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The Subtle Knife

(His Dark Materials #2)

Philip Pullman

4.13 · Rating details · 387,353 ratings · 10,688 reviews

“The most magnificent fantasy series since The Lord of the Rings.” --The Oregonian

Lost in a new world, Lyra finds Will--a boy on the run, a murderer--a worthy and welcome ally. For this is a world where soul-eating Specters stalk the streets and witches share the skies with troops of angels.
Each is searching--Lyra for the meaning of Dark Matter, Will for his missing fath ...more

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Paperback, 326 pages

Published November 13th 2001 by Alfred A. Knopf (first published July 22nd 1997)

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Aug 01, 2013 Jayson rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: author-british, 300-399-pp, read-in-2007, genre-steampunk, genre-juvenile-fantasy, read-in-2010, genre-anthropomorphic, subject-religion, subject-parallel-universe, genre-young-adult

(A-) 81% | Very Good
Notes: Changes direction from the last book, expanding the mythology and affirming religion as the key theme of the series.

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Jan 04, 2008 Dan rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

The second entry in a trilogy is often, in my opinion, the best. The author doesn't have to introduce the universe or the characters, as they did in the first installment, but they don't need to worry about wrapping up all the plot points either. Instead, the focus can be on 'the good stuff': elaborating on the story, teasing us more, giving action, chopping off Luke's hand and so on. Instead of the good stuff, in The Subtle Knife I feel as though we've had a bait and switch pulled on us.

In The The second entry in a trilogy is often, in my opinion, the best. The author doesn't have to introduce the universe or the characters, as they did in the first installment, but they don't need to worry about wrapping up all the plot points either. Instead, the focus can be on 'the good stuff': elaborating on the story, teasing us more, giving action, chopping off Luke's hand and so on. Instead of the good stuff, in The Subtle Knife I feel as though we've had a bait and switch pulled on us.

In The Golden Compass, we were treated to a rich alternate universe that had elements that were similar to our own, like some of the geopolitical structure, and elements that were entirely fantastical, like armored polar bears and witches. The Subtle Knife, however decides that most of this is insignificant and takes place almost entirely in different universes. It seems like Philip Pullman wanted to reel us in with fantasy before he could preach at us.

Some of these elements are expanded upon in The Amber Spyglass, which I'm currently reading, so forgive me if they don't all apply. I had heard before I started the series that they were 'about killing God.' This seemed highly unlikely, and was probably a knee-jerk reaction from people who heard it from other people who read a synopsis of the book, etc. But... no. Some of the main characters have decided to wage war on 'The Authority.'

Herein lies my main concern with the series as a whole: it's not (excuse the pun) subtle. I'm an agnostic, so these complaints don't come from someone insulted by the material, they come from someone unhappy by their handling. I love plots that put a spin on traditional religion (Waiting for the Galactic Bus, for example), but it seems like Pullman came up with a story involving a culture's religion and then decided to make it fit with the Judeo-Christian framework no matter how hard he had to push.

The concept of Dust is interesting. Adapting it to fit with concepts of physics in our world works because it uses something we only know a little about. Once you try to toss in angels and consciousness and so on (which is insulting in a children's book, as he's claiming that children are entirely self involved until puberty), though, it seems contrived and silly.

I may have been more willing to swallow his philosophy, such as it is, if there hadn't been a complete lack of the elements I liked in The Golden Compass: there were no Gyptians, there were no panserbjörne... they seem to make a reappearance in the final book of the series, but why spend so much time on their culture in the first book if you aren't going to include them in the second? (I know that the panserbjörne's culture is basically that of any warrior society, but they're still armored polar bears and the ten year old in me think that's awesome)

It's not so much that the book is bad, per se, though I do think it becomes too dark for the age group I initially thought it was written for. I just don't think Pullman is writing for the same reason I want to read: he wants to write religious commentary while I want to read fantasy. ...more

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Nov 19, 2014 Sean Barrs rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: children-of-all-ages, 3-star-reads, fantasy, sci-fi

