Product Description
Chris met Jenny on a warm night in early June. Chris fell in love straight away, but for Jenny life was more complex. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

Fast, captivating read
I read this book in a few short hours (which is not surprising because it's only 170 pages). I could not put it down. Pullman's imagery is vivid and poetic. The story is beautifully written, and the plot is intense and perfect. I loved this book.

An odd, unsettling, but hard-to-put-down book
"The White Mercedes" was a tricky read. I found certain parts wholly realistic and understandable, raised my eyebrows in surprise at others, enjoyed some, and shivered with fear at the end.

Why? Because this is an unpredictable book. Not in terms of plot (though this mystery will keep you guessing until the last pages), but in terms of atmosphere and mood. "The White Mercedes" has so many parts. It has a tale of growing up, a frightening glimpse at the world of gangsters, and at the core, a semi-typical, semi-obsessive love affair between two teens.

The love story is suited for older teens, as many will be able to relate. One slightly graphic scene will discourage younger teens (who will perhaps be less capable of understanding and appreciating many aspects of the book), but older ones will find it pretty much accurate to seventeen year olds.

"His Dark Material" fans be warned: "The White Mercedes" is nothing like Pullman's spectacular trilogy. The settings are completely different, as are the characters and the plot. A very different sort of novel.

On the whole, the story is intriguing, though not amazing. It has some odd holes, but is still a quick, intense read. This is a mystery, a love story, a tragedy, and a thriller all at once. Short, but powerful, it's a good book for a rainy afternoon.

Not the best book ever written, but an interesting read nonetheless.

Another Pullman in Another Oxford but Worth Reading Still
Fans of Pullman's trilogy should receive a fair warning before moving any further. This is not Lyra's Oxford, this is our Oxford so expect thugs, sex, crime but also love, trust and friendship.
Pullman retells the story of Romeo and Juliet with extreme adroitness. He manages to keep the lyrical beauty and truth of the play and avoids desperate attempts of retaining any elements that would seem dated and out of place in a modern novel.
This is a novel for younger adults but if you feel that your 13+ year olds have never heard about sex, you may need to read it first yourself. The danger is you may get hooked on Pullman seriously.

AKA The Butterfly Tattoo
You should also know that this very moving YA novel is also known by the title: The Butterfly Tattoo. Perhaps it's a British thing, but that's also the title of the forthcoming movie (Pullman's excited about it).

Yes, it's dark. Tragic. But, honestly, as with all the tragedies we've ever read, don't get caught in the plot - get caught in the characters and then see what you think. See if it doesn't help you think twice about your assumptions, your judgments in life. The tragedy is we don't examine our pre-judgments... We're often driven more by events and our rushing to keep up with our biases. An unexamined life is also tragic. We could use a good book like this to spur some worthy self-examination.

Young Adult IS appropriate
Enough with Romeo and Juliet, enough with 'near-pornography'! The fact that this is a tragedy reminiscent of Shakespeare is used as a contrast of R&J, not a retelling.

Its flaws are of logical plot turns and character, not a misplacement in the young adult genre. It IS a young adult novel, written about a boy and girl more realistic, perhaps, than parents would like their children to read about, but it is far from pornographic (look in your school libraries for Tropic of Cancer and Ulysses if you want something to get angry about). Much is said here about Chapter 6, but what of Chapter 13? Is sex so much worse than an innocent's death? Young people read more graphic things in Cosmo and the Bible.

This novel is about powerlessness and self-doubt in the face of Fate, and in that it succeeds better than most. ... Read more

Product Description
"My books are about killing God."

So declares Philip Pullman, the award-winning author of the bestselling His Dark Materials trilogy of fantasy novels: The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass. Appealing to millions of children and adults alike, Pullman's books create a universe in which the church is the enemy and God is the master villain.

Cultural analyst Tony Watkins offers an even-handed and appreciative critique of Philip Pullman's books, exploring their religious and scientific underpinnings and highlighting their cultural and spiritual significance. Interacting deeply with Pullman's published writings and providing exclusive interview material, Watkins sheds light and insight on the worldview of one of today's most influential fantasy novelists.

Whether you are a long-time devotee or are discovering Pullman for the first time, Dark Matter is enlightening reading for fans, educators and parents alike. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

For once, an intelligent, not embarrassingly biased, contribution of criticism.
This is an excellent read for all those who are at all affected by Pullman's trilogy, directly or indirectly. It provides thorough understanding without scathing criticisms; even when Watkins has a disagreement with Pullman, he does not go on to verbally bash his material. He provides an EDUCATED opinion, then goes on to the next subject. Watkins is so far the most respectable critic that I have read, simply because he himself respects the views of others without denouncing them. Sometimes I myself disagreed with his arguements, but not disrespectfully, because again, his arguements and stances were educated instead of condescending.

Narrow-minded writers and critics like Peter Hitchens should take a dose of Watkins's style.

Balanced Shedding on Pullman's Trilogy
Having heard Watkins interviewed on a radio talk show, compelled to read this book and it was certainly worth it.

