The Book of Dust (3) by Philip Pullman Volumes 2 and 3 The Secret Commonwealth The Rose Field 'And then without warning, in total silence, an immense shadow swept across the forum and submerged the man in darkness. As Lyra clung to the wall, unbelieving, the creature that threw the shadow swooped down on him …
Tag: Philip Pullman
Dark Matters (2)
The Book of Dust by Philip Pullman Volumes 2 and 3 The Secret Commonwealth The Rose Field Volume 2 of Pullman's new trilogy raises the same kind of questions as Volume 1. It's a great story for readers who know what's going on. However, I did wonder if Sir Philip did enough to attract new …
Dark Matters
The Book of Dust by Philip Pullman A Review Thirty years have passed since Philip Pullman thrilled a generation of teenagers - and many adults too - with Northern Lights, the first volume of his trilogy, His Dark Materials. Readers of the latter will recall that the story resolved satisfactorily at the end of the …
His Dark Materials
Ongoing Thoughts on the TV Show A couple of weeks ago, I prefaced my review of Philip Pullman's The Secret Commonwealth with a few comments on His Dark Materials, the drama currently being shown on the BBC. Even without seeing the final episode of Series 1, I can say that nothing the writer and producers …
The Daemon’s in all of us!
The Secret Commonwealth by Philip Pullman A Review Like many other fans of the original trilogy - and already well into The Secret Commonwealth - I sat down three weeks ago to watch the BBC's production of His Dark Materials. At lunchtime on the following day, I discussed it with a friend. Of course, it …
Forthcoming Reviews
It seems ages since I last wrote on WordPress. I had to take some time off to deal with important domestic matters and - just as important - to have a holiday! I'm back now, and with lots of great books to read and review. Here are some of the novels and non fiction works …
Dust and Daemons
La Belle Sauvage (Volume One of The Book of Dust) by Philip Pullman Readers of His Dark Materials will recall that the story resolved satisfactorily at the end of The Amber Spyglass. It may not have been the ending many readers wanted, but there was a certain logic to it, one that left open the …
Not all universes are the same (3)
The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman "While the beasts of prey, Come from caverns deep, View'd the maid asleep." These three lines by William Blake from his poem The Little Girl Lost preface the first chapter of The Amber Spyglass, the final volume of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy. Aficiandos of Blake will know …
Not all universes are the same (2)
The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman The Subtle Knife is the second book of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy. At the end of Northern Lights, we left Lyra on the bridge from her universe to another. Now the author leaves us in suspense to introduce a new protagonist. Will Parry is a twelve-year-old boy …
Not all universes are the same (1)
Northern Lights by Philip Pullman ‘Lyra looked, and there was no mistake. Pantalaimon clutched at her, became a wildcat, hissed in hatred, because looking out with curiosity was the beautiful dark-haired head of Mrs Coulter, with her golden daemon on her lap.’ The main protagonist in Northern Lights is Lyra, a twelve-year-old girl who lives …