When I read this the first time I completely overlooked a main component of the book. I approached it as if was the second book in the series, a massive mistake. I wrote a review criticising the fact that the novel felt awkward; it had no beginning or end: it just felt like the typical content you’d find in the middle of the story. The ironic point of this is that most critics take the trilogy as one whole book, rather than three separate works. And this really is the best way to approach the st When I read this the first time I completely overlooked a main component of the book. I approached it as if was the second book in the series, a massive mistake. I wrote a review criticising the fact that the novel felt awkward; it had no beginning or end: it just felt like the typical content you’d find in the middle of the story. The ironic point of this is that most critics take the trilogy as one whole book, rather than three separate works. And this really is the best way to approach the story.

The Golden Compass is the beginning of it all, the setting of the stage. This, then, is the middling part of the work. The second protagonist of the series, the Adam to Pullman’s Eve, takes the lead here. Initially, I was very resistant to this idea. I had grown to respect Lyra; she’s a really strong heroine, but after a while it started to make sense. Pullman has expanded his story considerably. Lyra has three chapters told from her perspective. The same amount, roughly speaking, is told from the perspective of Will. The rest of the chapters are from side characters of the previous book. So there’s a strong move away from a Lyra centred story.

I have mixed feeling about this. It felt like an odd authorial decision. At times this felt like an entirely different series altogether, again, something I eventually got over. There is no sense of closure at the end of this. The first book had a strong ending, but this has very little. This book seemed to be a mere set-up for the next instalment, which makes it rather difficult to review; it’s like picking out the middle bit of a story and trying to criticise it as a separate entity from the rest of it: it’s not easy to do. Any criticism you make are negated by the fact that this is not a separate book: it’s a chunk of a greater work.

So I’m going to read the third book before I speak any more about this- I need to see where these elements Pullman added go to. Perhaps a review of all three works together would be the best option. At this moment though, I find the witches one of the most interesting aspects of the work. I’m not entirely sure what to make of them as of yet. Hopefully, the third book will give me all the answers I need.

"All through that day the witches came, like flakes of black snow on the wings of a storm, filling the skies with the darting flutter of their silk and the swish of air through the needles of their cloud-pine branches. Men who hunted in the dripping forests or fished among melting ice-floes heard the sky-wide whisper through the fog, and if the sky was clear they would look up to see the witches flying, like scraps of darkness drifting on a secret tide."

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Oct 15, 2018 ~Poppy~ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

“Every little increase in human freedom has been fought over ferociously between those who want us to know more and be wiser and stronger, and those who want us to obey and be humble and submit.”

...more

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Mar 17, 2019 Lucy Langford rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

4.5****

”What is he? A friend, or an enemy?”...

“He is a murderer.”

This book has the introduction of Will; a young man/boy who is compassionate, caring, brave and a warrior. After a frightening account, Will has to go on the run where he escapes to a different world to the deserted city of Cittagaze, and meets an interesting girl called Lyra Belacqua, her Daemon; Pantalaimon and her ability to read a strange instrument called the alethiometer. This strange world runs parallel to his own.

They lear ...more

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Oct 29, 2012 Ahmad Sharabiani rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: childrens-young-readers, 20th-century, fantasy, fiction

The Subtle Knife (His Dark Materials, #2), Philip Pullman

The Subtle Knife, the second book in the His Dark Materials series, is a young-adult fantasy novel written by Philip Pullman and published in 1997.

The novel continues the adventures of Lyra Belacqua as she investigates the mysterious Dust phenomenon and searches for her father. Will Parry is introduced as a companion to Lyra, and together they explore the new realms to which they have both been introduced.

تاریخ نخستین خوانش: روز دهم ماه The Subtle Knife (His Dark Materials, #2), Philip Pullman

The Subtle Knife, the second book in the His Dark Materials series, is a young-adult fantasy novel written by Philip Pullman and published in 1997.