Watkins is none of the Christians who embarrass the rest of us believers who categorize the trilogy as Satanic and to be avoided by all at all costs simply because it challenges God's church.

This helps no one.Watkins helps all in providing his take on the sources, influences and even critique of Pullman's trilogy using science, Scripture and other sources.Watkins is in fact a fan of Pullman's fantasy writing and expresses even agreement with the majority of Pullman's morals expressed.

There is beneficial stuff especially on science background of parallel universes (Watkins is a physics grad)and others such as literary influences of Milton, Von Kleist and Blake.His conclusion that Pullman inverts Second Century Gnosticism is spot on!

Worth reading.

An Intellecually Honest Review
If all Christians would respond the same way Tony Watkins has with this review of His Dark Materials...I do not think Philip Pullman would dislike the "church" the way he does. Mr. Watkins shows unconditional love and consistent respect to Philip Pullman while giving a critical review of his work. This work is well researched, and completely thought out. It is not an emotional dogmatic drum beat of an automaton.

Finally A Sane and Logical Approach To Philip Pullman's Trilogy
This past week I was sent a disturbing email in regard to the upcoming movie release of "The Golden Compass" based on the novel of the same title by Philip Pullman.
After reading the article which was linked to the email and talking with a homeschooling mommmy friend who has actually read Pullman's trilogy I began to read Tony Watkin's book.
Watkin's book covers the topic of this controversial trilogy and movie in three parts:
1. The Storyteller. This gives you a biographical sketch of Philip Pullman, explaining how life experiences have shaped the person/author he is today.
2. Synopsis of the books in the His Dark Materials trilogy: The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass.
3. Shedding Light On His Dark Materials discusses the theological message of the series from a Christian perspective.
Watkin's had Pullman's full cooperation and assistance in writing this book. I highly recommend Watkin's book for those parents who have concerns about Pullman's trilogy or would like a better understanding of the trilogy before they begin reading.

Tony Watkins--fan and critic
I'm a big fan of the Philip Pullman books. I consider him to be an excellent writer and storyteller. However, the "His Dark Materials" books deal with issues that need to be thought over and discussed carefully. I appreciated this book as a well-thought out and interesting look at Philip Pullman's background, his personal views, his goals in writing the books, and the historical and religious background behind the books. I especially appreciated the author's candid expression of his enjoyment of the books. He admitted that he was a fan of Philip Pullman, while disagreeing with his message. I enjoyed seeing a Christian opinion of the book that fully appreciated Philip Pullman's wonderful storytelling, but still seriously considered anti-Christian or anti-Church messages in the trilogy. ... Read more

Product Description
Frankenstein-meets-Pinnochio-meets-Faust in this incredible feat of storytelling. Fritz, the writer, spins a spine-tingling tale to cheer up Karl, the apprentice clockmaker. But rather than helping matters, the story beings to come true.... Amazon.com Review
While Philip Pullman's greatest popularity is as a creator ofnovel-length magical realism for young adults, such as TheGolden Compass, he continues to explore and stretch the limitsof other children's and young adult genres. Clockwork is noexception. With its inspiration lying solidly in the German romantictradition of E.T.A. Hoffmannand the BrothersGrimm, the story begins, as all good fairy tales do, with someonewhose human weakness sets events inescapably in motion. As thetownspeople of Glockenheim gather in the White Horse Tavern on the eveof the unveiling of a new figure for their great town clock, Karl, theclockmaker's apprentice, reveals to Fritz, a young storyteller, thathe has not been able to construct the figure. A new clock figure isexpected of all apprentices, and Karl is the first in hundreds ofyears to fail. Fritz, in his turn, has the beginnings of a new storyto tell, and as it rolls off his tongue, its dark antagonistmaterializes and offers Karl his dearest wish. Not surprisingly,Karl's Faustian pact brings him destruction, but an innocent child isthe deus ex machina that saves another child and the spirit of thetown from seemingly ineluctable oblivion.With its eerieblack-and-white illustrations by Leonid Gore and itshappily-ever-after ending to some thrilling suspense, Clockworkis a fine fairy tale for younger children and a thought-provokingtwist on the art of narrative for older ones. --Barrie Trinkle ... Read more

Customer Reviews (63)

Clockwork - Small, but great book by an amazing author.
Karl is an apprentice clockmaker and soon the day is coming where his apprenticeship comes to an end. Karl is to make a figure to put in the clock for all to see. All clockmakers have done so before him, but the problem is he has failed and doesn't have a figure to put in the clock.

One night while at the Inn, Karl and the other people from town are there to listen to the local writer, Fritz. The towns people love listening to the stories Fritz writes.

This night something happens, something no one would think would happen. A character from Fritz' story is real! And apparently is there to help Karl.

