The Golden Compass
Published in the UK as Northern Lights.
Lyra and her daemon are eavesdropping when they uncover a plot to murder Lord Asriel. He has returned from the far North where he tells of strange sights – a beautiful city hovering in the sky above the pole, a shimmering Dust that settles on and delineates all but human children. Lyra is scarcely able to save his life before Lord Asriel is off again, on a quest to answer the riddle of the world.
Meanwhile, children are disappearing, and when Lyra's dearest friend is taken by the Gobblers, she determines to save him – a decision which leads her on a great journey, a journey that will lead to the discovery of her mother, a disastrous betrayal and the beginning of the unravelling of the mystery of Dust.
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Philip Pullman
Philip Pullman is a writer whose imagination knows no bounds, a master of crafting worlds both fantastical and deeply thought-provoking. Known best for His Dark Materials, a trilogy that blends epic fantasy with philosophical musings, Pullman has captivated readers of all ages with stories that challenge the very nature of belief, freedom, and the human spirit.
Born in Norwich, England, in 1946, Pullman’s early life was shaped by both his experiences and his interests—particularly a fascination with literature and history. His love of storytelling began at a young age, influenced by the books he read and the characters he encountered, but it wasn’t until later that he fully embraced writing as a career. After studying at the University of Oxford, Pullman worked as a teacher and a writer, initially focusing on children's books that contained subtle nods to history, science, and philosophy.
His Dark Materials
His Dark Materials consists of three primary books, and includes four additional books that complement the series but are not considered mandatory reads — considered a complete series. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.
Main series His Dark Materials Universe
Reviews and Comments
I don't know what to say since Tim summarized it pretty nicely. I read the series in Finnish when I was around 13-14 years old and this is one of the two series which I can honestly say truly affected or changed the way I started to think or see things. I consider these books essential part of all that which made me who I am - and therefore I cannot really review these, only thank mr. Pullman.
Since the publication of "Northern Lights" or "The Golden Compass" in the USA in 1995, 18 years have passed since I write this. In those years, many things have changed. First of all, the original series is now completed. Secondly, Pullman has written a few spin-off stories. Thirdly, the world is still waiting for "The Book of Dust", which he is now writing for about 8 years. Fourthly, "Northern Lights" is now a film titled "The Golden Compass" - and unfortunately, the other two books won't be shown on the big screen because in the USA there were not many good reaction to the film. And fifthly, we can easily that "Northern Lights" is one of the most modern classics. It really is a book which will endure the Tooth of Time. Now, millions of copies have been sold and dozens of publications are released. In my opinion: if you haven't read this book, you have missed something extraordinary good, and you don't know real fantasy. Because for me, "His Dark Materials" is a synonym for fantasy.