The novel continues the adventures of Lyra Belacqua as she investigates the mysterious Dust phenomenon and searches for her father. Will Parry is introduced as a companion to Lyra, and together they explore the new realms to which they have both been introduced.

تاریخ نخستین خوانش: روز دهم ماه آگوست سال 2008 میلادی

عنوان: نیروی اهریمنی اش کتاب دوم - خنجر ظریف؛ نویسنده: فلیپ پولمن؛ مترجم: فرزاد فربد؛ تهران، کتاب پنجره، 1384، 1385؛

سری سه گانه «نیروی اهریمنی اش» در ایران در پنج مجلد چاپ شده: ک‍ت‍اب‌ اول‌ شامل دو مجلد ب‍خ‍ش‌ اول‌ و دوم، عنوان: س‍پ‍ی‍ده‌ ی‌ ش‍م‍ال‍ی‌؛ جلد سوم همین ک‍ت‍اب‌ دوم‌، عنوان: خ‍ن‍ج‍ر ظری‍ف‌؛ و جلد چهارم و پنجم، عنوان: دورب‍ی‍ن‌ ک‍ه‍رب‍ای‍ی‌ یک و دو؛

خنجر ظریف، دومین بخش از سه گانه ی «نیروی اهریمنی اش» است؛ پسری به نام: «ویل»، که مادری عصبی دارد، به دنبال پدرش، «جان پری»، از پنجره‌ ای درون هوا می‌گذرد، و به «چیتاگاتزه» وارد می‌شود؛ اشباح، بزرگسالان «چیتاگاتزه» را، از بین برده‌ اند، و او طی رخدادهایی با «لایرا» آشنا شده، و حامل «خنجر ظریف» می‌شود؛ «لی اسکورسبی» هوانورد، «جان پری»، یا «استانیسلاوس گرومن» را، از میان تاتارها برده، و خود کشته می‌شود و رخدادهای دیگر...؛

ا. شربیانی ...more

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Feb 09, 2021 Andrea Belfiori rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

First reaction: SHOCK! Becös...

(Sorry, if you're not Italian you won't get the joke, just google "Matteo Renzi" and you'll understand)

La mia recensione qui: https://youtu.be/qZcbV125t4A ...more

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Aug 03, 2015 Fabian rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Weird like The Wizard of Oz, magical like Harry Potter, and interesting, totally unlike "Chronicles of Narnia." The symbolism is so agog, so strange... Obviously, it makes for a great young adult novel! ...more

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Dec 04, 2007 Lucy rated it did not like it · review of another edition

I am not a fan of forwarded emails. They frustrate me, because they usually come from the same group of people, people I like a great deal but who never send me a normal "hey, how's it going?" message. Just "Support our Troops" or "Tell every woman you know she's special" or "Microsoft is running a test and if you send this you could get a check for $1,000!" When I see the letters FWD in the subject line, I usually simply delete it.

I lost track of the number of emails I received telling me about
I am not a fan of forwarded emails. They frustrate me, because they usually come from the same group of people, people I like a great deal but who never send me a normal "hey, how's it going?" message. Just "Support our Troops" or "Tell every woman you know she's special" or "Microsoft is running a test and if you send this you could get a check for $1,000!" When I see the letters FWD in the subject line, I usually simply delete it.

I lost track of the number of emails I received telling me about the Anti-God movie The Golden Compass and the need to boycott the movies and the books. It was well over ten. Ten people wanted me to send that email on to everyone I know, telling them the same thing. Don't see this movie! Don't read these books! Alert! Alert! Alert!

Nothing like calling attention to something like a planned boycott. I haven't seen the movie, because I'm cheap and it's not something I'd take my kids to or something I'd be prone to see anyway, but as I had already read the first book in the series, enjoyed it and hadn't found it to be Anti-God, I was curious to read the next to see what the fuss was all about.

I don't know if the emails worked and I read with a bias, but I did not enjoy this second book. Not because it is Anti-God...which it really isn't, but more anti organized religion and organized religion's version of god, but because the writing is bad.

Dialogue - choppy.

