Amazon.com

In the epic trilogy His Dark Materials, Philip Pullman unlocks the door to worlds parallel to our own. Dæmons and winged creatures live side by side with humans, and a mysterious entity called Dust just might have the power to unite the universes--if it isn't destroyed first. The three books in Pullman's heroic fantasy series, published as mass-market paperbacks with new covers, are united here in one boxed set that includes The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass. Join Lyra, Pantalaimon, Will, and the rest as they embark on the most breathtaking, heartbreaking adventure of their lives. The fate of the universe is in their hands. (Ages 13 and older) ... Read more

Reviews (377)

The Golden Compass; A great follow up to Harry Potter.
After finishing the 4th Harry Potter book I moped around for a few days lamenting the fact that the next installment isn't due for publication for quite some time. Luckily, a friend of mine suggested the Dark Materials series by Phillip Pullman. Five pages in to The Golden Compass I was hooked. With a "Potter like" fervor I ripped through the first book in two very long nights. After which I was useless at work, but just as satisfied as when I first discovered the work of J.K. Rowlings. A great read!

A note to parents: The world that Pullman conjurs is a bit darker than Harry Potter's. There is more violence and some very frightening situations. I'd say 11 and up would be a good age for these books.

IF YOU LIKED HARRY POTTER, YOU'LL LOVE THIS!!! 10 STARS!!!!!
These books are the best books I have ever read in my entire life. If you are a spiritual person, you'll especially love these books. It's not only for kids, although I do highly reccamend it for 12-16 year old boys and girls. It's a fantasy trilogy about a girl named Lyra Silvertongue and a boy named Will Parry. They each are on are there own inspiring quest full of adventure as they travel between many different worlds. Each book represents one of the awesomly powerful items that Will and Lyra get: The Golden Compass (Alethiometer), The Subtle Knife (Aesahaetr), and the Amber Spyglass (no name). VERY INTELLIGENTLY/CUNNINGLY WRITTEN. It has amazing detail, the best I've seen. I've read many books and these are probably the best I've ever read. Just make sure you read them in order, or else you will lose the complicated plot. I do not recomend His Dark Materials to young readers because of violence and completed reading.

A trilogy that deserves a place next to "Lord of the Rings"
These books left me breathless. Rarely can you read something with as well-realised world (even worlds) as this one.

We start in a kind of Victorian Oxford in a world were people have damons - which, while being separate, are a part of human being (it's too hard to explain this in several words, but it's not very comlicated, really). Our heroine is Lyra - a small girl, who will soon go on a great journey. Though it may sound like a kiddie book it is NOT. The book is mature in tone (espesially in later volumes) and may be not suitable for younger kids. For example, there is a scene where a bear catches and eats a seal. While not graphic, it's not something you'll often find in a book for children.

One of the strongest points of the trilogy is that it doesn't follow standard structure. For example, we won't meet some of the main characters untill the second book, and the third volume also holds enough surprises and new characters.

The books not only give us a wonderful universe, but also raise some questions, including religion and church which make some of the readers brand the books as anti-christian. In my opinion, this is not the case. Then again, if you consider books about Inqusition or "DaVinci Code" a threat to your fate, then you won't like this one. But, really, you should try to change your viewpoint, 'cause you will be missing a lot!

Best Book Series!
I love this book series! the first book was kind of hard to get through because it was longer than i'm accustomed to,but it's fascinating! a real sci-fi meets fantasy thriller/adventure series! you quickly fall in love with lyra and pan and then learn to love and cherish will who becomes their best friend in the subtle knife. their epic tale of mystery, betrayal, adventure, friendship and heroism trascends worlds and genres. A must read!!

Brilliant, NOT a "fantasy book"...
This story is characterized as "fantasy", but it is really just about real life. If I can count on what I read, Pullman has said he doesn't like labelling books as this category and that group, however you ARE most likely to find this on the "Fantasy" shelf of any bookstore. The very intense "theme" is as far from fantasy as possible, this story goes fathoms beyond its label.
I cannot stress enough how important it is for everyone to read this book! If your house catches fire, I HOPE these will become the books that you decide to throw out the window first, but even if you let them burn, Pullman is brilliant and this story is changing, you will come away from it different and better for having read and experienced it. ... Read more

Book Description

Read by the author and a full cast
10 hours, 49 minutes
9 CDs

When Lyra and her daemon Pantalaimon decide to spy on a presentation her uncle, the commanding Lord Asriel, is making to the elders of Jordan College they have no idea that they will become witnesses to an attempted murder—and even less that they are taking the first steps in a journey that will lead them into danger and adventure unlike anything Lyra's unfettered imagination has conjured up.

Though she has been reised at the college in an atmosphere of benign neglect that has allowed her to become a half-wild child of the streets, Lyra soon finds herself apprenticed to the elegant Mrs. Coulter—and in possession of a strange device called the alethiometer, a "golden compass" that reads not true worth, but truth itself.

But truth is a precious commodity, and before long Lyra and Pan are running for their lives, the object of an obsessive hunt by mysterious forces who have been stealing children for dark purposes that no one understands.Lyra will need all her street-learned wiles if she and Pan are to survive.

An international sensation from the moment it was published, The Golden Compass comes to spectacular new life in this unabridged recording, narrated by Philip Pullman himself, with the support of some of the finest actors of the London stage. ... Read more

Reviews (1079)

One of the best books ever written...
Ok, so one day I was at the book store looking through the fantasy section. I just happened to see The Golden Compass. It looked interesting, so I bought it and brought it home. I began reading it at about 6pm. I had finished it the next day at about 7 pm. I never left the couch. It is by far one of the best books I have ever read. Philip Pullman is a very gifted author with a very complex imagination. I recommend this book for anyone.

Lyra has lived in Jordan College her whole life, unsupervised, free to tear around the streets whenever she wanted. But one day, she sneaks into the Retiring Room and her entire life changes. Before she knows what is happening, her best friend Roger is kidnapped and she is living with Mrs. Coulter, a nice woman who promises to take her north. From there, Lyra is hurtled into a race against time to save hundreds of children from an unspeakable fate. Included in this book are armored bears, demon flies, and a bunch of other cool stuff. READ IT!

Will Goodness and Truth Triumph over Evil and Deception?
Lyra Belacqua's idyllic existence at Jordan College, where she is being raised by the Scholars, is thrown into chaos when the Gobblers kidnap her best friend, Roger, the kitchen boy. Rumor has it that the missing children are being taken north to Bolvangar and subjected to hideous experiments. Lyra and her irrepressible daemon, Pantamalion, vow to rescue Roger and the other children with the help of an eclectic group of mercenaries. Fraught with mystical references to a mysterious substance called "dust", and allusions to an alternate universe, Philip Pullman has woven a tale of terror, triumph, and a young girl's quest for the truth about her past. I was slowly drawn into this book one page at a time, until I became thoroughly captured by its unusual setting, uncommon characters, and unexpected plot twists. An excellent read!

And now for something different
If you're tired of the fantasy novels that don't seem to be able to leave Tolken behind, then brace yourself. This book is the start of something wonderfully different in the fantasy genre. This epic story has it all, magic, evil, goodness, innocence, and action. I was astounded at the intricate plot, wonderful imagery, and completely unique style. Hold on as you race through this one, because once you start you won't be able to put it down until you've read all three.

