The Dark Materials Trilogy - Book 1 (!!!!SPOILERS!!!!)

• In comparison to Harry Potter, I think they are both distinct works that in don't compare well. HDM is much more advanced reading. I tend to compare it to Tolkien in that respect. There is one main difference to me though: the daydream. Wilth HP, its easy to spend time away from the book daydreaming about being a student at Hogwarts (anyone you want to create) and roam the halls, cast spells, etc. The HP world parallels this world very closely and the spells and life is very practical and imaginable. There are endless daydreams to explore. I find with HDM, that I may think of what has happened, or re-enact something in my head, but it doesn't conjure the same limitless imagination. HP is a world that is much like our own, only with practical magic.
  
  
• I really like reading authors who write well. I highly doubt I could have handled this book at age 13 I used to be a horrible reader (due to lack of...). I love having to go to the dictionary (since I do like knowing true meanings). And I love finding out things like the fact Alethiology doesn't exist in the current dictionary, but does exist in my old KIng's English Dictionary and means "that part of logic which treats of truth and error." So it impresses me that he took from that and created alethiometer.
  
  
• I wasn't sure if Iorek was meant to be a polar bear or just another type of light coloured bear. I thought his fur was described as golden??
  
  
• I was impressed with the way he tied in science, religion and philosophy too. I especially enjoyed his use of quantum physics in the coin toss example. I had just finished reading another book on quantum physics ( ) and knew what he was saying is true.
  
  
• Okay, I need the Adam and Eve thing further explained... I know the story, I just didn't get the whole relation to Original Sin. She bit the apple, they covered up, henceforth born original sin. I understand that Dust is original sin to Lord Asreil but I dont' quite understand the tie in with Adam and Eve. I kinda took from it all that Dust is attracted to adults and makes them sin (ie do stupid or wrongful things). Did dust make Eve eat the apple? bah... I just need more info here....
  
  
• The only part that I thought went too fast was Bolvangar. Lyra went in, and overnight the place was on fire. I felt as though it was too short.
  
  
• I enjoyed the concept of the daemons. It was an interesting concept.
  
  
• I was surprised by the level of emotion. The author has a no holds barred approach when it comes to dealing with kids. Watching Tony die without his daemon, seeing all the daemons in the cages and unable to fly very well, watching Roger be left there, etc. A child and an adult have died in Harry Potter, but neither situation evoked the same emotional response. Both were done more subtly. I like the way Pullman doesn't try to fluff the situation but leaves the hardcore emotional stuff to be felt. (The bear fight was particularly disturbing , but that's cuz its animals
  
  
• the author is a master of foreshadow. The alethiometer helps alot with this. But also the fact that people around Lyra knows she's supposed to do great things, but don't know the whole story.
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  That's all I can think of for now. I love the books. I'm about 50 pagesin to the second one.
  
  Thanks Tut for the recommendation
  

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Will there be another book about Lyra and Will?
There is already another book about Lyra. It's called Lyra's Oxford, and it will come out at the end of 2003. It's a short story set about two years after the end of The Amber Spyglass, and it contains some hints about The Book of Dust, which will follow ... in due course.

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Originally posted by Kingtut
I thought they would make good films. I knew about the existence of 'Lyra's Oxford' but hadn't heard anything about the Book of Dust

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