Descriptions - cliched. (how do I get that little accent marking over the e?)

Storyline - totally falters.

I felt enormously disappointed in the direction of this book. Lyra, the young female protagonist in search of dust and her father, all but disappears in this second story. She still plays a part, but now as the sidekick to Will, a new character who is a giant "young adult fiction" stereotype (in search of the father he never knew while protecting his mother from bad guys and seems to be gifted in the combat department). I don't remember the writing being bad in the first book. I thought it descriptive and unique and thoughtful. Not so, in The Subtle Knife. Pullman changes gears and loses focus. There is a lot more going on and none of it is developed well. I stopped caring about the characters and their goals.

I think these books had great potential. There could be a lot to discuss with adolescents (not young children...at all). The nature of the soul, the natural man, the costs and benefits of religions. All appropriate things to discuss with youth ready to question and discover on their own.

Pullman takes that conversation away with his lack of metaphor. It becomes impossible to argue, "I think the dust means this." or "what do you think The Authority is for Pullman?" when he throws his opinion at you with real life Christian beliefs. It's inappropriate and unfair. Write a fantasy or a satire or a parable if you want to. Other authors have done it...and done it well.

Pullman didn't.

I won't be reading the third book. ...more

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Sep 07, 2012 Dave Schaafsma rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

I share this review again in the fall of 2017 as a fourth volume (though Pullman later wrote two companion pieces to the trilogy, entitled Lyra's Oxford, and Once Upon a Time in the North), The Book of Dust, has been released, to encourage all ages to read. As with most great "children's" books, there are a range of levels on which Pullman is working. He's taking on the Roman Catholic view of reality, C.S. Lewis (in The Chronicles of Narnia), and is in conversation with John Milton, whose Paradi I share this review again in the fall of 2017 as a fourth volume (though Pullman later wrote two companion pieces to the trilogy, entitled Lyra's Oxford, and Once Upon a Time in the North), The Book of Dust, has been released, to encourage all ages to read. As with most great "children's" books, there are a range of levels on which Pullman is working. He's taking on the Roman Catholic view of reality, C.S. Lewis (in The Chronicles of Narnia), and is in conversation with John Milton, whose Paradise Lost he both loves and contends with in places. But you don't need to know any of that to love this series.

This is the middle book in the trilogy, and I like the first and third volumes more, big surprise. More exposition, less action, more trudging to final destinations, but you know, the writing is still exquisite, and it has surprises. One key surprise is that after focusing on Lyra in the first series, this second book opens with a focus on yet another central character, Will. When I first read this I was confused, and more than a little disappointed, as I saw a wonderful strong girl character shoved aside as usually happens in all books for a BOY main character.

That isn't quite how things work, really, though, as they share the stage, and they open up new vistas and back stories and new worlds together. This is seen as a sixth grade children's series, but in truth, the older you are, the more you will get out of it, as in all of the greatest "children's stories" of all time, including The Wrinkle in Time, and so on. Pullman is taking on our limited view of "reality"-- he's engaging in physics, theology, anthropology--with a laser beam on the Holy Roman Church in particular. It's not so much an attack on The Church as an exploration of the nature of true religion, and a wider, more generous, less sin-obsessed view of the world. It's a wonderful series, which I listened to while traveling around the country with the family, a wonderfully produced cd series. It's the second volume of a trilogy, so you obviously don't begin here, but you won't regret the time you spend on the adventure. It's awesome. And whether you have read it or not, I recommend this audio version, with Philip Pullman Himself narrating, joined by a wonderful cast of characters. ...more

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Nov 07, 2018 Caz (littlebookowl) added it · review of another edition

Mmmmk. So I rated this 2.5 stars when I read it a few months ago, and I was unsure if I would finish the series... I've since decided I won't be reading book three. I'm honestly pretty disappointed with a tweet the author posted and his subsequent responses to those who replied, especially his trans readers. In this case, I've decided not to separate the author from the work. ...more

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Mar 26, 2013 Bradley rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, ya, 2019-shelf

Re-read, 11/5/19:

I think I still enjoy the emphasis on the extended worldbuilding in this book more than the flavor of the characters. Lyra is somewhat diminished, unable to shine in the Big Happenings of the first book, relegated either to lying (unsuccessfully) to a relative suburbia world, losing her way, and relying an awful lot on Will, her new friend.

