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The Golden Compass (Digest Edition)
 
 
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The Golden Compass (Digest Edition) (School & Library Binding)

by Philip Pullman (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1,090 customer reviews)
Price: CDN$ 24.55 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over CDN$ 39. Details
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The Golden Compass (Digest Edition) + His Dark Materials, Book II: The Subtle Knife + The Amber Spyglass: His Dark Materials
Total List Price: CDN$ 89.17
Price For All Three: CDN$ 69.03

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  • His Dark Materials, Book II: The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman

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Product Description

From Amazon.com

Some books improve with age--the age of the reader, that is. Such is certainly the case with Philip Pullman's heroic, at times heart-wrenching novel, The Golden Compass, a story ostensibly for children but one perhaps even better appreciated by adults. The protagonist of this complex fantasy is young Lyra Belacqua, a precocious orphan growing up within the precincts of Oxford University. But it quickly becomes clear that Lyra's Oxford is not precisely like our own--nor is her world. For one thing, people there each have a personal dæmon, the manifestation of their soul in animal form. For another, hers is a universe in which science, theology, and magic are closely allied:
As for what experimental theology was, Lyra had no more idea than the urchins. She had formed the notion that it was concerned with magic, with the movements of the stars and planets, with tiny particles of matter, but that was guesswork, really. Probably the stars had dæmons just as humans did, and experimental theology involved talking to them.
Not that Lyra spends much time worrying about it; what she likes best is "clambering over the College roofs with Roger the kitchen boy who was her particular friend, to spit plum stones on the heads of passing Scholars or to hoot like owls outside a window where a tutorial was going on, or racing through the narrow streets, or stealing apples from the market, or waging war." But Lyra's carefree existence changes forever when she and her dæmon, Pantalaimon, first prevent an assassination attempt against her uncle, the powerful Lord Asriel, and then overhear a secret discussion about a mysterious entity known as Dust. Soon she and Pan are swept up in a dangerous game involving disappearing children, a beautiful woman with a golden monkey dæmon, a trip to the far north, and a set of allies ranging from "gyptians" to witches to an armor-clad polar bear.

In The Golden Compass, Philip Pullman has written a masterpiece that transcends genre. It is a children's book that will appeal to adults, a fantasy novel that will charm even the most hardened realist. Best of all, the author doesn't speak down to his audience, nor does he pull his punches; there is genuine terror in this book, and heartbreak, betrayal, and loss. There is also love, loyalty, and an abiding morality that infuses the story but never overwhelms it. This is one of those rare novels that one wishes would never end. Fortunately, its sequel, The Subtle Knife, will help put off that inevitability for a while longer. --Alix Wilber --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From Publishers Weekly

Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy now appears in sophisticated trade paperback editions, each title embossed within a runic emblem of antiqued gold. The backdrop of The Golden Compass: His Dark Materials, Book I sports a midnight blue map of the cosmos with the zodiacal ram at its center. The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass carry similarly intriguing cover art, and all three titles offer details not seen in the originals: in Compass and Knife, for example, Pullman's stamp-size b&w art introduces each chapter; Spyglass chapters open with literary quotes from Blake, the Bible, Dickinson and more.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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The Golden Compass (Digest Edition)
60% buy the item featured on this page:
The Golden Compass (Digest Edition) 4.6 out of 5 stars (1,090)
CDN$ 24.55
His Dark Materials Box Set
32% buy
His Dark Materials Box Set 4.3 out of 5 stars (399)
CDN$ 18.88
The Amber Spyglass: His Dark Materials
3% buy
The Amber Spyglass: His Dark Materials 4.3 out of 5 stars (708)
CDN$ 9.99
His Dark Materials, Book II: The Subtle Knife
3% buy
His Dark Materials, Book II: The Subtle Knife 4.6 out of 5 stars (531)
CDN$ 34.49
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Customer Reviews

1,090 Reviews
5 star:
 (868)
4 star:
 (117)
3 star:
 (49)
2 star:
 (17)
1 star:
 (39)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.6 out of 5 stars (1,090 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most helpful customer reviews

 
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars One of those books that you simply must read if you are a science fiction fan, or even if you just love well-written books..., Jan 7 2007
By bel_78 "Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfa... (Los Angeles, California) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)   
This review is from: The Golden Compass: His Dark Materials (Paperback)
"The Golden compass" is the first book in Phillip Pullman's "Dark Materials" triology. From my point of view, this is one of those books that you simply must read if you are a science fiction fan, or if you simply like a well-written book... However, take into account that reading this book means that you will also have to read the other two books in the series, if you want to know how the story continues.

The "Dark Materials" triology takes place in a world similar to our own, that is at the same time very different. In that world, each person's soul can be seen, is called a "daemon" and takes the form of an animal. The daemons of children change their appearance constantly, but once the children become adults, their daemons choose only one form. Pullman's alternate world has other differences, too, for example the fact that it has different kinds of magic, and that witches and armored bears coexist with human beings. The result is that the world he builds is exotic, strange but at the same time familiar.