Truly one of the worst "children's" books ever written...
...unless, that is, you like to read stories in which parents are portrayed as child-torturers and murderers, the "Church" is a mysterious, fascist agency that promotes the child-murdering program (among other wholesome activities), children speak with odd, stilted grammar, and several of the main characters just...disappear in the middle of the story without further explanation. Nice stuff to read to your kids. Oh, did I mention that this book has possibly one of the most inept and unsatisfying endings ever to make it into print?

For the life of me, I can't figure out how this book is getting such rave reviews--perhaps readers like various individual action scenes, some of which are admittedly quite good; but the lousy destination is definitely not worth the occasionally fun ride in the journey. Maybe all the loose ends will be tied up in the second or third book? Possibly. But why waste another 400 or more pages to find out?

Don't squander your kids' precious childhood on this poorly written, disturbing and amoral dross. There's so much other better action-oriented stuff out there. Rosemary Sutcliff, C.S. Lewis and Brian Jacques come most immediately to mind.

Quite pleasant.
This is the first book in the His Dark Materials trilogy (before The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass).

Set at the turn of the twentieth century in an alternate Europe where everyone is inseparable from their animal daemons, shape-changers that only settle at puberty, this is the story of Lyra Belacqua (and her daemon Pantalaimon), a teenage orphan girl living in Oxford College in charge of her powerful uncle, Lord Asriel.

Being a curious little girl, Lyra hears lots of gossip in the old halls. Some, about Dust, as well as pictures of a mysterious floating city in the aurora, make her dream of travelling North on one of her uncle's expeditions. But soon she also hears rumours of children, mainly from Gyptian families, who have started to mysteriously disappear, lured and captured by what people call the "Gobblers".

And when her playmate Roger the kitchen boy is kidnapped, she's desperate. But at the same time arrives Mrs. Coulter, an elegant and fascinatingly intelligent woman, who wants to take Lyra to her school in London. Believing that she'll learn more about Dust and maybe travel North with her, she soon becomes Mrs. Coulter's protégée. Until she realizes that the woman is none other than the head of the General Oblation Board of London, in other words the "Gobblers", and runs away.

The rest of the story tells how Lyra finally travels to Lapland, setting out in search of Roger and the other missing children with the help of the Gyptians, with whom she first takes refuge, of Panserborne (armoured bears) and witch-queens, and of the alethiometer, a strange compass-like device that reveals the truth to anyone who can read it, which the Master of Oxford College secretly gave her just before she left. Little by little, she'll become caught up in the adults' intricate powerplay.

I liked Northern Lights (US title: The Golden Compass), and found it quite pleasant to read, but I wasn't overly captivated by it. I was moved by Lyra's friendship with Iorek Byrnison, an exiled Panserborne, and deeply shocked, appalled, when I discovered what the "Gobblers" do to the snatched children, but that's about it. Lyra's a tad too temerarious and quick-witted, and in the end, I found her hardly believable. I'm very fond of Pantalaimon though. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Attention all serious book collectors and fans ofPhilip Pullman'sHis Dark Materials. This undoubtedly beautiful package--cloth-bound in a classy red and adorned by numerous illustrations by master engraver and illustrator John Lawrence--is a must-purchase. A pint-sized pocket volume, Lyra's Oxford packages together a short story set in the same universe as his famous trilogy, a fold-out map of the alternate-reality city of Oxford, a short brochure for a cruise to The Levant aboard the S.S. Zenobia, and a postcard from the inventor of the amber spyglass, Mary Malone. Pullman, in his introduction, suggests that the peripheral items within "might be connected with the story, or they might not; they might be connected to stories that haven’t appeared yet. It's difficult to tell."

A very sumptuous and lovingly crafted but tantalizingly brief book ,Lyra's Oxford begins when Lyra and Pantalaimon spot a witch's daemon called Ragi being pursued over the rooftops of Oxford by a frenzied pack of birds. The daemon heads straight for Lyra (the creature was given Lyra’s name as somebody who might help) and is given shelter. Together Lyra and Pan try to guide the daemon to the home of Sebastian Makepeace—an alchemist living in a part of Oxford known as Jericho--but it is a journey fraught with more danger than they had at first anticipated.(Age 10 and over) --John McLay ... Read more

Reviews (27)

Know what you gonna read. Lovely!
First of all, this not a His Dark Materials-style book. Just a short story about Lyra and Pantalaimon, two years after the events of HDM. If you have read HDM, sure you felt quite sad about the ending, and you gonna feel relieved with Lyra's Oxford, as you see her keep going with her life. Don't expect a long story about something completely new, because it en't near HDM in any way. Just a 64 page book about a short story happening to Lyra. I loved it, as I loved HDM since the first chapter. And you gonna love Lyra's Oxford too.

A Taste of Things to Come
Lyra's Oxford is an enjoyable read for fans of the His Dark Materials trilogy, and whets the appetite for the upcoming 'Book of Dust'. The story is entertaining (though maybe too short for the price) but only if you have already read the main trilogy.. it simply won't make sense if you don't already know who these people are, as this is a book definitely for the fans. The extra tidbits were interesting to read through, though I thought the map was disappointing, and none of it met with the publisher's claim that it would look like it had "fallen through from another world". But I won't fault Pullman's storytelling because of that. If you enjoyed HDM and want to go deeper into Pullman's world, buy Lyra's Oxford.

[...]

A tightly woven fable
Taking his fan base completely by surprise (those members of his fan base that aren't ardent followers anyway) Philip Pullman has added a new chapter to the "His Dark Materials" saga. The series that catapulted Pullman from a minor children's literature existence to magnificent and overwhelming kiddie lit super-stardom has a new book to its name. Entitled "Lyra's Oxford", the book is consists of the following: A quote, an introduction, a story, and ephemera. This book is merely a small link to the further adventures to follow, it seems. As such, it stands as a perfect little entity within its own right.

The plot found in this book is nothing so much as a short story. Some 43 pages long it tells the tale of Lyra and her daemon Pantalaimon. A quick note: If you haven't read any of the other "His Dark Materials Books" you could probably slog through this novella, though I wouldn't recommend it. Exposition isn't dwelt on here. The tale begins when Lyra and Pan spot a wayward daemon of a witch being attacked by a flock of starlings. After rescuing the much maligned creature the daemon bird tells them that he is frantically searching for a man named Makepeace. Lyra and Pan are charged to find this man and help the daemon save his mistress from death. Stirring stuff and a nice little story in its own right. Here we finally get a glimpse into Lyra's daily life. Jordan College has been fleshed out a little more and we meet various professors and students as Lyra searches for information about Makepeace. By the end of the tale, more questions have been raised than answered but barring the unfortunate death of the author (not likely) we'll have further Lyra goings on to look forward to soon.

If I've any problems with the book they probably stem from a single moment. Not to give anything away, Lyra is faced at some point with almost certain danger and/or death. In summoning her courage the girl thinks to herself, "Will-Will-be like Will-". Huh? This is the first moment our spunky heroine has EVER pretended to be anyone else in order to face her fears. This suggests that we are dealing with a softer gentler Lyra, a thought confirmed when Pullman writes that for Lyra, "the slightest thing had the power to move her to pity and distress". I miss the old headstrong Lyra. The strong independent Lyra. There are glimpses of her here, but not enough to fully put my mind at rest. I can only hope that the future books will remember that old Lyra better than this book does.