I don't want to give to much of the story away, but this book is really good. It is a short book, though, only a little over 100 pages long, but even so the book is still very good and worth a read.

from [...]
I have a semi-intense love-hate relationship with Philip Pullman (and perhaps also with hyphens, but that's another matter). I used to like Pullman unconditionally, reading anything he had written. Then I read "The Shadow in the North" (the second installment in the Sally Lockheart trilogy) and was burned by the ending. It literally hurt. Philip Pullman made me cry. But I was willing to let it slide because I was also in the midst of His Dark Materials and felt compelled to finish--my mistake. "The Amber Spyglass" also left me severely burned, and crying again.

Before all of that happened, Pullman wrote some shorter, happier works. I can't recapture my early excitement about Pullman, especially after reading about his "Frederick must die" rule, but I can almost appreciate his works without remembering the grief he caused me.

"Clockwork" is a novella length story Pullman published in 1996. At 107 pages, the narrative is too short to include any deaths of beloved characters or annoyingly impossible loves. Pettiness aside, I have to say that's a relief.

The story is set in a German town once upon a time when time still ran according to clockwork timepieces--none of that electronic nonsense. Karl, the clockmaker's apprentice, is sulking in the local pub while his friend Fritz prepares to tell the town his newest story.

Things begin to go wrong when a mysterious visitor arrives at the pub after Fritz has wound up his story but before he has a chance to wind it down again. That's well and good for readers but not so good for the characters, especially Karl and Gretl, the daughter of the pub's owner.

"Clockwork" is grim only in the way a children's book can be. There is death and gore and talk of devils taking souls, but none of that is conceptualized in a way that actually touches readers. It's sort of like they way I was able to watch "The Nightmare Before Christmas" as a girl without being creeped out even though I don't understand how that is possible when I watch it now.

The narrative reads very much like a story. Not like a book, but like an actual story told in the oral tradition. This technique is not often used outside of the realm of fairy tales, but Pullman works the style aptly. It works especially well with the edition I read which includes black and white illustrations by Leonid Gore. The illustrations kind of suggest what Edward Gorey would have drawn if he didn't work in such outline oriented ways for anyone who was wondering.

This novella (I can't bring myself to call it a novel) also received tons of accolades in the 1990s when it came out. It was winner of the 1997 Silver Medal Smarties Prize, A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year for 1998, and a NYPL Best Book of the Year also for 1998. I mostly agree with this praise. The story is a little thin on character development, but given its length that's to be expected. Considering it in terms of being a tiny book, the story is really tight and well-put-together.

A Triumph
Wow, I picked this book up and did not put it down until it was finished.This story gets you going in one direction and then takes a very unexpected turn.It reminds me of old fairy tales, but with a modern twist.I loved this book.

I can't wait ot read more by this author!
This is my first Philip Pullman book. I went to the library looking for "the Gold Compass but it was checked out so I grabbed this little book by the same author and decided I'd give it a try. It is an admidtedly short, fairy tale revolving around a small group of people living in a German villiage a long time ago. The people's lives revolve around a monster grandfather clock that is filled with lifelike figures. Every time an apprentice is about to graduate to become a master he must carve a figure for this clock. Karl, the apprentice who is one of the main characters, has so failed to produce a figure and now has only a single night to come up with something or be disgraced. How far is this desperate willing to go to achieve his goals? An enigmatic old clockmaker comes to the inn and willing to help him but with magic help of this kind there is always a price.
There is also a writer whose short stories have a bad habbit of turning out to be nonfiction, a little prince who is not what he seems, and a plucky little inkeepers daughter who is the hero and moral center of this story.
Pullman packs a lot of emotion and suspense in this little book. A must read for anyone who enjoys suspense, fantasy, or just enjoys a good fairy tale with a twist. After this I cannot wait to read Pullman's other books.

like clockwork
I finished this book in an evening.For such a short story, it has many twists and turns. True to its name, the story is tightly wound up from the start, set in motion, and doesn't slow down until the end. Pullman deftly pulls the reader through fear and laughter without missing a beat.Superbly done.

The story seems so simple after the first read, but there's much more to it. It's like a Pinocchio-Faustian-Frankenstein fairy tale. A bizarre combination, yet it works so well. It'll be worth many re-reads, especially for kids as they grow older and can grasp Pullman's deeper meanings. ... Read more

Product Description
“I Was a Rat!” So insists a scruffy boy named Roger. Maybe it’s true. But what is he now? A terrifying monster running wild in the sewers? The Daily Scourge is sure of it. A victim of “Rodent Delusion”? The hospital nurse says yes. A lucrative fairground freak? He is to Mr. Tapscrew. A champion wriggler and a budding thief? That’s what Billy thinks. Or just an ordinary small boy, though a little ratty in his habits? Only three people believe this version of the story. And it may take a royal intervention—and a bit of magic—to convince the rest of the world.

Set against the backdrop of a Royal Wedding—and a playful parody of the press, I Was a Rat! is a magical weaving of humor, fairy tale, and adventure.
Amazon.com Review

"Bless my soul!" said Bob. "Who are you?"
"I was a rat," said the little boy.

