The Subtle Knife - Philip Pullman

The Subtle Knife is the second novel in the His Dark Materials series, written by Philip Pullman, and published in 1997. This is the book that tells the tale of what happens after The Golden Compass. We learn more about the witches, the nature of dust and the Authority (God), Lee Scoresby, and Stanislaus Grumman. In this book, Lyra's adventure continues as she travels from her own world into other worlds; especially one where she meets Will Parry, a boy from our world, and together they search for the boy's lost father. Will finds a passage to an alternate world to escape threats in his own world. Will and Lyra return to our world and meet Dr. Mary Malone who is researching dust in her own world. After exchanging information on dust or perhaps our equivalent, dark matter, Will and Lyra return to the other world and Will comes into possession of the Subtle Knife - a tool that can create portals between worlds and can cut easily through anything, matter or spirit - and he is the only one who can wield it. The children continue their journey together to learn more about dust and to find Will’s father.

I again read this book straight through so I have to say it was an exciting read. However, I did not find it as enchanting as the Golden Compass and I think that may be due to this book being a darker storyline and also less satisfying in plot as it seemed to be a bridge between books 1 and 2. I don’t want to spoil the ending, but I was disappointed in the ending because you know I love a happy ending where happy people end up together. I suspect this series is not going to provide me the ultimate happy ending as i am currently reading The Amber Spyglass, book 3.

The Golden Compass - Philip Pullman

I have to admit that I never heard of this book or the book series His Dark Materials until I watched the movie with my girls over the holidays on VOD. We enjoyed the movie but the end drove me crazy. I can not stand not knowing what happens and the movie ended with a cliffhanger! Perhaps I am not completely in touch with the movie industry, but it also appeared tome that this movie may not have been as popular as expected and clearly a sequel may never appear. Alas, another set of books to read.

I did read The Golden Compass, which was actually first published as Northern Lights in 1995. The story is set in a parallel universe and tells of Lyra Belacqua's journey north in search of her missing friend, Roger, and her imprisoned father, Lord Asriel, who has been conducting experiments with a mysterious substance known as Dust. In Lyra's world, all humans are born with an animal "partner" called a daemon, sort of a person's external expression of a soul. Hurt a daemon, you hurt their human. Lyra meets many interesting characters on her journey, including Mrs. Coulter (who turns out to be related to Lyra), witches and other supernatural beings, and Iorek Byrnison, an armoured bear. Given a special instrument, an alethiometer, Lyra learns to use it on her journey. The alethiometer can tell the truth, if you ask the right questions and you learn how to read the answers.

The story was pretty compelling and moved very fast. The characters were interesting although many were not very likeable or loveable. Lyra, however, is very loyal, and she grows on you throughout the book to become a fairly interesting and compelling heroine. I must admit the ending surprised me. Both times actually, during the movie and then again in the book. And both times I was sucked in and had to know what happened next. So I purchased Book 2: The Subtle Knife.

I am not sure yet how I would ultimately rate this book or the series. However, I must admit once I started the book I felt compelled to read it to the end and I was always guessing what would happen next. Therefore, I have to recommend this book as a good read.