Now the story I was describing was actually entitled "Lyra and the Birds". "Lyra's Oxford" is the name of the book itself and it is a great deal more interesting. Here we can find maps of Oxford, postcards (one from Mary Malone herself!), photographs, advertisements, pages from old books, and a variety of other odds and ends. The effect is nothing so much as a childlike version of the "Griffin and Sabine" books, once so popular. In his introduction to the book, Pullman reflects that these little bits and pieces of ourselves that are sometimes the most telling. While their importance may remain hidden to us for now, readers are advised to hold onto this book tightly for future reference. It is obviously awash in clues that will become clearer in time. I myself was particularly interested in one of the advertisements for a book entitled, "The Bronze Clocks of Benin". Its author, Marisa Coulter, may stir a couple memories here and there. And there and here.

Altogether, I'd say the book's a delicate and successful composition. Its back cover advertises it as "beguiling" and I am inclined to agree. Some people may complain that for its price it is relatively small. Others will pore for hours over the various countries in Lyra's world (advertised by the "Globetrotter") and possible cruise destinations. If you're a fan of a book that will allow you to pick apart thousands of ideas and clues, I think you'll find "Lyra's Oxford" charming.

Could this little book be leading to something more???
As an avid lover of the Dark Materials, I was excited to see this book on the shelf. I picked it up immediatley.
I have to admit, yes the book is short, containing a story of approx. 49 pages. It is a quick read and not to the depth of the Dark Materials trilogy... HOWEVER, upon reading the introduction this leads me to believe there is something more on the horizon (or at least I'm hoping so). I believe that anyone who is a fan of the Dark Materials will enjoy this little tid bit for what it is. It takes place after the trilogy and shows how life has gone on for Lyra and Pan. It leads me to the conclusion that more is to come...
Pullman is a delightful writer. His words are wonderful and picturesque. I highly recommend this to any fan of The Dark Materials.

Lyra's tiny book
Much too short. (...) I suggest not buying it. The story is so abbrieviated that not much happens. The best thing about this book is its interesting size and colour. The binding is so thick its gunna last for ages. (...) ... Read more

Book Description

The Amber Spyglass brings the intrigue of The Golden Compass and The Subtle Knife to a heart-stopping end, marking the final volume of His Dark Materials as the most powerful of the trilogy.

Along with the return of Lyra and other familiar characters from the first two books come a host of new characters: the Mulefa, mysterious wheeled creatures with the power to see Dust; Gallivespian Lord Roke, a hand-high spymaster to Lord Asriel; and Metatron, a fierce and mighty angel. So too come startling revelations: the painful price Lyra must pay to walk through the land of the dead, the haunting power of Dr. Malone's amber spyglass, and the names of who will live - and who will die - for love. And all the while, war rages with the Kingdom of Heaven, a brutal battle that - in its shocking outcome - will uncover the secret of Dust.

Philip Pullman deftly brings the cliffhangers and mysteries of His Dark Materials to an earth-shattering conclusion and confirms his fantasy trilogy as an undoubted and enduring classic.

... Read more

Reviews (695)

Well worth the wait; and the $57 too
After reading Northern Lights (known in the USA as The Golden Compass) in 1995, and The Subtle Knife in 1997 (both on the days they came out), and after 3 rather abrupt letters to the author himself, I have been breathlessly awaiting the arrival of book 3, and it has lived up to speculation. I cried so many times throughout this book, and was up till 5am reading it. Never have I read a better series than His Dark Materials, and I doubt I ever will. I love the mulefa, I love the wheel-pods, I love everything about this book, as I loved everything about the earlier two. Philip Pullman is a creative genious, and Amber Spyglass is, in my opinion, the most magnificent book of all time. As I live in the UK, I paid $57 to get this book from the USA, and it was well worth all those hours of work I had to do in order to raise the money. In book three, Philip Pullman combines all the spectacular events of the previous books, and his writing skill is as amazing as ever. Perhaps some will find this book blasphemous, I don't know - all I know is that this book surely deserves to go down as the greatest book in history, far superior to the childish-humour of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books. In book three, Lyra and Will come together once more, and with the magnificence of Philip Pullman's writing, and the wonderful plot, this book will make you long to kill Philip Pullman, when you discover there shall be no more of Lyra's adventures. Book one was amazing, Book two left me awestruck, and Book three made me realise just how good Philip Pullman can be. This is the author at his best - nothing can compare with the sheer magnitude of Amber Spyglass, and I hope beyond hope, that Philip Pullman will continue to enlighten this world with books as good as Amber Spyglass. I feel unable to read anything else now, knowing that nothing could compare with the book I finished at 5am this morning. Every part of this book is superb, and though I wanted to kill Philip Pullman after the ending, I longed to kill him more after what he named the title of Chapter 19, and then he put it at the front of the book, where we'd read it too :-) As someone once said, Philip Pullman should be chained to his keyboard for another book, and I can only wait in wonder, to see what this amazing author will create next. As Philip Pullman once said, "We don't need lists of rights and wrongs, tables of do's and don'ts. We need books, time, and silence. Thou shalt not is soon forgotten, but Once upon a time lasts forever." And in my bookshelf, Lyra's story will live forever too, until the time comes when I feel able to re-read this masterpiece, and maybe then, there shall be less tears than the first time, though I doubt it very much. Sophie Anne Stott - Founder of the Philip Pullman fan club - Oxford

A Book that Makes You Think--- Hard
After reading "The Golden Compass" and "The Subtle Knife," I was left dangling from a cliff wondering how Pullman could possibly manage to pull the pieces of the plot together into a coherent ending. After waiting for nearly two years, reading "The Amber Spyglass" was especially rewarding. Richly written, Pullman's novel gracefully weaves the strands of plot together into an exciting, thought-provoking masterpiece. His ideas regarding religion and the deceptiveness of the Church were particularly intriguing to me; the thought of God as a Great Deceiver thrills me, because no writer I have ever read has ever written such an idea in such a popular franchise before. I also loved his idea of the Fallen Angels being on the side of right and goodness rather than being demonic underlings. The concept of Dust, or Dark Matter, being the basis of all spiritual existence is thrilling, and his ideas regarding the psyche of the maternal mind are interesting. However, the most dramatic portion of the novel would have to be the dramatic closing chapters. They are so well-written, and the characters have been so highly developed and embraced by my heart, that the tragic end actually drove me to tears during the entire final five chapters. I truly hope, as do many, that Pullman will relent and add a fourth installment to this groundbreaking series; the open ending is just too much to handle, and leaves me hungering for more. A truly well-written novel not only entertains you, but challenges your pre-formed conceptions and beliefs. Pullman's novel accomplishes this in spades, and deserves to be studied intensely.

soppy and nonsensical
I'm sorry to say that Pullman's main achievement in this last book is to create yet another soppy paean to adolescence. I was really disappointed in the weakness of the plot and characters. Through most of the book, Pullman is crudely trying to jerk the reader's emotions around... Oh, the sadness! Oh, the joy! Oh, the tragedy! It's all surprisingly amateur, simplistic, and it doesn't work. At least not for an adult reader. But I couldn't like this kind of sci-fi hackery even when I was an adolescent myself. Oh Asimov, Tolkien, where are thou???