Will, on the other hand, is only really interesting when he holds a knife.

*shrug* I found all the villains in our tale much more interesting. ...more

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May 29, 2008 Candace Wynell McHann rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Way back at the end of November/beginning of December of good ol' 2007, I read Phillip Pullman's The Golden Compass. Why? Well, because there was all that talk about how it got made into a movie. I read the book, and found it very thought provoking. As for the movie it's a watered down version of Pullman's work, but not bad for the most part. I mean, I don't think it would go over too well with audiences who haven't read to book to know that Lyra's friend Roger is killed by Lord Asreil and that ...more

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Oct 05, 2012 Amy | littledevonnook rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, favorites

The second in the trilogy and possibly my favourite out of the three.

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Jun 24, 2011 Shayantani rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Two very strange things happened last week. I gave I Am Half Sick Of Shadows: A Flavia De Luce Novel two stars and am now giving this book five star. It is strange because the former book’s protagonist, my dear Flavia De Luce is my favorite obstinate pre teen. On the contrary, Lyra, another stubborn, precocious, pre-teen absolutely annoyed me in the previous book. Right now though, I can not for the life of me imagine why I did not like the first novel and Lyra. Well, at least I adore her right ...more

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Jun 29, 2019 Kai rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: finished-series, owned

“Every little increase in human freedom has been fought over ferociously between those who want us to know more and be wiser and stronger, and those who want us to obey and be humble and submit.”

I find it tough to rate this. On the one hand, it started off great. On the other hand, there are now quite a few POVs, some I care about, some I don't, and the world has literally been blown apart and expanded. I think I somehow prefer reading fantasy set in our world, maybe because it lends the reality “Every little increase in human freedom has been fought over ferociously between those who want us to know more and be wiser and stronger, and those who want us to obey and be humble and submit.”

I find it tough to rate this. On the one hand, it started off great. On the other hand, there are now quite a few POVs, some I care about, some I don't, and the world has literally been blown apart and expanded. I think I somehow prefer reading fantasy set in our world, maybe because it lends the reality I live in a touch of magic. And also because a new fantasy world is unknown territory and that can be scary sometimes. Which is not to say I dislike it. I'm a huge (high) fantasy fan. But I remember reading Inkheart by Cornelia Funke - I never finished reading the final book in the series because most of it was set in the fantasy world whereas the first two books were mainly set in our world. Anyway, all that pondering aside, I liked the beginning and the introduction to the new main character a lot. I liked seeing Lyra in our Oxford and I especially enjoyed the chapters with Mary Malone. Then Will and Lyra found themselves in Cittagazze and I really didn't like that world. The witches and Lee Scoresby got their own chapters and while they obviously added a lot to the story, I preferred reading about Lyra and Will.

Honestly, it's super difficult for me to define what exactly I didn't enjoy in The Subtle Knife. The writing is great, the story is original and imaginative. Maybe it's the fact that Lyra's world was already rich enough without the addition of dozens of alternate universes. I enjoyed Lyra's Oxford, and I love reading about Iorek. Maybe it's one of those cases where you read a story and love it but it takes a completely different turn from what you expected and you're just not satisfied with where the plot is going. And additionally, while I think it's an exciting story, there are few characters that I really care about or find interesting. There's Iorek, there is Dr Malone, there is Mrs Coulter, sometimes there's Lyra. But Will doesn't spark any enthusiasm in me, and neither do most of the other characters. Overall, I feel...detached. Maybe that's the right word.

I also can't get the fact out of my mind that a year ago, Pullman tweeted about the "trans argument" and didn't know what "side" he should be on. That leaves a very bitter aftertaste and while reading I always wonder whether I should be supporting an author who is so utterly confused about the mere existence of trans people.

