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The Golden Compass: His Dark Materials
Philip Pullman
Juvenile Fiction - Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic | Knopf Books for Young Readers |
Hardcover | April 1996 | $
20.00 | 978-0-679-87924-4 (0-679-87924-2)
ABOUT THIS BOOK
In a landmark epic of fantasy and storytelling, Philip Pullman invites readers into a world as convincing and thoroughly realized as Narnia, Earthsea, or Redwall. Here lives an orphaned ward named Lyra Belacqua, whose carefree life among the scholars at Oxford's Jordan College is shattered by the arrival of two powerful visitors. First, her fearsome uncle, Lord Asriel, appears with evidence of mystery and danger in the far North, including photographs of a mysterious celestial phenomenon called Dust and the dim outline of a city suspended in the Aurora Borealis that he suspects is part of an alternate universe. He leaves Lyra in the care of Mrs. Coulter, an enigmatic scholar and explorer who offers to give Lyra the attention her uncle has long refused her. In this multilayered narrative, however, nothing is as it seems. Lyra sets out for the top of the world in search of her kidnapped playmate, Roger, bearing a rare truth-telling instrument, the compass of the title. All around her children are disappearing—victims of so-called "Gobblers"—and being used as subjects in terrible experiments that separate humans from their daemons, creatures that reflect each person's inner being. And somehow, both Lord Asriel and Mrs. Coulter are involved.
REVIEWS
"As always, Pullman is a master at combining impeccable characterizations and seamless plotting, maintaining a crackling pace to create scene upon scene of almost unbearable tension. This glittering gem will leave readers of all ages eagerly awaiting the next installment of Lyra's adventures."--(starred review), Publishers Weekly
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Philip Pullman is the highly acclaimed and popular author of novels - from contemporary fiction to Victorian thirllers - plays, and picture books for readers of all ages. He received his degree in English from Oxford University and has taught middle school English for many years. The Golden Compass, the first of Pullman's His Dark Materials triology, won the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Fiction Prize, and is considered one of the best juvenile fantasy novels of the past 20 years. Mr. Pullman lives with his family in England.
AWARDS
WINNER 1996 - Carnegie Medal
NOMINEE 1997 - American Booksellers Book of the Year (ABBY) Award - Children
WINNER 1997 - ALA Best Books for Young Adults
WINNER 1997 - ALA Notable Children's Book
WINNER 1999 - Texas Lonestar Reading List
WINNER 1997 - Maine Student Book Award
FINALIST 1998 - Massachusetts Children's Book Award
RELATED LINKS
Amber Spyglass Feature
Click here for Philip Pullman’s printable Author Bio
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