Riveted.....and then sooooo disappointed!!!!
The first two books of this series were wonderfully written, fast paced marvels that held me riveted by the hour - I couldn't put them down. The characters were intriguing, genuine, and well rendered. I was facinated with the plot that never let up for a minute. So when I picked up the last book to the trilogy I expected nothing less than to be amazed.
How sorely I was dissappointed - there is only one way to sum up the ending of this trilogy - horrible! I felt SO CHEATED!!! As many other reviewers have stated - there were so many loose ends that a good portion of the storyline was rendered pointless - what a shame! I can accept that not every story has a happy ending - that is what makes life bittersweet - but I felt that readers, myself included, deserved a better crafted ending than we were "served" - This ending makes you long for even one more chapter that would truely and artfully conclude this trilogy so it could become a true masterpiece.
- Hey, my final thought - it is never too late to for a revised edition!!!!!

GOOD-but terribly SAD
Ok, this was a GREAT book, but I happened to find one MAJOR flaw in it. The ending. Not that it did not make sense, only that, it sucked. It was terribly sad, and I found myself bawling for ten minutes staight, and any time afterwards when I thought about the ending. To this day, I still cry terribly when I think about what happened, and I wish so badly that it had turned out differently for Will and Lyra. I know i'm getting a little too emotional, but this book was good, but very very very very very terribly sad, and WILL make you cry. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"Her name was Sally Lockhart; and within fifteen minutes, she was goingto kill a man." Philip Pullman begins his Sally Lockhart trilogy with a bang inThe Ruby in the Smoke--a fast-paced, finely crafted thriller set in arogue- and scalawag-ridden Victorian London. His 16-year-old heroine has no timefor the usual trials of adolescence: her father has been murdered, and she needsto find out how and why. But everywhere she turns, she encounters new scoundrelsand secrets. Why do the mere words "seven blessings" cause one man to keel overand die at their utterance? Who has possession of the rare, stolen ruby? Andwhat does the opium trade have to do with it?

As our determined and intelligent sleuth sets her mind to unraveling these darkmysteries, she learns how embroiled she is in the whole affair. As riveting andwitty as the sensational "penny dreadfuls" of Victorian England (but thousandsof times better written), Pullman's trilogy (including The Shadow in the North andThe Tiger in the Well)will have readers on the edges of their seats. Ruby is an ALA Best Bookfor Young Adults. (Ages 12 and older) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (130)

A teenage girl survives intrigue in Sherlock Holmes' London
The 3 Sally Lockhart books, beginning with 'The Ruby in Smoke' are set in London in a time Sherlock Holmes reader's will recognize. All the evil and intrigue are present plus some twists that Conan Doyle never thought of. The difference is a heroine who is not at all typical of the times. In the first book she is a teenager who survives life threatening situations with luck and the help of the loyal friends she makes along the way. In the later books, she develops into a savvy young woman succeeding in a man's world. The villains she faces are darker and more evil than you'll see in young adult books of a few years ago. The books are all very absorbing and leave you hungry for the next one. Don't let the book cover fool you, this is an adult read.

Terrible? I Think Not!
This book is the most amazing I've read. Ever.
Philip Pullman's unbelievable description and detail makes it easy for the reader to be sucked into the story and make it seem real. The book starts off with a bang and never settles down until the end - Sally's life is always in danger. "Her name was Sally Lockhart, and within fifteen minutes she was going to kill a man." What kind of a reader could put down a novel after an entry like that?! This suspenseful mystery is best not read right before bedtime, if you'd like untroubled dreams. The Ruby in the Smoke is real, the realest I've ever seen in a mystery, and the best.

I'd also like to recommend: The Shadow in the North, The Tiger in the Well, The Tin Princess, The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass

Ruby in the Smoke Audio review.
If you like Harry Potter on audio your going to love the new audio version of Ruby in the Smoke. Anton Lesser equals if not surpasses Jim Dale in giving the characters individuality and life. If you like hearing the English accent and done just right for every character, Lesser gets five stars. If your out there Anton, great job and I hope you get the rest of the Sally Lockhart books. The story is great but the opium sections may not be for young children. This book like "His Dark Materials," makes a long road trip fly by.

The Ruby in the Smoke
The Ruby in the Smoke was full of excitment. There were many twists and turns and betrayals of friends. Sally uncovers many secrets and mysteries of hers and others mysterious pasts. She is joined on her adventures by quite a few friends who she meets along the way. Sally is a very kind and caring young woman who is always eager to help others out when they need it. Due to her loveable personality and her outstanding intelligence she is able to figure out the mysteries left to her after her father's murder. She uses her courage to stand up to evil and win.

only ok
i read this book hoping for something similar to Pullman's later work, his dark materials. It isnt that. Its pretty dry, just a regular girl who happens to come into several bouts of both good and bad luck. Ill give it three stars because it kept my attention long enough to finish it, and I'll probably read the other two. hopefully they will be better. ... Read more

Book Description

Read by the author and a full cast
8 hours 55 minutes, 8 CDs

The universe has broken wide, and Lyra's friend lies dead.Desperate for answers and set on revenge, Lyra bursts into a new world in pursuit of his killer.Instead, she finds Will, just twelve years old and already a murderer himself.He's on a quest as fierce as Lyra's, and together they strike out into this sunlit otherworld.

On this journey marked by danger, Will and Lyra forge ahead.But with every step and each new horror, they move closer to the greatest threat of all—and the shattering truth of their own destiny.

In this stunning sequel to The Golden Compas, Philip Pullman continues His Dark Materials trilogy and confirms it as an undoubted and enduring classic.

AWARDS AND HONORS
ALA Best Books for Young Adults
Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
Horn Book Fanfare Honor Book
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Blue Ribbon Book
Book Links Best Book of the Year
Parents' Choice Gold Book Award
American Bookseller "Pick of the Lists" ... Read more

Reviews (522)

RAISING THE STAKES FOR THE FINAL CHAPTER
Philip Pullman has certainly set a task for himself. Whether this a true masterpiece (Lord Of The Rings, Narnia) will depend on how deftly he can interweave the various threads he has laid out for us. Pulling in the story of origonal sin and doing something with it that is neither formulaic or sophmoric is certainly a courageous undertaking as a writer. I hope Mr. Pullman doesn't suffer from writer's block, as I'm really looking forward to seeing how he meets this challenge. And he has certainly set up high expectations with his first two installments. I think the Golden Compass was the stronger book in the wondrous new world and vibrant, endearing characters Pullman created. The Subtle Knife was a lively continuation, perhaps too much weight on action and adventure, but it also threw down the "religous gauntlet" which expands the conceptual content so greatly. Indeed this is dark and wondrous material for gripping reading. My internal daemon awaits with baited breath, anxious to devour the third course of this marvelous literary meal. My one request- bring back Iorek!

Truly magnificent in its complexity ... an amazing tale ...
The Subtle Knife has opened my eyes to more amazing conceptions, as does all of my favorite books. Such tales of alternate dimensions and mystical creatures have awed me since I have been able to read. Any person with a wonderful book and an overactive imagination can find themselves immersed in fabulous worlds and gripping nightmares. The Subtle Knife ranks among some of the top books I have read including J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy, Madeline L' Engle's A Wrinkle In Time quartet and several other amazing stories of grand things. Among fantasy novels my interests in books also lie with science-fiction, something that The Subtle Knife and its counterpart, The Golden Compass, can both tie in to. It amazes me that any person could weave such a tale of complexity and power. Unfortunately, all of the stories that I have ever written (none have been finished) cannot compare with such a tale that wraps within its own events or involves so many places and people. For any person who has not yet read The Subtle Knife it is something that you should not pass up. The story is one involving stupendous characters from the same places in different universes that can partially interact with each other, but not directly. To understand, one must truly read the book for one's self along with the first book, The Golden Compass. So I leave it to you, my dear readers, to follow your interests. Hopefully they will lead you to The Golden Compass and The Subtle Knife, for they are books that the fantasy/science-fiction reader should check in to.