Find more of my books on Instagram ...more

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Jun 25, 2016 Jan-Maat added it · review of another edition

Shelves: childrens-ya, fiction, 20th-century, fantasy

It has been a while since a book last left me with the desire to have my head trepanned and to become a shaman. And I suppose these days it is difficult to get on the training course and who knows if the pension scheme will be all that it was cracked out to be?

Reading I thought this business of the human mind and the flow of consciousness through a multiplicity of universes reminded me of something else. As always it takes some days for this kind of thought to percolate down to the answer - I re It has been a while since a book last left me with the desire to have my head trepanned and to become a shaman. And I suppose these days it is difficult to get on the training course and who knows if the pension scheme will be all that it was cracked out to be?

Reading I thought this business of the human mind and the flow of consciousness through a multiplicity of universes reminded me of something else. As always it takes some days for this kind of thought to percolate down to the answer - I recalled something very similar from Anathem!

At first my reaction was how marvellous it was that different authors had read similar things and developed an idea along related lines in parallel book universes, however once I double checked the publication dates I did feel a slight, entirely unwarranted, sourness towards Master Stephenson.

In contrast to Northern Lights the story here rans over a much shorter time period, the cast of characters remained large, the deft reworking of Blake, Milton, and the Bible appeared to give away to Dark Matter, consciousness, and multiple universes, while the pace of the book was not maintained by one desperate fight after another. As much as I enjoy Zeppelins and Armoured Bears I appreciated the deployment of colours from a larger palate by the author.

Continuing the theme of children in children's literature from my previous review the absence of parents from both Will and Lyra's lives is strikingly traditional. For Will he has had to become the adult figure in relation to his mother - and while the role of child carer is contemporary the fight between father and son each ignorant of the other's identity has a long history although here it is presented with a mild twist on the traditional tale (view spoiler). Lyra in a way is a child without parents. Technically there are two people in the story who performed the physical functions both sufficient and necessary for Lyra to exist, but in regard to their behaviour and attitudes terminology such as parent, father, or mother seems cruelly inappropriate.

Sometimes I hear the idea of there being for instance, a Catholic Atheist, told as a joke, admittedly I have had my sense of humour surgically removed, but the concept seems an entirely serious one to me. This trilogy is a strong example of it. The author does not share the faith of his ancestors but this is a work that could not exist without a tradition of religious dissent in England from the Geneva Bible, via Milton, and Blake. The power of their faith, the notions of predestination, free will, sin and grace, energise this trilogy. Fantastically, at this mid-way stage the rights and wrongs of rebellion and authority are still from clear cut, leaving the heroes, as every child is left, with untrustworthy, partisan, or uncertain guides as to their course of action. ...more

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Oct 07, 2015 Dannii Elle rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: adventurous-acuity, fantastic-fabrications, science-fiction-sagacity, young-adult-books-read

This is the second instalment in the His Dark Materials series.

Windows can be opened leading from one world to another and fearless Lyra has no qualms about venturing there. On the hunt for answers about the science of dust, and justice for those who would abuse it, Lyra is joined by Will. Will comes from another world and another Oxford, both like and unlike her own, and has his own secrets to protect and his own enemies he has sworn vengeance against. The unlikely duo traverse these worlds tog ...more

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Sep 16, 2016 Ro rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

In this case, the high rating is not for the actual quality of the book (that is very good btw), but for all that it meant to me while I was growing up.

