The Subtle Knife (His Dark Materials, #2)

by Philip Pullman

Was there only one world after all, which spent its time dreaming of others?

“The Spectres feast as vampyres feast on blood, but the Spectres’ food is attention. A conscious and informed interest in the world. The immaturity of children is less attractive to them.”

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.