More gripping.
This is the second book of His Dark Materials (after Northern Lights, or The Golden Compass in the US, and before The Amber Spyglass).

Will Parry is a twelve-year-old boy living in Oxford with his mother, who's suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder, and his cat Moxie. His father, an arctic explorer, has gone missing almost since the boy was born.

Will's mother has been facing more and more crises of late, and strangers have been harrassing her repeatedly, asking questions about her husband, about the letters he sent her twelve years ago. Will decides to send her to his old piano teacher's house to keep her safe, but when these men come back and search their home, Will accidently kills one of them. Not wanting to call the police because they would put his mother into hospital, he takes his father's letters from their hiding place in the sewing machine, and flees.

But walking on the side of the road, he sees a cat much like Moxie suddenly disappear. Examining the patch of grass more closely, he discovers a window, resolves to cross it, and finds himself in Cittàgazze, a sun-drenched, palm-treed city on the sea shore, in another world.

The city looks as if everyone just left in a hurry though, and when Will is looking for food in the recently abandoned cafés, he stumbles onto a lost young girl, Lyra. Although shocked to see a human without a daemon, and after asking her alethiometer for advice, she knows she can trust Will, and they finally decide to help each other.

The rest of the book describes how they travel back and forth between worlds, Will searching for his father, Lyra gathering information about Dust, both making new allies as well as meeting new enemies, facing new, more deadly dangers.

I liked The Subtle Knife more than Northern Lights (US title: The Golden Compass), was more gripped by it as a whole. I particularly enjoyed the connections between Lyra's and Will's (our) Oxford, when Lyra discovers what is similar, and what is not, to the place where she grew up. There's still a rather mystic edge to the story which I don't quite get, but I guess everything will clear up in the last chapter.

Good middle book
The Subtle Knife is a good middle book of a trilogy and in some ways a good 'link' book-not quite as good as the first in that you lose some of the novelty.Though Pullman makes enough changes for it to be still quite fresh;New Worlds,new good/bad guys etc while still having our mainstay links through the book in Lyra,Mrs Coulter,Asriel,Byrnison.It's a compulsive read-I read this very quickly as I did the first.Again,good fun and an easy read.Better than the Harry P books (for me) and,very readable for an adult.I do think that when reviewing childrens books that the reviewers should put their age down as I think it's no good a kid reading my thoughts on it to help them decide (I'm 40 yrs old)-and likewise no point in an adult using a ten year old to help himself decide if to get the books.I wish when I was a kid though,that at school,they made you read books like this rather than shakespeare etc.I would say,if you're an adult with kids,buy it,read it,and lend it to them!

Great Book! Great Series!
The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman Is amazing. It is and interesting fantasy novel that has tons of action.This book includes Magic, Battles, Science, And Friendship. This also a great series. The reason i would choose this book over the amber spyglass is because the amber spyglass had so much action and things going on that it got tiring. Also it was very long. The Subltle Knife is about two children, Will and Lyra, That embark on a fantastic journey that takes them through many worlds. They meets outragous enimies and allies such as angels, witchs, talking war bears, and small bug-like Gallivispian Spies. This book was great and is a must read! I Would Give It 5 STARS! ***** it is also a great series. I think it is destined to become the next Harry Potter. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Six years after solving the mysteries surrounding the death of herfather (in The Ruby in theSmoke), Sally Lockhart has set up her own consulting business. But herphotographer friend, Fred Garland, has a habit of drawing her into his privatedetective work owing to her skill in both finances and firearms. When one ofSally's clients loses a large sum of money invested in a shipping firm and Fredencounters a conjurer on the lam from underworld thugs, the two begin to findlinks in these apparently disparate cases.

Exquisitely written and packed with a wonderfully diverse, often terrifying castof characters and dark twists and turns of plot, the second installment of theSally Lockhart trilogy--an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, a BooklistEditors' Choice, and a nominee for the Edgar Allan Poe Award for BestMystery--is entirely impossible to put down. Make sure book 3, The Tiger in the Well, is closeat hand as you near the end of this one. (Ages 12 and older) --EmilieCoulter ... Read more

Reviews (65)

The Best of the Trilogy
The Shadow in the North, the third book in the Sally Lockhart Trilogy, is the best in the series. The book is wonderfully written with and excellent, but complicated, plot.Six years later Sally Lockhart is a 21 year old financial consultant and Fredrick Garland and 20-something photographer and private detective become involved in a mystery or murder and fraud. Sally refuses to accept that her relationship with Fred is becoming something more then friendship.... You'll be smiling through your tears!!! Its a must read that you can't put down. You'll probably end up reading it a dozen times.The ending is sad , a happier ending may have been better, but its one more obsticle Sally must overcome in her life. The Shadow in the North is absouloutly the best in the series, not saying the others were bad they too were excellent. I recomend reading the books in order , their more enjoyable that way!! But no matter how you read them make sure you read The Shadow in the North!!

best in the trilogy
This is by far the best book in the Sally Lockhart trilogy. The first and third are very good but don't have the emotional intensity of this. The plot is well written and horrifying while being a lot easier to follow than The Tiger in the Well. The ending is heart-wrenching but without it the third wouldn't work and it is a tribute to Pullman's writing skills that this is only the second book that has ever made me cry. Although the plot is full of tension and makes you want to read on and on I feel that the main focus of this book is Sally's relationship with Fred and her battle to interpret her feelings for him. The character's are what makes a book and this is no exception. The goodies are vivd, funny and lovable and the baddies, although ultimately evil manage to throw in a few shocking twists.

I think it is essential to read the books in order. Reading the third before this would remove the horror of the ending and most of the plot since it is summarised in the Tiger in the Well. All in all one of the best books I've read. Thrilling and heart breaking.

