Begun in 1995 and finished five years later, Philip
Pullman’s His Dark Materials… is a
trilogy of uniquely imaginative fantasy books written for both teenagers and
adults. A product of post-modern times
if ever the phenomenon existed, Pullman’s objective in the trilogy is to
invert/subvert a variety of literary conceptions, particularly Milton’s Paradise Lost and C.S. Lewis’ the Chronicles of Narnia. Naturally drawing the ire of a variety of
religious organizations and institutions in the process, the trilogy also
attracted critical acclaim, two of the books winning major awards. The dearth of imagination, daring storytelling, and overall sense of wonder are undoubtedly the reason. Perhaps most interesting, however, is its originality.
The first book of His Dark Materials... is called Northern
Lights (The Golden Compass in the
US),
which tells the story of Lyra Belacqua and her quest to discover what Dust
is. Lyra existing in a world not our
own, a strong steampunk feel permeates the setting of Jordan College
where she lives with her uncle, Lord Asriel.
Privy to a conversation she was never supposed to overhear, Lyra, and
her daemon, Pantalaimon, soon find themselves on the adventure of a
lifetime. Following in the footsteps of
her uncle, all manner of witches, armored polar bears, gypsies, hot air
balloons, and mystical northern lights aid and chase her into the arctic
north. With the magical and mysterious
alethiometer in hand, Lyra needs every bit of her rebellious wit and cleverness
if she is to remain one step ahead of Mrs. Coulture and her golden monkey, and
draw one step closer to the answers of what exactly her uncle is doing with
Dust.
