. And that's bad that I don't care about daemons, because the Golden Compass is largely focused on them.

And a note to Pullman: how many times to we need to read that Pan "hung close to Lyra's breast" or "clutched Lyra's breast," or in any other way attaches himself to her breast. She's a 12 year old for crying out loud. All this talk of her breasts and animals attaching to them makes me think Pullman is slightly attracted to the female character he's created.

The second book wasn't much better than the first. Other reviewers point out Will's stoic nature and the cliched plot of sick mother, father gone left him. I must admit, though, that the subtle knife and the altheithometer are two very cool fantasy items. The amber spyglass, however, was introduced way too late in the third book and isn't that impressive at all. I could've done without it.

The third book is where everybody has problems with, in a literary and religious sense. First literary. The book has too much going on at once. The angels. The intention craft. Mary's spill into another world with wheeled creatures. None of this is needed. Metatron? As somebody else said, Metatron feels more appropriate in a Japanese mecha anime.

The most exciting part of the book was the land of the dead scene, which I felt was a satisfying explanation of death, but the scene was way too long. I was waiting for the church stuff to explode wide open, but it never did. Throughout the whole series we are told how bad the church is, but we never really see them taken on and attacked. Instead Pullman's church does not in any way reflect the real church of today, so it's hard to take any of his criticisms seriously.

And then we get to the confrontation with the Authority. Completely anticlimatic. And it comes roughly 2/3 through the book? This is the first book I've ever read where somebody kills God, and the scene with God was only a few pages and not what I was expecting.

And what happens after God dies? The story drags on and brings up unnecessary details. Daemons being separated. Will getting a daemon. Another convoluted explanation of Dust. And windows needing to be closed up. It goes on and on past the point of caring for this reader.

In the end: I'm glad to have read the series, I won't sell it but I probably won't read it again. The criticism of Christianity didn't bother me because the Christianity of Pullman in no way correlates with the real Christianity of our world. If the church really was like the church in the book, then I too would become an atheist. But it's not. Parents have nothing to fear from this book. I suspect most kids will have a hard time really following the criticism of religion. In all, a substandard fantasy work that will only be remembered for being the first major fantasy work by an atheist targeted at children. I think people who praise this series are more in love with the IDEA of an atheist fantasy story than they are with the actual execution of the story.

His Dark Materials Trilogy boxed set by Philip Pullman

If you are already a fan of this trilogy, then this is a wonderful set. Each hardcover is sturdy with thick pages. We noticed very few editing errors. And the box fits the hardcovers perfectly, unlike some other sets where the books barely fit in the box.

However, if you are not already a fan of the series, I would highly suggest that you read the books from the library BEFORE purchasing this set. We read The Golden Compass and The Subtle Knife and loved them both. In The Golden Compass, you meet young Lyra and her daemon Pan. She has the moral compass of a much older and wiser soul and it's easy to follow her escapades. In The Subtle Knife, Lyra meets Will, who is from our world. The two of them travel through many worlds and meet many peoples--ghosts, witches, gypsies, dragonfly-riding gnomes, and specters (who kill adults). By the third book, you're hooked on their quest to find out the origin of "dust" and to free all of the dead's souls. (Yeah, pretty deep for a kids' book.) But when you read the last book in the trilogy, The Amber Spyglass, Pullman is unable to pull off his grandiose tale's ending. Imagine the Harry Potter series ending after book 5 and you've got, tada, The Amber Spyglass. It ruined the first two books and we even re-read the last chapter again and again because we couldn't believe Pullman just left us hanging. There is no sequel and he leaves a lot of depressing loose ends. The entire last book was like a mishmash of ideas brought in and never completed. Then he rushed to tie up loose ends, killing off four main characters in one chapter alone.

So, I would highly recommend this set if you're already a fan. Otherwise, don't waste your time on this trilogy. The ending is a non-ending and incredibly disappointing.

You know how there are those people who say that children's literature is meaningless? Personally, I think they all need to be forced down in a chair (perhaps as in "A Clockwork Orange") to read "His Dark Materials."

Like other reviewers, when I finished reading "Harry Potter" I was still on a fantasy kick, but I was rather jaded by the titles I saw out there. They seemed boring, predictable, and fluffy. I found Pullman long after he had written "The Golden Compass" (I first read the UK edition, which is called "Northern Lights") so all three books were out and ready for me to read. This was very lucky, as I raced through them in about two weeks between classes.

