His Dark Materials | Lost in a Good Book

Characters in Lyra’s Oxford

22 Jul 2015 Leave a comment

by Amy in His Dark Materials Tags: 20th anniversary his dark materials, characters, His Dark Materials, lyra's oxford, philip pullman

Being such a short and isolated story, there are only two key characters in Lyra’s Oxford, this being Lyra herself, and of course Pantalaimon. Both characters have changed a lot since being introduced in Northern Lights, Pan has settled on his form and Lyra has wisdom and strength from her time away and it’s great to see she hasn’t forgotten what she went through.

Lyra

Lyra is such a complex character, she is filled with contradictions but there is no denying what a wonderful character she is. Seeing her grow up as you read is delightful, she begins as curious and indignant, mischievous and wild, but as she experiences new things and is exposed to new people and situations there is a gradual change evident in her behaviour that she herself reflects on which is touching to see. By the time we revisit Lyra when she is 15 it is clear how much she has grown up from the child in Northern Lights, but there are still signs of the old Lyra there as well, a part of her never changing, maintaining the sense of doing what’s right and following that spark of curiosity.

Pantalaimon

Pan’s name comes from the saint in the Orthodox churches, St Pantalaimon, which means “all-compassionate” in Greek. He has a wide range of changes through the entire series, introduced to readers as a dark brown moth, changing into numerous forms such as an eagle, an owl, and a seagull, to a tiger, leopard, and a cheetah, even at one point a dolphin. His favourite forms however are a snow-white ermine, a mouse, and a wild cat.

Pan is a great companion to Lyra, he balances her perfectly; his cautious and level-headed nature balancing her impulsive, curious, and sometimes reckless behaviour.

Fun Facts About Lyra’s Oxford by Philip Pullman

21 Jul 2015 Leave a comment

by Amy in His Dark Materials Tags: 20th anniversary his dark materials, fun facts, His Dark Materials, lyra's oxford, philip pullman

Lyra’s Oxford was published in 2003 and is a short book set two years after the trilogy when Lyra is 15 years old. While being an extension to the trilogy and expanding on the themes, it was also released to sate fans while they waited for the then unspecified release of The Book of Dust which Pullman said will be published “when it’s finished, and not a day sooner” (now finally given an expected release date of 2016).

This book is technically #3.5 in the His Dark Materials series, in Pullman’s words “a stepping stone to the book that’s coming next”. This refers to not just the short story, but also the many fun bits and pieces Pullman has included from and about Lyra’s world. He also teases on his website that “if you look very closely, you may find some clues about the future course of Lyra’s story.”

This secretive nature is reflected in the preface as well. Cryptically he writes: “This book contains a story and several other things. The other things might be connected with the story, or they might not; they might be connected to stories that haven’t appeared yet. It’s hard to tell.”

One of the “other things” Pullman has included is a fold-out map, bound to the book that depicts the Oxford of Lyra’s world, entitled ‘Oxford by Train, River, and Zeppelin’. There are also little titbits such as advertisers for books and catalogues, brochures, a postcard from Mary Malone, and even pages from a Baedeker published in Lyra’s world. It is in these that you can find clues about Lyra, as well as gain more information about events in the trilogy, such as seeing Mary’s office, and a detailed look at the Oxford Lyra knows and loves.

This book is short, a mere 64 pages, but for those who need to know what happened to Lyra after The Amber Spyglass, this is a great thing to hold on to. After the emotional experience of reading His Dark Materials, it is comforting to know Lyra is ok and it provides enough interest and new information to be a great additional story.

Special Editions of His Dark Materials

20 Jul 2015 3 Comments

by Amy in His Dark Materials Tags: 20th anniversary his dark materials, His Dark Materials, northern lights, philip pullman, the amber spyglass, the subtle knife

2005 marked the 10th anniversary of His Dark Materials, and as such Scholastic Press released beautiful hardback editions.

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Not only do they have gorgeous metallic covers and a bound bookmark to help you keep your place, but each book has an appendix filled with additional snippets of information. These bits and pieces are in the form of letters, notes, and drawings by Lord Asriel currently housed in Jordon College Library, notes and drawings from Dr Grumman, and papers by Dr Mary Malone from Secret Magisterium files.

Pullman also includes a small introduction at the start of each appendix offering details about where these files were found, are being stored etc to give a great authentic element that keeps it in the realm of the story.

In Northern Lights the appendix reads:

These papers were discovered among the effects of an anonymous scholar after his death in Oxford. They were sent for auction with all his other books and papers and their significance was recognised by Mr Ian Beck, the celebrated artist, who bought them for a small sum.

How they arrived in this universe is still a mystery. It is possible that there exists wormholes, or doorways, opening from one universe into another, and that somewhere in the Oxford of this world there is such an opening into the library of a college in another Oxford entirely.

If that is the case, there may be other such items in this world still awaiting discovery.