What does it mean to be human? In this often darkly comic Dickensiantale, rats start to look pretty good by comparison. But in afairy-tale ending, Bob and Joan teach us that humans, corrupt as weare, can always take solace in toasted cheese, love, and goodcraftsmanship. Kevin Hawkes's black-and-white illustrations enliventhe already vivacious adventure that, thanks to Pullman's ever lovelywordplay and sly satire, is every bit as enjoyable for adults as it isfor young readers. (Ages 9 to 12) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Customer Reviews (33)

Satisfying Ending
Bob and Joan, an older couple living a quiet life in the village near the castle, never were able to have children of their own.That brought them some sadness, but they learned to go on with their lives despite that fact.Then one evening a small boy shows up at their door.He has no name and no home, and doesn't know where he came from or where he belongs.However, he is insistent that he was a rat at some very recent time.Bob and Joan take the boy in and, in fact, he does have some very ratlike tendencies, such as ripping up all of his sheets to sleep on and putting his face right into his food to eat.But he learns quickly and Bob and Joan take a liking to him.They call him Roger, which they would have called their own son if they'd had one.

Bob and Joan are good people who realize that a small boy must have a place to be and people who will miss him, so they start bringing him around to different places and asking about him.No one seems to know who he is or where he belongs, so they decide he can stay with them for awhile.However, people are curious about this boy who says he was a rat, and wants to study him.During one session with the palace philosopher, Roger is scared by the man's cat and runs away.He is picked up by a traveling circus owner who treats him badly and makes him perform as the rat-boy in his show.Roger is very sad and misses Bob and Joan.

Roger eventually escapes and tries to become a rat again, living below the streets and staying out of the way.But news of a monster in the sewers spreads, and people are determined to capture this monster and put it to death so it can't hurt anyone living in the village.Will Roger ever be able to live in peace?

I liked the newspaper stories throughout this book, showing what the common people wanted to read about.They were very amusing and somewhat realistic.I liked that Roger was such an innocent character.He never tried to cause trouble, but he was always in the middle of things.I really liked the explanation for what happened to Roger at the end of the book; it was a very clever take on the story.

A Good Book
In this book an old couple stumbles across a little boy.He says he was a rat so they take him all over town and try to find his owners.When they can't they decide to keep him.He runs away and gets into alot of trouble.But once again he is saved from death and reunited with his family.With the help of a young princess and a pair of scarlet slippers.I would recomend this book.

A light, fun read
A shabby looking boy knocks on the door of an old couple, and insists he was a rat. The boy certainly has some rat like tendencies, such as drinking out of his bowl and chewing on his pillow. They decide to keep the boy (who they have named Roger) but he escapes and joins a freakshow.Roger makes it back to his adoptive parents after many comical adventures.A quick, funny fantasy read that will intrigue many readers.

awesome
"I Was A Rat" is about a boy who finds a couple to live with and insists he is a rat. But soon he causes tons ofcomotion in his home town new york. Hes really not sure who he is and then finds out he really is not a rat and ends up getting a big surprise.


"I Was A Rat" was an awesome book because....It taught me to always believe in my heart. But some times it can cause catastrophies. I really loved everything about this book!It was funny,sad and surprising. I think anybody who reads this book is sure to love it.Well at least I did! If i could give this book a ten I would. Sarah

I Was A Rat !By Allen M. Koshy
This is a fantastic book about a boy although a little bit ratty comes to a couple named Bob and Joan.They take care of the boy and call him Roger.Roger is a little bit weird but,when I read this book Roger becomes a really nice boy.The author made this book so real to me that I felt I was being sucked right into the book!This is a really great book to read. ... Read more

Product Description
Over the course of a long summer in Wales, sixteen-year-old Ginny, the mixed-race, artist daughter of an English father and a Haitian mother, learns that she has a half-brother from her father's earlier marriage, and that her own mother may still be alive. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

A Gripping Mystery
The Broken Bridge is a captivating realistic fiction mystery that takes place in Wales. It is about a 16-year old girl named Ginny who is the only black child in her district. She hears about a story involving a broken bridge. This is the story... in the middle of winter a father with his baby drives over a bridge and they crash on the slippery ice and break the bridge. The dad leaves the baby in a jacket that looks a lot like Joe Chicago's, a man who has been bullying Ginny's friend and was in jail for 6 years for a mysterious reason. The father went to get help and while he was gone, someone stole the jacket and the baby froze to death. With the story eating at her she decides to investigate, and what she finds is quite surprising. Now, nothing that Ginny has learned about her family seems to be true.

I read The Broken Bridge because I am a huge fan of Philip Pullman. The book is most similar to The Sally Lockhart Mysteries.I was surprised when I read this book, because I was expecting a fantasy but it turned out to be a gripping mystery that I couldn't put down. Imagine this:your life seems to be perfect, but then you find out that you have a half brother you never knew of, and now he has to live with you! In the midst of all that, you also find out that for most of your life your father has been lying to you! Finally, it all gets resolved except for a few questions. I highly suggest that you read this book if you like mysteries. I would give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

Ben S.
Grade 6
Ms. Kawatachi

The Storm Clouds of Deceit
Ginny is like most teenagers; she has big dreams and bigger aspirations, along with a wonderful artistic talents.