Honestly, Pullman deserves every comparison to Tolkien he's gotten, and then some. For me (and I LOVE J.K. Rowling), "His Dark Materials" was more engaging than "Harry Potter." Don't get me wrong, "Harry Potter" will always, always be one of my favorite series. I just like Pullman better in different ways. For one, I found myself more able to relate to Lyra than to Harry. And the symbolism. Oh, the symbolism. Not heavy, not snobby- just amazing. The last installment, "The Amber Spyglass," absolutely left me sobbing. I was upset, I was happy, I was in awe, then I was more upset. I've had few books do that to me. They make me emotional, but they certainly don't make me sob for half an hour over the fate of the characters.

Not even a dead Dumbledore made me that unable to recover.

"His Dark Materials" also read very similarly to Tolkien- it really reminded me of "The Hobbit," although a bit more complex. So somewhere between "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" in terms of style. If you're a Tolkien fan, I'd give Pullman a try. It isn't an exact match, but then, where would the fun be? Pullman is more wry, a little more humorous, and extremely ironic.

The plots of all three books, both continuing and sub, were fast paced and creative. I know the book isn't marketed as science fiction, but it's almost more of that than a fantasy. Maybe some of you are familiar with the term steam-punk, referring to books/games where elements of the modern world, science fiction, and the Victorian (sometimes Medieval, but in Pullman's case, Victorian) age are thrown together to create a new world. This is the best example of steam-punk I've ever read. Not that, of course, you have to be familiar with the genre to enjoy "His Dark Materials" at all.

I guess it could be worth mentioning that the whole trilogy loosely parallels "Paradise Lost" and if you're a literature nerd, you might find that to be a bonus. But it's definitely not necessary to know beforehand or even afterwards.

It is, after all, mere "children's" literature.

These books are well-written. The action moves fast. While they are supposedly children's books, they are definitely for mature children, and adults will find them very exciting. Some people have religious issues with the books, but this was not a problem for me.

I picked up a copy of Milton's Paradise Lost a year ago; it has an introduction by Philip Pullman which begins as follows:

"A correspondent once told me a story - which I've never been able to trace, and I don't know whether it's true - about a bibulous, semi-literate, ageing country squire two hundred years ago or more, sitting by his fireside listening to Paradise Lost being read aloud. He's never read it himself; he doesn't know the story at all; but as he sits there, perhaps with a pint of port at his side and with a gouty foot propped up on a stool, he finds himself transfixed.
Suddenly he bangs the arm of his chair, and exclaims, 'By God! I know not what the outcome may be, but this Lucifer is a damned fine fellow, and I hope he may win!'
Which are my sentiments exactly."

Oh, really, Philip? I don't agree with this sentiment and parents who also don't agree with it should know that this trilogy is more transparently anti-Christian and anti-God than Pullman's above statement.

Other reviewers go into more detail but I can't really be bothered wasting any more time talking about these books.

Unlike the Harry Potter series, these books have a clear antireligious, God hating agenda. If you ACTUALLY read these books and understand them there is no way to deny it unless you blatantly lie. No religious bigotry needed. Harry potter is at its core a book promoting the Judeo-Christian values. This book main aim is to brainwash kids against religion (Pullman openly prides himself in that). This is the truth and you should be aware of it. I am not saying don't read the book! I read it through, argued with it and tried to find all the biased representations within. For example, the organs symbolizing religious authority act only to suppress thinking and hurt people- they NEVER do any good. Granted religious authorities have done some horrible things in the past, (the allusion to the inquisition is unmistakable) but NEVER ANY GOOD? If you are aware of what the book is trying to brainwash you to believe then you can use it for some very good conversation and critical thinking. I am just worried about it because it is aimed at young kids who may be too young to be able to do this yet. For those of you who praise the book- you may agree with it, but don't lie about what it says.

Not only is this a very entertaining story - it also makes you think. It's a very deep investigation into the nature of reality, presented in a very easy-to-follow manner. Excellent!

Philip Pullman's books are great - fantastic adventure and wonderful narrative. I have read them before but am reading them again having seen the Golden Compass movie recently. The movie was great but the books are so much richer - but that always seems to be the case. Looking forward to the second movie now.

I don't write a title like that lightly. I read these books when I was little, but didn't appreciate their complexity until I re-read them earlier this year. They're incredibly imagined and written, and - at least in my opinion - never predictable.