There are a few drawings but it’s mainly notes by Lord Asriel with random thoughts he has jotted down relating to Grumman, Lyra, and the witches, plus inventory for his trip to the North.

Lord Asriel’s notes

Lord Asriel’s notes

In The Subtle Knife the appendix reads:

The provenance of these papers is obscure. It is possible that they came into the possession of Lord Asriel and were deposited with his own papers in Jordon College Library, but the absence of a library stamp makes that unlikely. It is known that Dr Grumman travelled widely in the Arctic and Siberia, and had numerous acquaintances among the witch-clans and the native people of the north as well as in the worlds of scholarship, politics, and science. Any of them might have acquired such things and inadvertently, or even deliberately, allowed them to slip out of one world and into another.

Items such as these papers are not uncommon. They turn up frequently in auctions, in book-dealers’ catalogues, and the like. Usually their significance remains mysterious; it is only when they are seen in the context of a larger narrative that their meaning suddenly becomes apparent.

This appendix is filled with drawings of the local landscape and points of reference, instructions for making bloodmoss, Grumman’s thoughts about Lord Asriel and his documentation of witch-clans, plus various shaman related notes.

Drawings by Dr Grumman

Notes and drawings by Dr Grumman

While the others have long introductions, The Amber Spyglass appendix simply has:

Papers of ‘Mary Malone’

Archive of the Magisterium

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL

In this appendix are various pages of Mary’s notes about the world she went into and her studies on what she found.

Dr Malone’s notes

Dr Malone’s notes

What is wonderful about these items, as hinted by some of the introductions, is when they’re read in the wider context of the narrative you get more to the story. Seeing Mary’s notes upon her arrival in the new world, drawings by Dr Grumman and even Lord Asriel’s papers gives you insight into their character, an extra side of the story, motivations, and discoveries. In these snippets of letters and diary entries it can reveal a lot more about these characters and the wider story itself.

The Amber Spyglass (#3) by Philip Pullman

17 Jul 2015 Leave a comment

by Amy in 5 Stars, His Dark Materials Tags: 20th anniversary his dark materials, fantasy, five stars, His Dark Materials, philip pullman, the amber spyglass

Published: 14th September 2001
Publisher: Scholastic Point
Pages: 548
Format: Paperback
Genre: Fantasy
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ – 5 Stars

Will is the bearer of the knife. Now, accompanied by angels, his task is to deliver that powerful, dangerous weapon to Lord Asriel – by the command of his dying father.

But how can he go looking for Lord Asriel when Lyra is gone? Only with her help can he fathom the myriad plots and intrigues that beset him.

The two great powers of the many worlds are lining up for war, and Will must find Lyra, for together they are on their way to battle, an inevitable journey that will even take them to the world of the dead…

The Amber Spyglass marks the final and gripping conclusion to the His Dark Materials trilogy. After an intense build up through the previous two books it all comes together in this magnificent story that brings everything together in perfect synchronisation, coupled with powerful emotions and an unforgettable series of events.

Structurally, Pullman is a master at weaving together everyone’s stories, one after the other and changing focus at just the right time. Even at the beginning when a unique point of view is provided, Pullman breaks this up incredibly well, giving it power in the words, as well as great narrative placement for the accompanying chapter.

There is so much you could say about this novel, from full and complicated characters to the incredible and complex plot and the magnificent way every tiny detail fits in and is not forgotten. The most admiral is of course the way everything connects and plays a role and the way Pullman can have so much emotion and meaning in the simplest of sentences. A single line can have so much power, and can break your heart in a moment, even if it isn’t all that sad.

From about halfway through the book, there is barely a page that goes by that doesn’t make you want to (or actually) tear up in fear and admiration, heartbreak or pride (may just be me though). These characters, who you have been following and falling in love with through each of these books, become so much a part of you that you wish they were real and you wish them happiness and safety, anything otherwise is unbearable.

It is amazing how Pullman manages to make you feel as if you are in these worlds besides the characters, of all the similar things some worlds have, there are grand and many differences, and yet you feel empathy and reflect on what you would do in the same situation, you feel the pain and the horror, the love and affection as if it were your own life. It messes you up but it is a wonderful feeling to have.

There is a sad beauty to The Amber Spyglass as well, in just a short period of time you can see how Lyra’s grown up, and you see her change as you read. The way she interacts with Roger in the final book compared with how she is in the first is bittersweet and is a wonderful example of how she’s changing. Pullman is wonderful at sprinkling in moments and sentences throughout all three that show these changes, always in the right places and always woven marvellously into the narrative.

Aside from the grand ideas, one things Pullman shines at is capturing voices. From Dr Mary Malone to Mrs Coulter, Lyra and Will, each unique voice captures the experience, inexperience, seduction, firmness, and strength that the person has or needs. There is life in the voices Pullman writes with that brings the characters out of the page and makes you believe they could be alive. Even the minor characters with the fewest of lines are alive with the voices Pullman gives them.