Though her Haitian mother has passed away, her English father is providing a solid home life in a small Welsh village. But Ginny's world as she has known it for 16 years begins to fall apart - brick-by-brick - when a step-brother she did not know about is slated to live in the home. And then come revelations about her father's past that begin to chip away at the foundation set by people she thought she knew so well.

Author Philip Pullman tackles the true soul of a family and how fragments from a life in the shadows can destroy more than trust, as an innocent bystander is swept into a storm caused by the deceit of someone she rightfully trusts with all her heart.

The 1990 novel shows how the physicality of a broken bridge can make life much more stranger - and dangerous - than the fiction that purports to be fact.

A very different Pullman; same amazement
I'm a longtime fan of Pullman's "His Dark Materials" series who recently read "The White Mercedes". Upon reviewing that rather interesting book, Amazon showed me this little book in my recommendations. The excellent price and intriguing description made me purchase it. I am pleased to say that I was not disappointed in the least.

"The Broken Bridge" is a really great novel for young adults about fitting in and dealing with family. Ginny's life, which she's rarely questioned, comes into question when she discovers a brother, a best friend's older sister, and her own past. Ginny is a pretty cool character, in that she's really easy to relate to. Her awkwardness at times and fears are realistic. Her anger makes sense. She's a perfectly constructed person, living inside a book. Other characters are equally real.

I liked Ginny's development over the summer, emotional and otherwise. She's a bit impulsive and that makes for an interesting read. Thankfully, this novel is very teen-friendly (minus a few swear-words) and should pass any "appropriateness" test, though it deals with serious subjects very well. It will capture the reader quickly and strongly, until you really want to know what happens. And the ending does not disappoint.

"The Broken Bridge" manages to deal with a number of serious issues quite well. Ginny, as a mixed-race teen, faces a number of racial insecurities, living alone with her white father and white community. Her strong artistic bond to her mother is meaningful as well, and this artistic aspect to the novel should draw in (no pun intended) artists as well. The way she views the world is quite special and unique.

Mysterious, well written, and absolutely enjoyable, "The Broken Bridge" is not the same fantasy Pullman, but still the same fantastic Pullman. Highly recommended!

Pullman delivers again
Philip Pullman will probably always be best known for the "His Dark Materials" trilogy.This may be appropriate, as this trilogy - The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass - are superior fantasy.But there is more to Pullman than these three books.The Broken Bridge is a standalone novel that shows Pullman's skills go beyond just a single genre.

The Broken Bridge is the story of Ginny, a black (actually mixed-race) sixteen year old girl living in Wales with her white father.Despite the disadvantages of having a long-deceased mother (who came from Haiti) and being one of the very few non-whites in her coastal community, Ginny is reasonably well-adjusted.This stable life comes to a close, however, when a social worker appears at her house.Shortly thereafter, her father reveals something that will completely upset her life:her father had a son by another woman; the woman is dying and soon her half-brother will be living with them.

This revelation is only the first of many that will completely turn Ginny's life upside-down and make her question everything and everyone she has known.The most damaged relationship, however, is with her father who still has a number of other secrets that are beginning to leak out.But there are other truths that will be learned too, regarding her friends, her grandparents and her mother.

This is classified as a "young adult" novel, as most of Pullman's books are, but like his other works, these can actually appeal to any adult readers.I would guess it gets this classification because it is tame from a sex, violence or language standpoint, but the topics - including racism, adultery and even murder - are not exactly "childish."

Pullman is as a good a writer as always.The only disappointment readers are likely to experience is if they expect something like His Dark Materials.Outside of possibly one scene, this story is completely non-fantasy.But if you realize that Pullman can do more than just that one genre, you will find this is another is another good book by him.

An artist's way...
This is a wonderful book. I think it will resonate with many readers, who might relate to it even though the circumstances are unique.

Philip Pullman has a powerful gift. It convinces us to not only enter into the minds of his protagonists with sympathy, but to emerge actually caring about them. I really miss Ginny now, having finished the book. I try, in my imagination, to watch her grow up. I think she'll be brilliant, just like many of the readers who can relate to her and her step-brother.

As you begin reading the book, you're not told a whole lot; and I liked that. It made me more alert to cues in her thinking, watching her moods and the things that happen around her that she doesn't quite pay enough attention to.

On the other hand, the things she *does* notice are with the eyes of an artist, and one with a creative imagination. Readers who also like to draw and paint will find lots to like about the way Ginny thinks. It's a view of an artist's way, from an artist himself... and just like the best art, it moves something in us in a very subtle but profound way.

The book deals with feelings of isolation, which many of us encounter through race issues but everyone *could* understand, given a writer like Pullman. And then there's the matter of growing up. What happens when Ginny's secure world seems too small, but getting out of it is too scary? What happens when what she thinks she knows is not half of what's really there beneath her nose? Pullman makes her story a lot like our own story. We're hooked.

