His+Dark+Materials+Trilogy

**His Dark Materials Trilogy (The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass) by Philip Pullman**
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**Summary/Review**
The trilogy known as His Dark Materials consists of the installments of //The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife// and //The Amber Spyglass.// The three novels capture the coming of age story of Lyra Belacqua and Will Parry as they travel through alternate universes fighting with and against epic forces.

**The Golden Compass**
Originally published under the title //Northern Lights//, //The Golden Compass// introduces Lyra Belacqua, a girl from a universe apart from our own as she comes to realize her surroundings are not as she once thought. Allegedly an orphan residing at Oxford, Lyra's story begins with her daemon, Pantalaimon, as the duo set out to find Lyra's friend Roger who she believes was taken by the Gobblers, a group of people thought to has been kidnapping children over a period of time. As Lyra sets out on her journey, the Master of the college entrusts her with what is called an alethiometer otherwise known as The Golden Compass. On her journey, Lyra befriends a Mrs. Coulter only to find she works with the Gobblers and is rescued by a group of Gyptians who themselves have been victims of the Gobblers. With similar goals in mind, Lyra and the Gyptians head north to save the children from whatever their fate might be. Along the way they meet friends willing to join their cause such as Lee Scorsby and Iorek Byrnison, an armored bear. Finally reaching their destination in the North, Lyra is taken captive by the Gobblers as they attempt to separate her and Pantalaimon which would have left her psychologically broken. After being rescued by her companions, Lyra and Rodger travel further North in order to deliver the Golden Compass to Lord Asrial who claims to need it for his own purposes. Once they find Lord Asrial, he betrays Lyra by slicing the bond between Rodger and his daemon thereby giving him enough power to open a bridge to another universe. Lord Asrial walks into the new world and Lyra, run out of options, follows.

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The novel opens on a boy named Will Parry. After accidentally murdering a man, Will runs from his mother and finds a tear in the universe. Walking through he meets Lyra in the city of Cittagazze which is haunted by soul sucking beings known as Spectors. While there, Lyra and Will discover that as children they are immune to the Spector's and are able to walk through the city in peace. Will discovers The Subtle Knife and becomes the new bearer of the knife. The knife has the ability to cut through worlds and cut through any matter. With the help of a clan of witches, Lyra and Will journey through the new world. Will finds his long lost father only to watch him be murdered by a vengeful witch. The novel ends with Lyra being kidnapped by an unknown force.=====

**The Amber Spyglass**
Lyra was kidnapped by her mother, Mrs. Coulter due to the Church's reading of a prophecy identifying Lyra as the next Eve. The Church believed Lyra would be tempted into the original sin, therefore it would be best to kill her before she can do so. Will, along with two angels, Balthamos and Baruch, search for Lyra and soon run into Iorek Byrnison, the armored bear. Once Lyra is rescued, Will, Lyra and two agents of Lord Asriel, Chevalier Tialys and the Lady Salmakia go to the world of the dead so Lyra can make peace with her late friend Rodger and Will can speak to his father. After freeing the ghosts, Lyra, Will and their friends join Lord Asrial for the final battle. The result of this battle is the metaphorical destruction of God. Lyra and Will return to their true realms and promise to visit the same bench at the same day each year to think of each other.

**A****u****thor Bio**
Although Philip Pullman is an established author of children's literature he claims that after his first published work aimed towards adults he said, "[I write for] myself. No-one else. If the story I write turns out to be the sort of thing that children enjoy reading, then well and good. But I don't write for children: I write books that children read. Some clever adults read them too." Pullman was born in Norwich, English on October 19, 1946 into a military family that moved around frequently. In 1965 Pullman received a scholarship to Exeter College in Oxford in order to study English. it was here that Pullman received an education he describes as unenthusiastic leading him to develop beliefs that standards set for students destroy their creativity. After college and working a few odd jobs, Pullman moved back to Oxford teaching and writing for twelve years. During this time Pullman wrote plays for his students that led to later children's literature such as //The Ruby in the Smoke// and //Count Karlstein.// Pullman's first published work was for adults, but he soon shifted his focus to children and then Pullman began writing himself. Philip Pullman lives in England with his wife Jude and sons, Jamie and Tom.

**Other Literature by Philip Pullman**
//The Scarecrow and the Servant, Spring-Heeled Jack, Count Karlstein, The Firework-Maker's Daughter, I was a Rat, Puss in Boots, Mossycoat, The Wonderful Story of Aladdin and the Enchanted Lamp, Clocwork, or All Wound Up, The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ, Lyra's Oxford, The Broken Bridge, The Butterfly Tattoo, The Ruby in the Smoke, the Shadow in the North, The Tiger in the Well, The Tin Princess, Thunderbolt's Wax Work, The Gas Fitter's Ball//

**Awards**
The Golden Compass won the 1995 Carnigie Metal for children's fiction in the UK and The Observer cites it as one of the 100 best novels. In 2001, The Amber Spyglass won the Whitbread Book of the Year, a prestigious award that had never before been awarded to a book within the category of Children's Literature. In May of 2005, Pullman attended the British Library in London in order to receive a formal congratulations for his work from culture secretary Tessa Jowell and he received the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award for children's and youth literature.

First published in 1995, //The Golden Compass// was highly acclaimed putting Philip Pullman on the map. Though in recent years the series has been banned or censored. Some passages of //The Amber Spyglass// have been censored in North America.
 * Historical Context **

**Major Themes**
Freedom through knowledge, the importance of sex to maturation, destiny, innocence, friendship and loyalty

**Religious Connotations**
Some critics have attacked the series for its negative portrayal of the Church and religion as a whole and yet some believe that these books should be taught in religion courses. //His Dark Materials// acts as a contrast to C.S. Lewis's //Chronicles of Narnia// series that is known for its Christian imagery.

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 * Citations**

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