After reading the end of Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit a couple times, and all of the Chronicles of Narnia, I really needed a book that would let me escape from the only reading I had been doing which were scholarly articles on Political Science and the Environment for school. I heard about the Golden Compass due tot he movie, but had not yet seen it. So since I had a gift certificate, I figured I'd pick it up on the hope it wasn't going to be a dog.

I have to say I am a slow reader, but this book enchanted me so much I finished it in less than a week (probably would have been a day if I had the time). So I then went and got the other two books, both of which I loved and lost myself in. I do wish there was more, since the ending was, to me, sad (but it's a matter of opinion). However, I think the book puts some good thoughts on what life should be about (in a non-preachy way). I felt as though I could somehow connect with the characters and even though they were in different worlds, still understand what they were feeling. I will admit it gets a tad confusing in the third book with so many worlds being talked about, but it's so enticing I don't think it's hard to follow at all.

If you want a book to take you away into another world(s), that is full of adventure, wonderful characters, action, enchantment, and more- I'd recommend this book highly! I will always have a love for the characters Will and Lyra and it will probably stay as one of my #1 favorite trilogies for a long time.

I also can't wait until his new book "The Book of Dust" comes out!

For people wishing an alternative - for whatever reason - to the insanely popular "Harry Potter" fantasies (to which Philip Pullman's trilogy has been compared), Pullman's tale offers a bracing change. Here's why: even though it has very obvious fantasy elements such as magic and witches and talking bears, it doesn't fit the traditional mold of a fantasy because it draws upon scientific knowledge and theory, which pushes it into SF. However, like other good fantasy, Pullman's tale is also strongly interwoven in myth. Milton's "Paradise Lost" forms the basis of Pullman's overarching theme, woven by a rich fabric of setting and characters, each journeying toward their own sense of purpose and final destiny on this world. This is a book of great scope, unfolding, aptly, through the eyes of a child.

Wrongly (I think) categorized by many as just a YA (young adult) fantasy, this SF-fantasy slipstream should appeal to readers of all ages. It is, after all, a multi-layered tale of universal scope. Pullman, himself, de-emphasizes the fantasy elements of his tale, calling it "stark realism" because these elements (such as daemons) are used to embody phycological truths about human personality. Say's Pullman, "I am trying to write a book about what it means to be human." The coming-of-age of an intrepid girl and boy serves as an elegant metaphor to explore the story of everyman's journey toward enlightenment and whose every step comes with it a price. It brings to mind a quote by Victor Frankl: "What is to give light must endure burning."

Jordon College in Oxford is not an ordinary place for a girl; but then Lyra Belacqua is no ordinary girl, she can hear the hushed messages of truth uttered to her by the strange particles that animate her golden compass. Abandoned to the care of old scholars who know nothing about children, the little scamp runs wild through the streets of the university town, seeking adventure and not quite recognizing her yearning for "home" and love. She finds it - or it finds her - in the most unlikely place when she blunders into a vortex of danger, love, betrayal and intrigue. And it all begins with dust. Again, not just ordinary dust, but "magical" dust. Dust that provides a gateway to thousands of other worlds. . . .

As our intrepid heroine journeys through a rich tapestry of worlds, she meets and recruits the services of an amazing variety of strange creatures in her quest to uncover more of the mystery of dust and the shattering truth of its role in her own destiny. Lyra journeys first to the far reaches of the north, where strange experiments are being conducted and where she meets the formidable armored bears. As she continues on to a mysterious tropical land, Lyra meets Wil, a young boy looking for his lost father, and together they flee the soul-eating Spectors who stalk the streets. Neither is aware that their destinies lie on a collision course with the otherworldly struggle of good and evil and that their innocence will only be one of the casualties.

Pullman spins imaginative and metaphorical worlds both familiar yet unfamiliar - giving us a strange but titillating sense of déjà vu. This is surely what phasing into another universe may well feel like. Pullman pulls off (pardon the pun) what few fantasy writers are capable of doing: he marries arcane SF with the lyrical elements of fantasy - the epic adventure of good vs. evil. He does this by using scientific facts and logical premises and weaves his heroic tale around them. For instance, the idea of parallel universes is not only old but very much in vogue with physicists these days. Check out the May 2003 issue of Scientific American for a good summary on this topic. While Pullman borrows His Dark Materials title from Milton, he also takes the concept of dark matter from real science. Dark matter is some form of matter theorized to exist that cannot be observed by radio, infrared, optical, ultraviolet, x-ray or gamma-ray telescopes and is theorized to be MACHOS, WIMPS, or GAS (see http://chandra.harvard.edu/xray_astro/dark_matter3.html for more info on this incredible particle).