Her growing awareness of others' lives, her ability to move from a genuine and thoughtful sympathy to actual empathy - putting herself in their shoes, rather than looking at their shoes from her perspective, so to speak - is handled so well, I can't help but think we readers all benefit too. ... Read more

Product Description
Chris falls in love with Jenny the moment he sets eyes on her at an Oxford ball. She's beautiful but secretive and he can't help but want to be with her. But fate is cruel and, as their relationship blossoms, tragedy and violence wait in the wings. Chris's boss has a shady past that won't stay hidden. And his ruthless enemies will use two innocent teenagers to exact their revenge on him ... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Stick with the fantasy
I wonder if PP is embarassed by this now? Having loved His Dark Materials I thought he might have done ok with some YA lit. Bad move, not only is it 'a modern day Romeo and Juliet' (it's the answering machine that screws up the message), the first line is great - if he was an unpublished teenager. Terrible, clunky plot that recycles cliche after cliche, teenage boy in love at first sight (oh please) and of course, all the men that meet Jenny want to have sex with her, because she's beautiful, skinny and stupid, with no will of her own. But that's not her fault , because as we all know, all beautiful uneduacated girls have been sexually abused by their fathers and this marks them out as victims.I don't know what he was thinking when he wrote this trash, it's substandard even for ordinary YA lit, but to think this is the same person who wrote the Golden Compass? He definetly needs to stick to fantasy. Just awful.

Another Pullman and Another Oxford but Worth Reading Still
Fans of Pullman's trilogy should receive a fair warning before moving any further. This is not Lyra's Oxford, this is our Oxford so expect thugs, sex, crime but also love, trust and friendship.
Pullman retells the story of Romeo and Juliet with extreme adroitness. He manages to keep the lyrical beauty and truth of the play and avoids desperate attempts of retaining any elements that would seem dated and out of place in a modern novel.
This is a novel for younger adults but if you feel that your 13+ year olds have never heard about sex, you may need to read it first yourself. The danger is you may get hooked on Pullman seriously.

AKA The White Mercedes
You should know that this YA novel is also known by another title: The White Mercedes. Perhaps it's a matter of British marketing. However, a film is being prepared (with Pullman's enthusiasm) under this title. Yes, it's dark. Tragic. As with all the great tragedies we've read: Don't get caught in the plot - get caught in the characters and then see what you think. ... Read more

Product Description
A luxury edition of all three books in the His Dark Materials trilogy in one volume. Contains 'Northern Lights', 'The Subtle Knife' and 'The Amber Spyglass'. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Beautiful Edition
For A trilogy that has followed me through the past 11 years of my life, I couldn't be happier with the quality of this edition. It's beautiful cover and quality thick paper do complete justice to the magical content it contains.

A powerful blend of science and magic
This is one of the most powerful fantasy stories since Lord of the Rings. Blending science and magic, myth and even theology into a complex and thrilling adventure story that takes the reader on a journey through worlds that are both strange and familiar. Lyra and Will are two endearing heroes and Lyra's daemon is a wonderful creature, not a pet, but part of her soul. This is imaginative fiction at its very best, with rich characters, exciting conflicts and a story building towards a grand and thought-provoking climax. Heartily recommended to anybody who likes to become absorbed in their reading. Like Harry Potter, Mortal Engines or Hecate's Child, you might not notice time passing as you read it!

A good read
I found this triolgy to be very good, well written, and good characters. But at times, the story was long drawn out, pullman tried to gain suspense through complex details, but by the time he finishes a scene, its been stretched to the point that all the action leaks out. Overall, a very good book, but not excellent. ... Read more

Product Description
AFTER WITNESSING A mysterious explosion, three young Londoners—Becky, Jim, and Adelaide—journey to a tiny country high in the mountains of Central Europe in 1882. They’re an unlikely trio to lead a country, but when Adelaide’s husband, the new king, is assassinated, she finds herself fighting for the crown—and for her very life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (39)

What happened?
This had absolutely no resemblance to the initial three stories.It's as though Pullman tired of the genre, yet wanted to pump one last book out and thus had either his wife or daughter do this one; unfortunately it appears that they didn't even bother to read the first three thoroughly enough to provide a valid sense of character continuation!

So boring
I had the feeling Philip Pullman was preparing for the actual story and waited and waited. It was boring but then, wasn't Philip Pullman not that marvellous narrator of His Dark Materials? I would just have to go on, drag myself through the reading so to say and then there would suddenly start a great, great story. So I told myself. Then I had read two thirds of the book and noticed that would never happen. The extraordinary story teller just wasn't present. I still can't believe that this is the same author, who so enchantingly and thrillingly wrote about Lyra's world.

A Good Mystery Ride!
Looking for mystery and intrigue? The twists and turns in this book will keep you on edge! Love, responsibility, and courage are just a few of the key ideas in this book. Small text might deter initially, but really good content. Another great addition to my classroom library.