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Jan 30, 2008 Annalisa rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Recommended to Annalisa by: Ryan

Shelves: fantasy, middle-grade, young-adult

What I did like about this book is that it starts with Lyra, a girl we have become acquainted with from another world, meeting Will, a boy from our world. Bringing the fantasy into our own reality was surreal and interesting. But only for a minute and then it became a bore. The story was slow and at some points stopped altogether to allow Pullman his theological preachings of anti-church and anti-god. If the story had been metaphorical I would have enjoyed it more, but it became less fiction and ...more

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Jul 19, 2019 Bentley ★ Bookbastion.net rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

See this review and more like it on www.bookbastion.net!
_____

Last month I read and reviewed The Golden Compass, so I could prepare myself for the HBO/BBC adaptation that will be coming out next year. This was a series that I’d missed out on as a kid, and truth be told I was a little bit wary about starting them as an adult. Luckily, the first book in this series knocked my socks off, and this sequel followed in its footsteps and actually improved upon the original – in my opinion!

The Subtle Knif ...more

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May 18, 2008 Sara rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult, favorites, fiction

Much like the city of Citagazze, The Subtle Knife is the crossroads between Northern Lights and The Amber Spyglass, and as such I think it's unfair to judge it as a single novel. It introduces the wonderful characters of Will and Mary, and brings the whole concept of multiple worlds into play. We also see small hints of the rebellion that will be raged across the worlds, but more importantly we see the beginnings of Lyra and Will. In Will we see someone who's had responsibility thrust upon them ...more

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Sep 12, 2012 Mari rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, 2019, favorites-of-all-time, finished-series

[May 21, 2019]

Reading my original review from seven years ago is wild. I came back to this story and found something completely different here; I found myself completely different. There are still quibbles-- yes, some of the messaging is heavy handed and yes, Pullman's story style and world building is just slow-- but I was so focused on what this story wasn't that I couldn't appreciate what it was.

I'll have full thoughts after we cover this on Snark Squad Pod, but for now, I'll say that I'm bu ...more

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Mar 27, 2008 Brad rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult

The strangest thing about Phillip Pullman's The Subtle Knife is that it doesn't feel like the second book in a series, making me wonder whether Pullman first wrote this in conjunction with The Amber Spyglass, then wrote The Golden Compass as a prequel, which then became the first book in the series once they were published.

Not that it matters.

What matters is that The Subtle Knife is too fast, too plot driven, and too much "a set-up" book to be an effective second book in the trilogy. Second bo ...more

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Jan 13, 2018 Kinga rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: pub-1997

Why, no, I have never read His Dark Materials before. It was not a thing in Poland and after seeing that nonsensical film I was not exactly inspired to read it.

However, when I was in New Your a few weeks ago, my friend there practically forced these books on me. And then it got really cold, the water in our pipes froze and reading some good children's fantasy novel seemed like the best idea.

This series is definitely improving as it goes on. I liked this better than the first part. The first few ...more

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Oct 07, 2019 Timothy Urges rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Love the worldbuilding.
Love the themes.
Love the argument.

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Mar 03, 2021 Maxwell rated it it was amazing

Shelves: owned, ya

This picks up right where The Golden Compass leaves off, so I can't say much in terms of plot because spoilers (though at this point who, besides me, hasn't read this series??). BUT, I can say that this adds in a new perspective of sorts and I really enjoy the way Pullman expands the world with that. Again, I've seen, at this point, seasons 1-2 of the HBO adaptation, so I knew pretty much everything that happens in this book. It was still really fun to read though!

I absolutely love Lyra, Will an ...more

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May 21, 2010 notgettingenough rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: childrens

Later...

It is so surprising to me that the thing I found vastly irritating right at page one of the first of this series - the daemon - so quickly captivated me. You have this daemon in you, all of us, just as the story goes. And as a child it is anything, it has the fantastical vision that children have, there is nothing to stop it. But then we mostly grow up and we mostly lose the idea that we can do anything, we lose imagination, we lose the unconscious bravery of our childhood, we lose the i ...more

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Aug 25, 2019 Zitong Ren rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: adventure, 2019, children-s-fiction, fantasy

3.5 🌟 rounded down to 3 🌟

I understand people may see someone give a three star and think it’s probably not that great of a book since the rating given is pretty average which is not exactly the case for this book, which was a hair’s width away from me rounding it up to a four star, but I had some issues with it and I had to cede that star away. For those who are not aware, I did thoroughly enjoy the first book and gave it a four star, which did mean I was greatly entertained by it.

