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The Science of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials
Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy is renowned for its mystery and magic. What’s the truth behind it all? Is the golden compass actually based in science? How does the subtle knife cut through anything? Could there be a bomb like the one made with Lyra’s hair? How do the Gallivespians’ lodestone resonators really work? And, of course, what are the Dark Materials?...more
Hardcover, 224 pages
Published
August 23rd 2005
by Knopf Books for Young Readers
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Cosmology, quantum mechanics, and symbiotic evolution described at about a 5th grade level. The simplicity of the ideas makes the science accessible and fun, making me want to learn more.
This book gave me something I wanted but wasn't executed well. It was a book that explained the science behind the series His Dark Materials. The series has a lot of science and dimensional travel so a book explaining it was very helpful to me. The only problem was that there was a few examples in this book that annoyed me. Like the incoherent storyline they chose to explain and the bad explanations for a few things. All in all, this book is only for hardcore fans of the series and shouldn't be ...more
A very basic introduction to quantum mechanics, theoretical physics, evolution, and other concepts from Philip Pullman's trilogy written at a late elementary/early middle school level. I didn't realize this book was meant for children when I picked it up so I was disappointed by the lack of depth, especially since I was already familiar with most of the science explained. The book really only skims the surface of each concept. Still, it's a worthwhile read for fans of His Dark Materials who have...more
This book does a really good job of balancing science and story. It explains in order to lend weight to the world of the book, but doesn't get bogged down in a lot of equations, formulas, or diagrams. The author does a really good job blending the story of the book, scientific quotes, and explanations of the related scientific equations.
Reading through the explanations of how real science corresponds to the world made me want to read the series again, especially the second and third ...more
Reading through the explanations of how real science corresponds to the world made me want to read the series again, especially the second and third ...more
This was an interesting book that explains in layman's terms the various scientific theories and ideas that Pullman utilized in his trilogy. They discuss more difficult issues such as quantum physics, quantum mechanics, chaos, quantum entanglement, Schrodinger's cat and Multiple Worlds, string theory, and simpler concepts like magnetism and atoms. This is a good accompaniment to the trilogy.
Megan O'Laughlin
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
those who miss Harry Potter
Well, the three books that comprise 'His Dark Materials' series are quite imaginative, with interesting and likable main characters (well, some not quite so likable) and that good old battle between good and evil. In this series, we are introduced to the idea that we exist within layers of worlds and there are some ways to travel in between them. While I neglected engagements to race through the first one and read the second one at a more leisurely pace, I read the third book at a slow and plo...more
I like children's nonfiction books a lot. The facts are straight-forward and to the point and if you're still interested in the subject you can delve into heavier books later.
Anyway, this book is clearly for a younger audience yet covers topics like quantum physics. The book uses examples from Pullman's series, His Dark Materials, and shows how elements of the book you might have considered "magic" actually relate to science.
The book contains a glossary, index, ...more
Anyway, this book is clearly for a younger audience yet covers topics like quantum physics. The book uses examples from Pullman's series, His Dark Materials, and shows how elements of the book you might have considered "magic" actually relate to science.
The book contains a glossary, index, ...more
This would be a fantastic book to give a child who has just read the trilogy and is excited off the energy from that. It teaches a wide variety of scientific concepts and ties them to events/items in the books. However, this connection is often tenuous and doesn't really teach you more about the books, so if you're familiar with the science already it doesn't add much.
The jacket sucked me in by mentioning Schrodinger's cat, but turned out to be a very VERY basic scientific explanation of many different elements in the series. Definitely something I'd recommend to a younger reader, maybe 11-13. Still contained some interesting bits, but was mostly very simplified explanations of particle theory.
Fascinating, mind-boggling, mind-opening, mind-altering... mindfulness exacting. Mind this: read the trilogy (Pullman's His Dark Materials) and definitely read this. It literally is opening up the universe for me... like nothing else has quite done before. Incredible!
This is a fun and very readable introduction to such topics as quantum physics, the Northern lights, magnetism, hidden dimensions, wheels, and other scientific subjects behind Philip Pullman's wonderful His Dark Materials series. The authors are well-established writers of science books for young readers, as well as fans of Pullman's novels.