"There's Three Men I Might Have Loved..."
"The Tin Princess" is the forth book in the Sally Lockhart series - though it doesn't actually star Sally herself. Perhaps a better description of this book would be to call it a spin-off, as it is has several characters from the previous Sally books as its protagonists, and solves a mystery that has been brewing since book one. In the first book "The Ruby in the Smoke," a young street waif named Adelaide Bevan disappeared into the streets of London, and only now has she been found. Readers who may be unwilling to continue with this series due to the absence of Sally are instead rather forced to - it's the only way to find out what happened to that young girl.

Jim Taylor, the amateur detective (among other things) has finally managed to track her down, following the trail of young Rebecca Winter who has been employed in the service of a nobleman to teach a young woman in his household how to read and write. The two collide almost immediately, and soon it becomes apparent that the young woman in question is none other than Adelaide herself. But her situation has greatly changed - she is married to Prince Rudolf of Razkavia, making her a princess of that small country squished between Austria and Germany. Rebecca is appalled at the unlikelihood of the match, especially since she herself is a native of Razkavia.

And now things are about to heat up. With the assassination of Rudolf's older brother, Adelaide and her husband now find themselves heir to the thrones of Razkavia - but whoever was behind the conspiracy to topple the royal family is not going to stop till they control the country. Now with Becky as her translator and Jim as her bodyguard, Adelaide is travelling with her husband to the country she now rules - a country watched over by the Red Eagle flag. Legend says that so long as the Eagle flies over the Rock of Eschtenburg, Razkavia will always be free. Now in a strange land, with strange customs, and a plot against them, Adelaide, Jim and Becky must juggle politics, public relations, personal safety, betrayal within the court, assassination attempts and a mysterious missing member of the royal family. Needless to say (of any of Philip Pullman's books), it's a very exciting ride.

Pullman beautifully creates an entire country with vivid realness - its customs, economy, language, history, all of it comes across with perfect realism, but also a sense of intrigue that he can invoke so well: "The streets are so crooked and narrow that they have no names...the Devil went there once, and couldn't find his way out. Which means of course, that he's still there." Likewise, the characters are vivid and immensely likeable, and his themes of power and corruption (which appear in all of his books in one way or another) are in place. Of our main characters, only Becky is initially unfamiliar to readers of the Lockhart books, but she soon becomes an interesting figure, who wields her own type of power in being Adelaide's translator (often stating her straightforward opinions to Princess Adelaide in the course of conversations, or rewording Adelaide's informal slang to the listener).

But it's Jim and Adelaide that really take centre stage in the course of this story - passionate, strong, out of their league, star-crossed and determined, I have to say that I think they are Pullman's best romantic couple (disagree with me if you must, but that includes Sally/Fred and even Lyra/Will). Adelaide definitely foreshadows Lyra for the "His Dark Materials" trilogy - willful, spoilt, cunning and yet with a strange sense of innocence about her. Glancing at some of the other reviews, it's unfortunate to see she's rather unpopular - I thought she was a wonderful character, and every inch a queen.

Of those that are disappointed at the lack of Sally, there's no reason to completely despair. She is present at both the beginning and end of the story (as is Goldberg, her husband - sadly, no Harriet or Trembler) and is mentioned throughout by several characters. And in her own way, she plays a very big part in the course of the story - just watch how useful the knitted jersey she makes for Jim turns out!

Although this is not my favourite book in the series (that would be "The Tiger in the Well") it is the most re-readable, the most intriguing and the most poetic - the final passage in particular is beautifully written. I won't give it away, but I often find myself picking up the book just to read it again, and the images that Pullman invokes, especially in the escape from the old palace through the snow, are just beautiful. There is a certain amount of cynicism, but the barest touches of hope in the conclusion of the story. But whether you like it or not (because it *is* rather different from the first three books, and not just in the shift in characters) it is a necessary part of the series, to complete Adelaide and Jim's story.

A Complete and Utter Letdown -- Deserves Zero Stars
It is difficult for me to believe that the author who wrote such wonderfully rich books as "The Ropemaker" and the "His Dark Materials" trilogy could write such drivel as "The Tin Princess."Pullman's artistic ability is apparent in his descriptions of political intrigues and cunning plots, but these wonderful descriptions are sadly hidden by the boring, monotonous, one-dimensional characters.Adelaide's coldness, selfishness, and almost shrewish behavior makes it impossible to believe that she could be so beloved by everyone in this novel.Becky, the one character in the book that could have had potential, is shunted to the side and allowed only to play the part of the eager sidekick whose only purpose is to serve the main character.