On the negative side, the writer also plays with an institution we are familiar with, the Church, using its name but leaving behind its essence, in order to talk about a world ruled by tyrannical ecclesiastical authorities. I didn't like that, and probably you won't like it either, but keep in mind that this is a work of fiction, and as such, its purpose is to entertain, not to be taken seriously. All the same, if you think your sensibilities will be offended, or that you won't be able to separate reality from fiction, don't buy this book. You will be losing a lot, though.

Regarding the plot of "The Golden compass", the main character is an orphan girl named Lyra, that lives in the Jordan College of Oxford. Her life involves no more responsabilities than playing in the grounds (and roofs!) of the College, and making mischief with her friend Roger and her daemon, Pantalaimon. But all changes when Lyra hides in a closet and hears her uncle, Lord Asriel, talk about some weird things that are happening in the North Pole to some scholars. Lyra wants to go there with him, but is not allowed to do so. However, soon afterwards her dear friend Roger and many other children disappear, and when all clues point out to the North Pole, Lyra will start a journey to rescue them. That journey will take her to many places, allow her to meet lots of different people, and help her to discover new things about herself and others. If you want to share all that with Lyra and Pantalaimon, just read this book :)

After reading "The Golden compass", I realize it deserves its reputation as a masterpiece of science fiction, and I regret not having read it before. On the whole, I think that this book is a treat teenagers and adults will enjoy, but I believe it may be too complicated and somber at times for children. Provided you take that opinion and my previous comments into account, recommended...

Belen Alcat
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars I can't believe how much I enjoyed this book, Oct 13 2007
By Melanie (Toronto, Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Golden Compass: His Dark Materials (Paperback)
I can't believe how much I enjoyed this book, even though it's supposed to be part of a children's series.
The story moves at a fast pace and there are quite a few darker element to this story, so I would probably recommend it for grades 6 and up. The Golden Compass which is the first of 3 books known as Phillip Pullmans "his dark Materials" is also supposed to be released as a movie this year. Can't wait to see how they capture it on screen.

The story revolves around Lyra Belacqua who ends up on a dark adventure trying to find her friend Roger who was kidnapped by The Gobblers. She meets many interesting people on her journey, including witches and armoured bears. The story takes part in a world very similar to ours, except in Lyra's world every human being has a daemon, which is essentially their soul in animal form.
I can't wait to see where the journey leads us in "The Subtle Knife".
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3.0 out of 5 stars A clumsy introduction to a great trilogy, Jan 28 2008
By D. Eglinski (Edmonton, Canada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
This review is from: The Golden Compass: His Dark Materials (Paperback)
While I am just wrapping up book two, I have to say that The Golden Compass was, in itself, the more diluted book. I understand he's setting up the world(s) and characters, but some parts were dull and dry. In this, the book loses focus of some of its subtler elements, but the series jumps back into the fray and focus of them in its sequel, The Subtle Knife.

The characters, however, are all quite unique and don't fall to cliché as often as other books. I like that he doesn't child-proof this for a generation intent on keeping their children bubble-wrapped "for their own good."
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 		 Most recent customer reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Not Impressed
Lower class children are disappearing and when Lyra finds that her friend is missing she wants to find him and get him back. Read more
Published 15 months ago by N. Manning

3.0 out of 5 stars what's to rave about?
There are many people who liked this book, but I for one am not that impressed. I'm not saying it's horrible because it's not. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Momus

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the first book in the Dark Materials story.
It is not worth reviewing or reading the reviews of "The Golden Compass" (British title "The Northern Lights") until one has finished the complete story of "Dark Materials" by... Read more
Published on Dec 29 2007 by bernie

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved It!
I would recommend this book to anyone regardless of age. I felt the story was very original and highly interesting. Read more
Published on July 25 2006 by Lesley Winfield

5.0 out of 5 stars Utterly Amazing
This first instalment of the His Dark Materials Trilogy is the best book in the trilogy. The characterization is beautiful, something that is unsual in fantasy novels. Read more
Published on Mar 11 2006 by luv2read

4.0 out of 5 stars Listen to it...
I listened to this book on tape! It is also available on CD. It was excellent. The author himself narrates (a rare treat) so you know all the names are pronounced correctly, and... Read more
Published on Oct 8 2005 by yvette

5.0 out of 5 stars An Amazing Book!!!!!!!
This is one of my favourite books of all time and I truthfully do not understand half the things people have written about it. Read more
Published on Feb 1 2005

5.0 out of 5 stars And now for something different
If you're tired of the fantasy novels that don't seem to be able to leave Tolken behind, then brace yourself. Read more
Published on July 2 2004 by ablindmansees

1.0 out of 5 stars Truly one of the worst "children's" books ever written...
...unless, that is, you like to read stories in which parents are portrayed as child-torturers and murderers, the "Church" is a mysterious, fascist agency that promotes the... Read more
Published on Jun 30 2004

4.0 out of 5 stars Quite pleasant.
This is the first book in the His Dark Materials trilogy (before The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass). Read more
Published on Jun 28 2004 by Stephanie Noverraz

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