If you've read the trilogy you will really enjoy this, I didn't notice half of the science because the story of Lyra and Will is so amazing so I appreciate this analysis all the more. Dust, String Theory, Chaos Theory, Parallel Worlds, Our Donut Universe and gravity, Serendipity, Synchronicity, Schrodinger's Cat, Evolution and Natural Selection, Gaia and light...they're all there and clearly explained. The Gribbin's tone is a bit juvenile but not patronizing. Their audience is middle schooler...more
Very basic introductions to concepts introduced by His Dark Materials. Unfortunately the oversimplifications and analogies were frustrating (and sometimes misleading) for those interested in an in depth analysis.
According to this book, scientists have a theory (a theory because we don't have the stuff to prove it yet) that whenever you make a decision it creates a completely new world. For example, if you decide to go eat a cookie instead of continuing watching TV then there would be a new world in which you kept on watching TV. Right now I've just come to the part of the book where it explains how in The Subtle Knife you can cut actually cut into the nucleus of atoms and release whatever is inside, th...more
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latar belakang beberapa poin yang dibahas dalam His Dark Material series, ditilik dari sudut science.
Misalnya Aurora Borealis, daemon, dsb
*aslinya udah lupa, soalnya bacanya udah lama banget* XD
Misalnya Aurora Borealis, daemon, dsb
*aslinya udah lupa, soalnya bacanya udah lama banget* XD
This was nice. Backing up all of the confusing science/theories used in His Dark Materials. Even though I don't believe in parallel universes, it was still cool to see theories.
A great companion to the series, I recommend it if certain elements of the novels piqued your interest.
A fun way of reading about science, when you love the His Dark Materials series, like I do.
Explores some incredible ideas. Definitely got me a little more interested in quantum physics :)
Actually made me enjoy reading about science. This is an epic accomplishment.
Very cool; a great basic introduction to quantum physics!
Pullman's trilogy is the anti-thesis of C.S. Lewis's Chronicle's of Narnia. Its hard to believe that something so rich in imagery, symbolism, and depth is considered young adult fiction. Dark Materials reads like classical literature and Pullman frequently refers to Milton's Paradise Lost, William Blake, and the Old Testament. I highly recommend this book. I only gave it four stars because it gets a bit didactical towards the end, especially in "The Amber Spyglass"
This is a book about the science in the All His Dark Materials series... the series with the Golden Compass. It is my favorite book series, and even though a "fantasy" book, many elements are derived from actual science. It was like reading the "For Dummies" of physics. I feel smarter, and love the series even more. Weee!
Josie
rated it
·
review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
people who liked reading His Dark Materials
Shelves:
five-stars,
non-fiction
QUANTUM ENTANGLEMENT. ♥ Need I say any more? So, basically, this explains the physics and stuff behind His Dark Materials, and I'd really recommend it if you enjoyed those books! You don't have to be a nerd to like it, I promise. :)
A fun look at the quantum physics and other science behind concepts in "His Dark Materials". This book explains them at the same level the original trilogy was aimed at, so they're probably comprehensible to the adult reader, too ;).
Jenny
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
fans of the Dark Materials series, youngsters
Recommended to Jenny by:
back cover
Shelves:
read-in-2008
This book was so fascinating. I learned more about science in two hours than I have in years of science classes. This is the way science and history and math should be taught.
This could have been really great. I thought it was way too dumbed down. It would be great for elementary school kids, but I wish there was a more in-depth book on this topic.
This science book makes new physics somewhat understandable. I recommend reading it after reading Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy.
I HAVENT READ THIS BUT I THINK I M GOIN TO HAVE IT, ITS MARKETING PAGE SEEMS APPEALING TO ME..SCIENCE FICTION LOVERS SHOULD READ THEN...
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Mary Gribbin works in education in East Sussex and writes books about science for children. She won The TES Junior Information Book Award for her book Time and the Universe, and has written a series of books for Ladybird. She has also worked with John Gribbin on Being Human, Ice Age, and major biographies of Richard Feynman and Robert FitzRoy, as well as the "in 90 minutes" series of min...more
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