The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, #1) in Building a SciFi/Fantasy Library

Mar 06, 2008 Christopher rated it liked it

This book is so thoroughly written, I have a hard time imagining most children enjoying it. It sounds strange to write this, but the characters are so well described, the plot so intricately woven, and the concepts so clearly defined that I can imagine reading it to be somewhat onerous to most kids these days.

My justification for this is based largely on the detail that goes into describing dust itself. A central construct to the story, dust is a mystical element that hovers around people, espec This book is so thoroughly written, I have a hard time imagining most children enjoying it. It sounds strange to write this, but the characters are so well described, the plot so intricately woven, and the concepts so clearly defined that I can imagine reading it to be somewhat onerous to most kids these days.

My justification for this is based largely on the detail that goes into describing dust itself. A central construct to the story, dust is a mystical element that hovers around people, especially children and their daemon pets and has cryptic properties the characters in the book believe may help combine parallel worlds. Cool. I can dig that. But the point where I think kids may lose interest in this concept is when dust is described over and over again with increasing mysticism. Honestly, The Force in Star Wars and the One Ring in Lord of the Rings - both essential concepts to their plots - are not described as much in their respective story lines. I think that is why those stories engaged me more than the Golden Compass. More was left to the reader/watcher to fill in. I find it engaging when I have to clarify things in my own mind with enough, but not too much detail. That's when I become part of the story.

Again, it seems strange to write this and even now I am conflicted, because the book does have all the classic markings of a successful children's book with witches, armor bears, gypsies, cryptic devices, and clandestine adventures. In the end though, Mr. Pullman uses these nuts-and-bolts to create an intricate erector set of a story when kids these days are used to XBox stories: topical fun, that moves quickly.

My only qualm beyond the age-appropriateness is with some of the writing being a tad expository. Sometimes the dialog and action lifts its skirts enough to expose Mr. Pullman writing to the reader. It doesn't happen often, but when it does - mostly again around describing dust - it is apparent. This factor was even more glaring in the movie to the point where I couldn't handle listening to Iorek Byrnison, the armor bear, talk about how great he once was or how sad his life had become or how obviously he was the prototypical secondary character longing for redemption enough to drag the main character into some significant action.

For adults looking for a good fantasy read, I would give this book five stars. But this book is meant for kids and that is why I must give my first incredible read three. ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Jan 25, 2008 Amy rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy

I've been a dedicated fantasy and horror reader for a long time, but I look for these books under those headings in the bookstore, or under general fiction. A while ago, a couple of friends tipped me off to this great trilogy (Trilogy! I cried, aghast - no, it's OK, they said soothingly - after Tolkien, everybody and their grandmother had to do a trilogy - but I digress) and I looked for it, but couldn't find it, and told them so. No, no, they told me, it's in the YA SECTION. Yes, one of the mos ...more

Like · see review

Dec 01, 2007 Glenn rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: sci-fi-fantasy

ISBN 0-440-23813-7

Puzzled. All the controversy aside, I still thought this book was a little too contrived and simplistic, even considering its intended audience. Some things, like Lyra's sudden mastery of reading the aliothemeter, were rushed with little to no explanation. Segues from one scene to the next were sometimes just glossed over, or not dealt with at all. I realize this is supposedly a children's story, but I still expect more than that.

As to the anti-Christian "message"...meh. Taken ...more

Like · see review

Feb 26, 2008 Andy rated it really liked it

Really enjoy the pace and feeling of the book. The world in which it takes place which is familiar yet very different. As many of my peers has said it is as much a book for adults as for children. I think ideally it is for late teens, though some of the material is likely going over the head of even me.

Enjoyed the pacing and the story and the way that characters develop. Looking forward to finishing the trilogy.

Like · see review

Feb 27, 2008 Amber rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy

I enjoyed these three books. They are very creative and thoughtful and keep you wondering what could possibley happen next. I will have to say that at times it was a little hard to tell who were the bad guys, but that I am sure was intentional.

Like · see review