A touch of James Bond, but otherwise great.
I, personally, enjoyed the Shadow in the North even more than the Ruby in the Smoke. It is a continuization of the young victorian heroine Sally Lockhart (now 22), who certainly seems to attract shady business wherever she goes. Pullman's chracterizations are amazing, and his descriptions of everything make you feel like you're watching it as a movie.
However, I do feel like throwing something sharp and heavy at his head right now, like perhaps a big book about subliminal aggression towards love; as the end of this book and the end of the Amber Spyglass have similarly disturbing endings concerning romance. Also, the machine at the climax of the book is a bit far-fetched for the setting. It sounds like something out of a James Bond movie.
The plot is perfectly paced: Beggining with the sinking of a ship and ending with a diabolical plot to control lots of whatever (in the grand tradition of slimy, psychopathic villains) . The way all the characters are interconnected is clever and actually plausible. Of all the colorful characters, the best one is Jim, Sally Lockhart's cockney-type friend who spends his time reading and writing melodramas and working in the theatre. I never wanted to stop reading this book, and I will definentely get the Tiger in the Well. Strongly recommended, despite the far-fetched moments.
***Post script concerning sex in this book: For all you parent-type people who are worried about how appropriate this is for your Young Children, you can relax. It's nothing graphic, so it would probably be appropriate for anyone 5th grade or up. But my friend read it in the third grade and said it kind of freaked her out then.***

better then the first one
i had a very great difficulty relateing to sally lockheart. i loved "his dark material" and those books seem to lacking the great mystical-philosophical-physical level, and are somhow, though dealing with other importent theams, are more about telling a cool detective story, then about delivering a meaningful massage.

however, i have to say, that as a litural creation, this book's more balanced, put together and built well then the first one in this series.

sally lockheart grow up, and her world has grown up with her, as she discovered the harshness and unfairness of govoments and corporations. as she start a quest to discover what happend to one of her investor consoltent's business money. in the same time other aspects of the same story are discovered by jim and fred, her loyal freinds. the book, though being a great detective story, touchs interesting theam, such as women's right, classes, spiritualizm, the connection between corporations and political authority, love and power.

i enjoyed it a lot, hope you will to.

Nowhere near as good as Dark Materials
I guess I thought that after reading the Dark Materials trilogy that it would be safe to buy anything by Pullman - but I was disappointed in this book. The writing was good and there are some very moving moments but overall I didn't feel I could award it more than 3 points. For a start the historical period felt wrong - the book didn't feel like it was set in Victorian times and Sally was just unbelievable - she just felt like a modern heroine transported there in a time machine(perhaps he should stick with fantasy). There is a sense of political correctness running through the book which seems more in tune with the 21st century than the 19th ... The books just seemed too childish for an adult and way way too brutal for a teenage reader. OK the same could be said of the DM triology (it took me weeks to get started on the second volume after the end of the first) but there at least I felt it was worth it. Here I was just really gutted and upset by the events of the novel and I felt the ending didn't make up for it ... There is one marvellous moment when Pullman seems about to pull (pardon the pun) out one of his incredible surprise twists - but no - he plays it safe after all and the book has a conventional ending. I guess I'll read reviews before buying any of his other stuff. ... Read more

Book Description

"Pullman is fast becoming a modern-day Dickens for young adults. The setting

is the same, the strong eye for characters is there, as are the brooding

atmosphere, the social conscience, and the ability to spin plot within plot.

Sally Lockhart is now a young woman, left alone with a toddler. Nothing

prepares her for the shock of receiving a summons from a man she has never even

heard of, suing for divorce and the custody of her beloved Harriet. Sally

struggles against the net closing around her, seeking to find out who is

persecuting her and why. The writing style is lively and direct, and there's

lots of action. This is a suspense novel with a conscience, and a most

enjoyable one."--School Library Journal.




... Read more

Reviews (43)

Satisfying conclusion to an excellent trilogy
We start the story with Sally living happily in the country, with her friends and her daughter, and everything is wonderful. Then she falls into a nightmare - someone, claiming to be her husband, wants custody of her daughter. Who hates Sally so much that he wants to destroy her utterly, and steal her daughter?

This is a really gripping story with no loose ends. Sally goes on a journey through the underside of Victorian London, ending up in Spitalfields. I used to live in this area, and loved reading the way that Pullman brought its history to life. The baddies are very bad, and get their comeuppance. The finale is worthy of a Hollywood action movie.

I came to these books after reading The Golden Compass and The Subtle Knife. The Sally Lockhart trilogy has none of the fantasy aspects of these books - it's set firmly in gritty, dirty Victorian England. The stories are simpler, so the books would be easier for a younger reader. Sally is a real role model heroine for a young girl - she never gives up, and is very smart and brave.

For the older reader, the attractions are the quality of the stories (except perhaps for the middle book), and the excellent descriptions of life in Victorian England. These stories rattle along at a fast pace, with plot twists coming from the baddies trying to outwit Sally and her friends. Sally ends up in the Victorian underworld, and the portrayal of street gangs, and the lives they lead, is very believable. A nice piece of social history. Highly recommended.

Pullman at best
After reading the Golden Compass and Subtle Knife I knew I would have to read more by him while waiting for the end of His Dark Materials trilogy. Once I got past the first three chapters of The Ruby in the Smoke I was hooked, and although The Shadow in the North broke my heart and made no one seem indivisable, the Tiger in the Well tied almost* everything up. I'd like to say that I never put the book down, but I can't. I was just a little too enraged at the beginning ( you understand if you read the series ), but once you get to chapter 20 ( the second book ) you better have time cause there is simply no place to put it down. The ultimate climax though was in the last ten chapters ( the third book ) and you get the feeling that the other books ( meaning Ruby in the Smoke and Shadow of the North ) were just an intro, and this is the only real story. I highly suggest this and I must say that the coversation between Con, Tony, and the Officer in I think the last chapter ( Rabbits ) is the absolute funniest I've ever read. Funny, exciting, with, romance, and drama the absolute best.

*The Tin Princess

what does this have to do with the tiger in the well?
From Publishers Weekly
This comical adventure about a girl who longs to follow in her father's footsteps crackles with Pullman's (The Golden Compass; Clockwork) usual flair. Lila desperately wants to be a firework-maker like her widower father. Although he has raised her amid the dancing sparks, he wants her to have a husband rather than a vocation. With the help of her entrepreneurial friend Chulak, the personal servant to the king's talking white elephant, Lila tricks her father into revealing the secret to his profession, then bravely departs to retrieve the royal sulphur from Razvani the Fire-Fiend at the heart of a volcano. Pullman marries elements of fairy tale with slapstick humor as Lila outwits a vaudevillian band of pirates and scales jagged mountains on her quest. Gallagher's (Blue Willow, reviewed above) softly focused graphite drawings lend magical mystery as Lila fearfully contemplates the dancing fire imps at Mount Merapi and emphasize the absurdity as the elephant, his flanks emblazoned with advertisements, kneels before the Goddess of the Lake in order to save Lila from Razvani. If the tale, first published in Britain in 1995, isn't as polished as Pullman's other works, it's worth the trip just for the climactic fireworks scene in which Lila gets to show her stuff. Ages 8-12. (Oct.) FYI: As of September, Pullman's Sally Lockhart Trilogy is being reissued in paperback: The Ruby in the Smoke; The Shadow in the North; and The Tiger in the Well; as well as The Tin Princess, which features characters from the trilogy. (Knopf, $4.99 paper each ages 12-up ISBN 0-394-89589-4; -82599-3; ISBN 0-679-82671-8; -87615-4)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
I was so confused..then I read the reader's reviews and realized you had the wrong review on this page.

the best in the series
If you are thinking about buying this book, you probably familiar with sally lockheart and the first 2 books in this series. And you are familiar with pullman "can't put the book down" writing, and already attached to the well known and loved characters.

This book happens 2 years after the ending if the last one, sally has grown more and matured, as well as her business and her place in life, she made a few more friends, and life seem prefect - until in a brief moment, everything seem to collapse.
What i love mostly about the book and the entire series, except of the intriguing plot, is pullman's ability to examine "serious" social issues and combine them in the story. In "ruby in the smoke" it was a lot about the politics of drugs, in the " shadow in the north" it was about classes and weapons, and in this one is about the pre-word war Jewish immigration and socialism vs. capitalism. it examine the writers opinions without being to preachy and showing some ways of thinking without being to confusing.

