The greatest thing has happened this morning. After years of hearing about it, having publications dates pushed back again and again, Philip Pullman is FINALLY publishing his book The Book of Dust. Followers of the blog may already know my slight love affair and obsession with HDM based on the month-long tribute I did a couple of years ago, and this has been something Pullman has been talking about for years and I’ve been checking in every few months to see if there’s been any new news.
When I saw the article in The Guardian this morning I effectively lost my mind – as people on Twitter may have noticed – I even woke my sleeping puppy by practically shouting “Oh my god, it’s finally happening!”. I then actually opened the article and went on a journey of emotions with my hand over chest like a shocked aristocratic woman, tears welling up in my eyes and not breathing as I read. It was all terribly dramatic but I was so excited.
The greatest part is that we’re getting not one, but THREE, count ’em three books. It’s a whole new trilogy and I just cannot wait to get my hands on these books. From the details in the article they are taking place at various points in Lyra’s life. We knew already that it was originally going to be years after the end of The Amber Spyglass, but Pullman has said there will also be one from when Lyra was a baby. I can’t wait to see baby Lyra and a little bubby Pan!
The first volume is due out 19th October and runs parallel to HDM. Pullman has said that it doesn’t stand before or after His Dark Materials, but beside it. “It’s a different story, but there are settings that readers of His Dark Materials will recognise and characters they’ve met before.” Just the chance to return to Jordan College and see how Lyra ended up in their care is going to be incredible, I was hyped to get the book set 20 years after, three books is more than I could have dreamed for. With Lyra the focus of the first two volumes, volume three is going to be entirely new again and I know is going to be all kinds of wonderful. The sad part is we don’t even have a cover image that we can swoon over yet.
I think I could gush about this forever but I won’t. I am so excited it’s finally actually happening, just thinking about what’s in store is creating all sorts of theories in my head and possibilities. Oh my goodness, this new trilogy is going to break my heart I know it. October 19 cannot come fast enough! When can I preorder?
Lost in a Good Book 