I suppose I was spell-bound by Pullman's imaginative worlds, his sensuous descriptions and his creatively bold use of scientific concepts but it was his complex and passionate characters who captured and still live in my heart. His main character, Lyra, has learned to spin the tallest tales to get by yet she possesses the most sincere and brave heart, and her interactions with her daemen (an alter-ego, part of her soul embodied in an animal bonded with her) are touching and humorous. It is her paradoxical combination of traits that makes her both charming and sweet: she is brave yet vulnerable; enveigling yet genuine; innocent yet crafty; naïve yet wise. She personifies the child in all of us, the child who must grow up and lose something to gain something else. So we laugh with her and we cry for her.

The ending of the third book, which is bitter-sweet but provides excellent closure, leaves the reader - as all good fiction should - fulfilled yet drained, and wondering about both our own personal destinies and how we fit in with the larger questions of our universe. This is a must read for those seeking compelling adventure that does not compromise intelligence for action, character and setting for pace, heart for thrill, depth for speed; and imagination for story.

These books were extremely captivating. Amazingly written. I intend to read every book that Philip Pullman has written!

I am very pleased with my order. The books were in excellent condition and were swiftly delivered.

Thanks!

His Dark Materials Trilogy (The Golden Compass; The Subtle Knife; The Amber Spyglass) (His Dark Materials)

This is an amazing collection, I originaly purchased these books after watching the movie "The Golden Compass" which is the first book in this collection. The way the movie was written is leaves you up in the air at the end of the movie wanting more so when I found out the movie was based on a book and there was a series I purchased them immediatly.
I am a new mother and I do not read much but of coarse if I want my daughter to read I need to show her it is fun so I was looking for a fun and easy to read story and this is it.
These books keep me turning the page, I would compair the type of story to "The lord of the rings" the writer has a great imagination. I feel like I really know the characters.
The story begins in a world similar to ours but different, the largest difference is that the characters spirit or soul is not inside their body but it portraid as an animal that talks and travels with them, adults "demon" (which is what they are called in the book) stay the same but childrens demon change based upon how they feel or the circumstances. This demon like a spirit or a soul determins your personality, and if the demon hurts the person hurts.
I am trying to be very careful not to tell you too much but my parents told me about the story and that is what made me so interisted.
The first book is basicaly about an experiment where the seperate the demon from the child in order to maintain control of their adult behavior. I will stop there because I can go on all day.
I would recomend this series to anyone adult or child with an imagination, it is easy reading and is a wonderful story, bravo to the writer he has made me LOVE reading again.

I ordered this under the impression that these were trade paperbacks, not mass market paperbacks. (In the list of similar items, this set is listed separately from the specific "mass market paperback boxset".)

I guess I didn't pay close enough attention, because indeed these are mass market paperbacks. (If you take the time to look over the full listings for His Dark Materials, you can see that the covers are the same as the individual mass market volumes.)

It's a fairly nice set, for mass market, and a good value -- just not what I was expecting. If you want to buy the series as separate volumes and on the cheap, it's a good choice.

A book with a different point of view than what I read before, but altogether I enjoyed it. The ending was perhaps a little short and not very impressive, so a few points are lost there. Overall a book worth reading.

No point in reviewing the individual books because they don't make sense alone - they are three episodes of a single story. Read "Northern Lights" (or, as I did first, see the approximately corresponding film "The Golden Compass") alone, and one is confronted with an odd children's adventure yarn, admittedly rather darker and more sinister in the book than in the watered-down film. However, one (this one anyway) was still tempted to paraphrase Randy Newman:

O, who would think a girl and bear
Could be well accepted everywhere?
It's just amazing how fair
People can be!

"Northern Lights" is actually a bit of a bore, and one is tempted to scream "GET ON WITH IT!" every few pages. However, it is an essential set-up for what follows. "The Subtle Knife" is a marvellous bit of compulsive page-turning writing as three parallel worlds come into collision and the anti-religious overtones of the trilogy, at which "Northern Lights" only vaguely hints, come more sharply into focus. The character of Will, the boy from our world, with de