I also enjoy pullman's level of research and his many reference to actual London the way it was in the Victorian period, i was reading this book with my sister who just spend a while in London and it was really nice to check if she knows those places today and in what ways have the different part of the city changed.

It's a slightly creepier book and scarier and probably fit for a bit older crowed then the first and second book. I'm 28 and some part of it gave me the chills, so other then young kids, i recommend it highly.

The Tiger in the Well
In my opinion, The Tiger in the Well is a good read, but not up to the standard of the Ruby in the Smoke, and the Shadow in the North. The plot drags on, and did not really involve me. The idea was very innovative, and the story chilling, but it did not seem to be portrayed with the suspense and depth of the first or second books. However, there were several positive sides to the book. Sally's growth as a character was central to this book, and her personality and feelings are explored to a much greater extent than in other books. For the first time, Sally seems vulnerable, even afraid, rather than confident, which is an interesting twist in the series. The introduction of new characters is also interesting. Overall, it is still a good book, and a must for any fans of Philip Pullman, if you're willing to put up with a drawn out plot lacking some of the suspense of the previous books. ... Read more

Book Description

Days after she witnesses a mysterious explosion in 19th-century London,

16-year-old Becky Winter is on her way to a small country In Central Europe, as

a companion to Adelaide, a Cockney commoner who'd rather play board games than

be a princess. But after an assassination makes Adelaide ruler of Razkavia, she

rises to the occasion and her new station, gleefully playing international

politics with the help of Becky and Jim Taylor, a dashing young detective.

"Fans of Pullman's writing should find much to enjoy here."--Booklist.




... Read more

Reviews (33)

Slightly disappointing, but still a good read
Much though I am the first to admit to being a Pullman fan, this was the one that didn't quite make the grade for me. First of all, Pullman's passion for detail got in the way of his story; there were too many names and places and unnecessary plot twists for readers to keep track of properly. I guess, too, that having Sally Lockhart make a couple of cameo appearances led me to expect a Sally Lockhart book (trilogy plus one?) and so I kept waiting for her to play an active part that never happened. When she was mentioned, she was sitting at home smoking a pipe, knitting a jumper and growing radishes... not your Sally Lockhart of trilogy fame. Better to have left her out of this story altogether.

And what was Jim thinking of, falling for Adelaide? Who would have expected the brave little Adelaide from The Ruby In The Smoke to turn into the lazy spoilt brat she is depicted as at the begining of The Tin Princess? (though she improves during the course of the story and redeems herself by the end). And then there's Becky; the heroine who doesn't get half the recognition she deserves.

But when Pullman zeros in on his main characters, the story takes off, and it's their complex relationships that hold the readers' attention. Fans of Pullman's writing may have to stretch a bit in trading Victorian ambience for Germanic saber rattling, but there's enough here to enjoy even if it's not Pullman at his sparkling best.

A Complete and Utter Letdown -- Deserves Zero Stars
It is difficult for me to believe that the author who wrote such wonderfully rich books as "The Ropemaker" and the "His Dark Materials" trilogy could write such drivel as "The Tin Princess." Pullman's artistic ability is apparent in his descriptions of political intrigues and cunning plots, but these wonderful descriptions are sadly hidden by the boring, monotonous, one-dimensional characters. Adelaide's coldness, selfishness, and almost shrewish behavior makes it impossible to believe that she could be so beloved by everyone in this novel. Becky, the one character in the book that could have had potential, is shunted to the side and allowed only to play the part of the eager sidekick whose only purpose is to serve the main character.

People who are interested in Pullman's works would do better to read his fantastical novels and leave his clumsy attempts at 'reality' fiction on the shelf.

Is there more?
When my ex-husband went to London, he brought back the Sally Lockhart Trilogy, along wih the Tin Princess for our twelve year old daughter. I just finished the Tin Princess and although I really liked them all, I don't really feel that they are appropriate for a child. The love making and the various accompanying emotions are irrelevant to them. I would, however be interested to find out if there is another addition to the series that I might read. I felt let down at the end and thought that this did not resolve everything...what a cliff-hanger!

OK only....
I didn't like this book as much as I did all the Sally Lockhart books. The plot was pretty interesting. I loved Jim and I wished there were more of his points of view. I wish there was also more Sally in the book. I also would have loved to see a scene with both Sally and Dan together to see how they're getting along. One of the things I loved best about the Sally series was the wonderful relationship between her and Jim. The scene that moved me the most was when Sally showed up near the end of the book to see Jim. I really liked Becky as well. She was such a spirited and interesting character. If only her character was expanded a little more. The one character I could not like was Adelaide. I understand that she had a tough childhood and everything, but I just couldn't get used to the fact that she was queen and all that. I didn't like her attitude or her personality. I found it unbelievable that Jim would be in love with her forever, because the last time he was in real contact with her was when she was about 9 and he was about 13 or 14. Who falls in love that young and only knowing each other for a few days? But I liked the whole Razkavia thing and I loved the parts with Sally in it. So if you want to continue on with some beloved characters it's worth reading.

Pullman, kind of repetive? Will and Lyra Jim and Adelaide...
The politics in TheTin Princess were absolutly magnificent. They were intriguing and twisted. The first few chapters had me hooked. As the book moved along, I could see the relitionship developing between Jim and Adelaide which was extremely similar to the one between Will and Lyra in The Amber Spyglass. These things set aside, it was a very good book. ... Read more

Book Description

Frankenstein-meets-Pinnochio-meets-Faust in this incredible feat of storytelling. Fritz, the writer, spins a spine-tingling tale to cheer up Karl, the apprentice clockmaker. But rather than helping matters, the story beings to come true.... ... Read more

Reviews (44)

a fine fairy tale in the tradition of the Brothers Grimm
Having read and enjoyed Pullman's 'His Dark Materials' trilogy, I decided to read this tale. It is definitely a fairy story in the tradition of the Brothers Grimm -- not for very young readers, but very entertaining for kids over 10, I'd say. Three interconnected stories revolve around the deeds of the mysterious and ingenious Dr. Kalmenius and his dealings with princes, apprentices and clockwork mechanisms. Though it is 109 pages long, the type is big and there are over 20 full-page illustrations, so this would be a good book for a child who shows an interest in the genre and seems ready to move on to a lengthier and more complex format.

Philip Pullman does it again
Great book. Very creepy, with some great suspense. The illustrations are beautiful and very appropriate. Some readers have pointed out that the characters are underdeveloped--yes, they are, but that's not at all a fault, as this is a story in the style of folktales, where the characters aren't meant to be fully developed. They don't have to be. All of you who were enchanted by Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy will want to check this out. It's an entertaining quick read, and it will satisfy your hunger for more Philip Pullman books.

This book rocks!
This book ROCKS!!!!! It has adventure, mystery, and horror!! It may not be suitable for all ages (some "violent" events, and very descriptive scenes that aren't always "happy") and in my opinion, children nine years and older should read it because It is one good book!!! Here is a sample from the book that got me hooked.

"No! No! Stop-wait-the tune-let me whistle the tune-"
But his lips were too dry. Frantic, he licked them with a dry tongue. No use! He couldn't product a sound. Near and nearer the little knight came.....

Does the little knight use his sword to hurt the man, or does the man get away? Why does he need to whistle, and why does that seem to save his life.

