Dark Matters (3)

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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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