The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, #1) in Book Buying Addicts Anonymous

Jan 15, 2008 Seth rated it liked it

Shelves: sf-f-h, young-adult, fantasy

Although it's 3 physical books for publishing reasons, His Dark Materials (HDM)is one continuous story (well... see below), so I'm reviewing the whole set. It isn't useful to review one part alone.

HDM is a decent read with many great elements. On Orson Scott Card's "MICE" scale--Milieu, Idea, Character, and Event--it's mostly a Milieu story, so expect a tour of the world(s), focusing on the strangeness therein and the history thereof. It's a great setting with many fabulous ideas underlying the ...more

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Apr 10, 2007 Amy rated it really liked it

I just finished rereading the Harry Potter books in anticipation of book 7 and needed something to fill the time until July. Someone recommended this series and some people on Bookcrossing have actually said that they liked this better than HP, so thought I'd give them a try.

Took me a while to get into the story. I did not find myself too engaged at first. I found the story somewhat... deeper, I guess, than Harry Potter. It looks like it's shaping up to pose some complicated questions. I am star ...more

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Dec 26, 2008 Khalid rated it really liked it

Shelves: audio-books, already-read

The Golden Compass (Or Northern Lights) is the first book of of the trilogy: His Dark Materials. It is a fantasy novel in which we witness a very intriguing adventure by the heroine, Lyra, and learn a lot about her on the way.

The novel has an interesting plot and sophisticated character development. I really enjoyed how the characters of the novel are not pure good or pure evil, and how it isn't clear which side they lean towards. At some points (especially towards the end of this book) I found ...more

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Nov 17, 2007 Michelle rated it it was amazing

Excellent!

Can't wait to see the movie this weekend. ...more

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Oct 11, 2011 hh rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2011, fiction, sff, ya

i knew i hadn't read this series, but i knew i'd read some philip pullman. (mystery solved: i read the sally lockhart books as a kid)

this is a breathless high adventure philosophical fantasy novel. a super fun ride. the characters are strong and really unique. i have to say that despite the ending, it felt really self-contained. i don't necessarily feel like i have to read the second book right this second or i'll die.

pullman is perhaps the clearest inheritor of the excellence of c.s. lewis. ...more

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