The wonderful thing about Pullman’s writing is that there is not one final moment of exhilaration and excitement that concludes this epic trilogy; instead it is ongoing and constant. At the start of the book there is quiet drama and suspense growing and building, each moment adding on the last until it breaks into a final dash to the end, not necessarily always fast paced but still spectacularly gripping. From midway through you can find the exact moment when things become even more intense. From then on there are rises and falls of tension and suspense, joy, sadness, and adventure. The final battle, predicted long ago in Northern Lights has finally arrived and Pullman makes you feel right in the middle, heart bursting with pride, uncertainty, and excitement as favourites fights for themselves, for Lyra, and for the side of good. It is an absolute thrill to read.

After such an impressive story and build up, the conclusion always had a chance to be a letdown. Yet Pullman offers an ending that you aren’t expecting but it is an ending that is the right and best ending there could be. The eloquence and style in how the story concludes, bringing forth references all the way from Northern Lights through each book, is divine. Everything is wrapped up with loose ends tied but everything is not perfect, which is the best way to do it, after a story like this there needs to be scars.

This is a story that makes you want to cry because of happiness and cry because of heartache. This is such a big bold story that is littered with importance and fantasy and magic and truth that there is no other way to tell it than with big emotions. From page one begins a story that will touch you and move you and in all honesty it is going to get worse and more emotional before you reach the halfway mark and then rip your heart out and step on it a few times by the end. But it will do so with utter perfection and mastery, I promise.

You can purchase The Amber Spyglass via the following

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Book Depository | Booktopia

Bookworld | QBD

Dymocks | Kobo

Characters in The Amber Spyglass

16 Jul 2015 Leave a comment

by Amy in His Dark Materials Tags: 20th anniversary his dark materials, characters, His Dark Materials, philip pullman, the amber spyglass

Many of the characters from the previous two books make appearances in The Amber Spyglass, both brief and otherwise. The main reoccurring characters include:

Lyra Silvertongue Will Parry

Dr Mary Malone Iorek Byrnison

Balthamos Baruch

Mrs Coulter Lord Asriel

Serafina Pekkala

There are also numerous new characters as well. The Amber Spyglass is a wonderful place where reunions of beloved characters come together with new faces, all working together and against one another in the final battle that brings this series to a thrilling end across numerous worlds and with uncharted dangers.

Chevalier Tialys

The Chevalier Tialys is a Gallivespian, a race described as being as tall as the length of a human hand. Because of their size they are excellent spies and ride around in saddled dragonflies they raise from larvae. Tialys is described as having dark hair, bare feet, wearing Capri-length silver trousers and looking “strong, capable, ruthless, and proud”. Like all people of the Gallivespian race, Tialys has spurred feet, able to inject various levels of poison into enemies.

Lady Salmakia

The Lady Salmakia is a Gallivespian spy, just like Tialys. They are partners on their mission for Lord Asriel. Like Tialys she is described as being “strong, ruthless, and proud” and is depicted as quite maternal, and much more diplomatic and calm than her partner. Lyra describes her not as beautiful, but as having a face someone suffering would want to see. Salmakia is dressed similar to Tialys, bare spurred feet but with a silver skirt and a green blouse.

The Authority

The Authority’s Church and organisations are mentioned frequently throughout the series but he himself only appears in The Amber Spyglass. He is the first angel to come into existence, followed by the other angels, and resides and rules from the Clouded Mountain, a mobile city believed by those in that universe to be Heaven. He took power over the Kingdom of Heaven under false pretences and lies but when other angels discovered his illegitimate claims they began the rebellion against the Kingdom of Heaven. The Authority assumes several names, including “Yahweh”, the “Lord”, “El”, “Adonai”, and “the Almighty”. As he got older he withdrew into the city and appointed Metatron as his regent.

Xaphania

Xaphania is the leader of the rebel angels who have allied with Lord Asriel. Like other angels she is described as being naked, winged, and luminous, not shining but having an unseen light shine upon her. She is higher up than Balthamos or Baruch and is clearly visible to corporeal beings.

Metatron

Metatron is the Regent of Heaven, appointed by the Authority but also seeks to overthrow him and seize power himself. He is a medieval Judaic Archangel and is the ultimate antagonist of the series even though he doesn’t appear until the end. He is said to be the biblical character Enoch, who is in the line between Adam and Noah.

Mulefa

The Mulefa are not so much a character as a species, but one in particular, Atal, is a reoccurring figure and friend to Dr Mary Malone. Mulefa is the plural while Zalif is the singular. The Mulefa are a sapient species who inhabit the universe Dr Malone escapes into. They have four legs, short horns, and a prehensile trunk that is used as hands as well as communication. They are elephant-like creatures but have a diamond shaped skeleton without a spine and they use giant seed pods as wheels, attached to the spurs on their front and rear legs. Adding a seed pod is classed as a rite of passage when a Zalif is old enough to fit one. The seed pods fit the front and rear legs, with the side two being used to propel them alone, much like a cyclist without pedals.