His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman: A Review
Due to the recent release of The Golden Compass, I decided that I wanted to review the entire His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman. Recently, there has been a lot of religious controversy over this movie and these novels, but I cannot regard such a well-written piece of literature as simply anti-religious blabberings. It’s much more than that. The Da Vinci Code, with a storyline just as much against the norms of religious belief, did not receive this much criticism, and it was not written nearly as beautifully as Pullman’s trilogy.
The Golden Compass
The trilogy begins with Lyra, the main character, hiding in a cupboard and talking to a strange creature called Pantalaimon. This strong beginning immediately propels you into the story, the mystery of dust and The Northern Lights. You soon discover that Pantalaimon is a daemon, the physical manifestation of Lyra’s soul. While Lyra’s world contains many characteristics of our own world, there are certain elements, often of a magical nature, that separates it from our own. Her easy-going life is soon interrupted when she goes on the mission to find the many missing children from the area, taking her far into the north where Armored Bears and witches reside. In this novel, there is never a lull in the action, and it is absolutely impossible to put down once started.
The Subtle Knife
Even better than the first, the second novel in the series opens into a very different world than we expect. Rather than Lyra’s world, we enter into our own, the world of Will. Will’s life is also turned upside down when he must flee from his possible murder of a man who had tried breaking into his home. In his desperate attempt to escape, he discovers a strange square hole cut into the very fabric of his world. This hole leads him into a different world, where Specters feed on adults, where children are the only humans who can resist them. He also discovers Lyra in this world, and together, they attempt to find his father, who disappeared many years ago. Pullman creates rich characters and relationships, and as a reader, you emotionally connect to them and their story. The tenderness and complete love of an Armored Bear, who loves few, for Lyra is so captivating and brilliantly done.
The Amber Spyglass
The best novel of the trilogy is the third and final installment. In this novel, the suspense, the action, the relationships and the characters are all brought into an intense climactical sequence of events. Lyra undergoes an extremely emotional and traumatic experience, and you feel the pain that she feels. Pullman delivers an outstanding finale of the series. He brings details from each book, thread by thread, into a satisfying and unexpected conclusion.
Yes, there is a strong religious undertone in this story. You might even say that it is the backbone and the overarching theme of the entire trilogy. It stands out, and I do not believe that this story would be nearly as captivating if it were not there. However, I do not believe this means that individuals of the Catholic faith need to immediately dismiss this series as something that cannot be read due to its “message” on Catholicism. Rather, I believe it can be accepted with an open mind as a work of fiction, a very beautifully written work of fiction. A work of fiction by an author who creates intriguing characters, intense relationships and compelling dialogue.
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