You HAVE to read this book!!

Even I was impressed!
I suppose I should have checked the details a little better, because I was thinking this was a 300 page novel for YA readers. In fact, it's quite a small novel, and it's for very young children. Nonetheless, I had a fun time reading it! It was dark and spooky, and the illustrations were brilliant and fit this story perfectly. I would probably read this on a rainy day to my niece and nephew, and have a good fun scare! I would reccommend reading this book, as well as Neil Gaiman's "Coraline"; these two novels are creepy for kiddies and overall fun for children and adults alike!

Short, but still Good.
"Clockwork" by Phillip Pullman is definitely one of the shortest books I've read in a long time. A determined reader could finish the book in an hour. However, such small size does not make this a bad book. Indeed, the plot is thick, intricate, but not confusing. The story is chillingly entertaining for readers of all ages. The art is creative and an excellent accompaniment to the book. In the end, I'd recommend this to almost everyone who asks. ... Read more

Book Description

The Magic Pudding is a pie, except when it's something else, like a steak, or a jam donut, or an apple dumpling. But it's also alive. It walks, it talks, and it's got a personality like no other. A meaner, sulkier, snarlinger Pudding you've never met. So discovers koala Bunyip Bluegum when he joins a sailor and a penguin as members of Noble Society of Pudding Owners, whose "members are required to wander along the roads, indulgin' in conversation, song and story, and eatin' at regular intervals from the Pudding." Wild and woolly, funny and outrageously fun, The Magic Pudding stands with Alice in Wonderland as one of the craziest books ever written for young readers. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

the best childrens' book ever !
Little known and unobtainable in america, THE MAGIC PUDDING is the best childrens' book ever. I first read it in the 1940's and loved it; my children considered it their favorite also, and now its my grandchildren's turn to love the marvelous songs and illustrations. I had to order it from Australia,however; it will be wonderful to be able to get it in the U.S. for my friends' grandchildren.

A work of genius, for children of all ages!!
A wonderfully witty study of the Australian character, seen through the eyes of Bunyip Bluegum, the koala, and his rough-and-ready travelling companions Bill Barnacle and Sam Sawnoff (and of course Albert, their Magic Pudding). Set at the beginning of the 20th century, it pokes fun at pomposity and stupidity, is marvellously literate and gloriously illustrated, and its humour is multi-layered. Lindsay had the great gift of entertaining his adult readers without talking over the heads of his younger readers. Read it aloud!!!

Like Roald Dahl's books? You'll love The Magic Pudding.
The Magic Pudding is a fun-and-nonsense tale that has become my nine-year-old son's favorite book. It deserves to be published in the US so that American children can enjoy what has become a classic in Australian children's literature. If you enjoy Roald Dahl's books, "The Phantom Tollbooth," and "Alice in Wonderland" you'll enjoy this.

A magically funny story
Bunyip Bluegum the Koala leaves home because he can't stand the sight of his uncle's whiskers in the soup any more. He meets Barnacle Bill the sailor and Sam Sawnoff the penguin, who own a remarkable pudding. Every time you cut a slice from the pudding, another one grows in its place, you can eat as much as you like, the pudding lasts forever. What's more, you can change the pudding to any kind you like, it can be steak and kidney or plum duff or jam roly poly. The pudding is apt to get discontented and starts complaining if it isn't eaten enough. Such a desirable pudding is naturally at constant risk from pudding thieves, and the three friends have their work cut out trying to outwit the sneaky Possum and Wombat who are always trying to steal it. This is a very funny story with lots of action and a great many fights, it should appeal to anyone who likes humorous fantasy.

It's Short, Sweet, and an Overall Great Choice!
I first discovered "The Magic Pudding" when I was in fourth grade. I found it amid a bunch of books given to me by my grandparents. I read it for a school free choice reading project, and since then I must have re-read it over 10 times. It is just a phenomenal book. It has none of that "Harry Potter" commercialism and is 30 times better to boot. It is whimsical, fantastical, funny, exhilarating, and overall joyful to read. It is a short book - I had my friend read it on a short plane flight, and he loved it - but it is absolutely amazing. ... Read more

Book Description

Lila, the Firework-Maker¹s daughter, wants to follow in her father¹s footsteps, but she soon finds out that to be a true Firework-Maker, she must face down the Fire-Fiend of Mount Merapi. And so Lila sets off fearlessly, ready for any adventure that will come her way. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Another delightful tale from Philip Pullman
Philip Pullman never ceases to amaze me with his versatility-- from the complex His Dark Materials series, to his gothic (and surprisingly funny) Count Karlestein, to the creepy Clockwork... The Firework-Maker's Daughter is different from anything I've read by Pullman before, and yet it possesses his trademark wit. Short and aimed at a younger audience, The Firework-Maker's Daughter is nonetheless a lot of fun for even older readers. Lila and her various friends and types of fireworks are absolutely charming. While Pullman's tone is decidedly more satirical than Lloyd Alexander's, if you liked either Alexander's quest-type books or Philip Pullman's other works, you'll enjoy this one.

Reminded me of James Thurber and L. Frank Baum
"The Firework Maker's Daughter" is a rollicking fairy tale that reminded me of James Thurber's fairy tales like "The White Deer" and "The Thirteen Clocks". It also reminded me a bit of the Oz books. I loved Rambishi the bumbling pirate, and the fireworks display at the end, especially the Bombardenorgelmitsparkenpumpe. This story is much lighter than Pullman's other works, but just as inventive. It would make a great read-aloud story.

Fun Fairy Tale
This is a fun fairy tale for parents who read to their children each evening. It has the cultural element that Harry Potter misses (HP is more emphatic on dark sorcery -- my kids were more horrified by it than anything) and seems to inspire charming dreams -- something a bedtime story should do. Almost an "Amy Tam" book for kids. The illustrations are so beautiful that the kids stay mesmorized sitting on the sofa and don't want to miss a single one. Good work, Pullman & Gallagher! -- T.A. Behrens, Ph.D.

'The Firework-Maker's Daughter'
I found this book to be written slightly different than others written by Philip Pullman, but still very enjoyable. The story, although short, was still adventurous and fun and the characters were developed very well.

Excellent children's fable
This is a lovely example of a children's 'fairy tale' or fable. Although not as complex as his dark materials trilogy, it's also quite short, this is still a good story. Adults uninterested in folktales may not be enamoured, but it should certainly appeal to the younger kids. Certainly as bedtime story for the 7 year olds (+ or - a few years), and could quite possibly appeal to those enjoying Harry Potter. Would probably make a good short film. ... Read more

Book Description

“I Was a Rat!” So insists a scruffy boy named Roger. Maybe it’s true. But what is he now? A terrifying monster running wild in the sewers? The Daily Scourge is sure of it. A victim of “Rodent Delusion”? The hospital nurse says yes. A lucrative fairground freak? He is to Mr. Tapscrew. A champion wriggler and a budding thief? That’s what Billy thinks. Or just an ordinary small boy, though a little ratty in his habits? Only three people believe this version of the story. And it may take a royal intervention—and a bit of magic—to convince the rest of the world.

Set against the backdrop of a Royal Wedding—and a playful parody of the press, I Was a Rat! is a magical weaving of humor, fairy tale, and adventure.
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Reviews (22)

An exciting book for all ages
Let me start out by saying that this book was written excellently, and yet, he kept