This book was 3.5 🌟 rounded down to 3 🌟

I understand people may see someone give a three star and think it’s probably not that great of a book since the rating given is pretty average which is not exactly the case for this book, which was a hair’s width away from me rounding it up to a four star, but I had some issues with it and I had to cede that star away. For those who are not aware, I did thoroughly enjoy the first book and gave it a four star, which did mean I was greatly entertained by it.

This book was essentially just as good, though there were some slight points that are entirely of my own opinion and I’m sure many people will disagree with me on some of my points which is fine. To begin with, something I did note is that this book is a tad bit shorter than the first book, which, considering it is fantasy, is a bit rare, yet this book seemed to have more characters and more story arcs than the first book, with much of the book, whilst revolving around the wonderful Lyra, was not in fact told from her point of view. We also had Will, who is a new ‘protagonist’ in a way, in that he seems to be almost as equally as important as Lyra in the story after the end of the book.

It’s not really a problem in the sense that it is bad or anything, but rather the fact that I found it a bit strange that for a series that is, I assume targeted towards middle-grade readers due to the age of the two main characters, that there would be so many point of views, so many different story arcs to follow(Dr. Malone, Lee Scoresby, Grumman, just to name a few), not to mention as many have pointed out, there being lots of talk about politics and philosophy, and in this book, lots of science stuff in a fantasy story’s way, which, which I can’t help but think may turn off some readers of the ‘intended audience.’

Aside from my little ramble, I did really like many aspects of the book and found many parts to be incredible fascinating, and loved at how the travelling between world’s happen and we even spent a few good chapters on good ol’ Earth(our Earth that is). The whole thing with the Spectre’s was very creative on Pullman’s behalf and I really do think that he is quite the guy when it comes to creativity and making up mystical and magical things. Quite honestly, the creativity of the book was one of its most alluring points about it and is something that is to be both savoured and remembered.

The plot, which was beautifully crafted together felt like one smooth ride without any bumps on it, which in a way, also made it sort of uninteresting from a certain perspective in that nothing really shocking happens, or when it does, the author does not emphasis a great deal on it and instead decided to continue his flow, which was fine since it did work here, so I’m not really one for complaining here.

I will be hopeful when reading the conclusion to the His Dark Materials trilogy and hope that Pullman has pulled off a satisfying conclusion that will tie the story to a grand close. 7/10 ...more

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Oct 06, 2019 Monica rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, kindle_scifi_fan, fantasy, audible, popular, pub_1990s

Lots of big, complex concepts for a children's book. Having no children, I don't have a feel for how it would play to them. To me it's interesting and heady. Pondering...

4 Stars

Listened to on audible. Philip Pullman narrated and has a cast of characters. It's very good. ...more

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Goodreads Librari...: Please add alternate cover edition for The Subtle Knife	2	12	Feb 07, 2021 11:39PM
Goodreads Librari...: Page numbers	2	14	Dec 19, 2020 10:24PM
2021 Reading Chal...: The Subtle Knife (His Dark Materials #2)	12	34	Jul 31, 2020 11:48PM
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Fantasy Buddy Reads: The Subtle Knife [Sept 16, 2019]	1	13	Aug 02, 2019 05:05AM
His Dark Material...: [JANUARY] The Subtle Knife	1	11	Jan 04, 2019 01:22PM

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About Philip Pullman

Philip Pullman

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As a passionate believer in the democracy of reading, I don't think it's the task of the author of a book to tell the reader what it means.

The meaning of a story emerges in the meeting between the words on the page and the thoughts in the reader's mind. So when people ask me what I meant by this story, or what was the message I was trying to convey in that one, I have to explain that I'm not going

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“Every little increase in human freedom has been fought over ferociously between those who want us to know more and be wiser and stronger, and those who want us to obey and be humble and submit.” — 306 likes

“For a human being, nothing comes naturally,' said Grumman. 'We have to learn everything we do.” — 115 likes

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