People who are interested in Pullman's works would do better to read his fantastical novels and leave his clumsy attempts at 'reality' fiction on the shelf. ... Read more

Product Description
Philip Pullman is one of the world's most popular and original authors, read by young adults and adults alike.Containing an astonishing cast of characters, from scholarly Oxford dons to armored bears, witches, angels, murderous Spectres and hideous harpies drawn straight from Greek mythology, Pullman's fiction can be read at many levels.DARKNESS VISIBLE looks at the world of Philip Pullman from the flamboyant Sally Lockhart series and the award winning Clockwork and I Was a Rat!, to his epic and internationally bestselling DARK MATERIALS TRILOGY.It shows the diverse influences - from Milton and Blake to comic books and radio drama - that have shaped his writing and uncovers the part played by Pullman's unconventional childhood.PACKED WITH NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN FAMILY PHOTOS, ILLUSTRATIONS FROM PULLMAN'S BELOVED GRAPHIC NOVELS AND FRESH MATERIAL FROM RECENT INTERVIEWS --- DARKNESS VISIBLE is both a celebration of Philip Pullman and a unique guide to the rich world of his fiction. ... Read more

Product Description
Killing the Imposter God explores the complex religious and spiritual dimensions of the best-selling fantasy series. Donna Freitas and Jason King—scholars of religion and popular culture—reveal how humanity's moral and religious issues play out in Pullman’s literary phenomenon, showing that the trilogy—far from preaching atheism, as many have suggested—actually presents a vision of a universe permeated with divinity and rich with the Christian tradition Pullman himself so publicly rejects.  Weaving together critical theory that spans the disciplines of theology, ethics, feminist studies, and philosophy, the authors examine the questions His Dark Materials raises about destruction and salvation, love and redemption, the abuse of power,  and the divine—making the case that Pullman the self-professed atheist has created a Christian classic of our times. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Increased my appreciation for His Dark Materials
I was skeptical before reading this, but it ended up being great and really enhanced my appreciation for the novels. After a slow start, it picks up and is really good by the end. The book also has short plot summaries of the novels, which were very helpful as I read them 2 years ago now. However, it also has an interview with Gregory Maguire which I thought was pointless. I was also unsure of the authors' "agenda" - are they Christian? Regardless, their views were well-thought-out and riveting. I would recommend buying all 4 books and reading this after the trilogy. ... Read more

Product Description
The first critical analysis of Philip Pullman’s cross-age fantasy trilogy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Fan Criticism
This collection of supposedly critical essays was very disappointing.It reminded me of critical essays on Star Trek, which are too accepting of the work as a perfect and self-contained opus.Very seldom do the essays in "Illuminated" look at Pullman's literary creation with any critical distance; very seldom, for example, do they take note of the trilogy's many inconsistencies, plot holes, and cardboard characters.And although the essays do discuss the trilogy's relation to Blake, Milton, and Lewis, they rarely acknowledge its relation to the modern fantasy genre as well as atheist polemics -- much the same way that Star Trek fan criticism fails to acknowledge the Hollywood studio context of its opus.

I found Pullman's trilogy fascinating but deeply flawed.I am sympathetic to his atheist argument, but felt that he failed truly to engage Christianity in a fair fight (he hardly mentions Christ).I was disappointed because what I thought was going to be an anthem to atheist rationalism proved to be pantheist mysticism instead.And I thought the literary qualities of the third book were abominable, especially after the excellent work in the first.I had hoped to see some of these considerations explored in these essays, but I found them too uncritical, and above all, too eager to accept as satisfactory Pullman's ambitious but failed attempt at imagining a universe.

The debate that Pullman tackles deserves a better effort than his, substantial though it is, and I would like to see some criticism that sifts the solid points in Pullman's writing from the clumsy gaffes and points the way toward some better assessment of the argument.

An amazing reference
The essays in this collection are wonderful references for any critical look at HIS DARK MATERIALS. It was a constant go-to for me while writing my thesis. The essays are organized well and cover a broad range of topics. Since criticism on HDM is so new, it is sometimes difficult to find essays that directly relate to the trilogy as literature. This was the first source I found for academic work that discussed more than the trilogy's merit as a children's series. I also appreciated that opposing viewpoints were presented for several of the topics, and that there were short summaries given for each article. ... Read more

Product Description
Paradise Lost is the great epic poem of the English language, a tale of immense drama and excitement, of rebellion and treachery, of innocence pitted against corruption, in which God and Satan fight a bitter battle for control of mankind's destiny. The struggle ranges across heaven, hell, and earth, as Satan and his band of rebel angels conspire against God.At the center of the conflict are Adam and Eve, motivated by all too human temptations, but whose ultimate downfall is unyielding love. This marvelous new edition boasts an introduction by one of Milton's most famous modern admirers, the best-selling novelist Philip Pullman. Indeed, Pullman not only provides a general introduction, but also introduces each of the twelve books of the poem.In these commentaries, Pullman illuminates the power of the poem and its achievement as a story, suggests how we should read it today, and describes its influence on him and his acclaimed trilogy His Dark Materials, which takes its title from a line in the poem. His observations offer a tribute that is both personal and insightful, and his enthusiasm for Milton's language, skill, and supreme gifts as a storyteller is infectious. He encourages readers above all to experience the poem for themselves, and surrender to its enchantment.Pullman's tremendous admiration and passion for Paradise Lost will attract a whole new generation of readers to this classic of English literature. An ideal gift, the book is beautifully produced, printed in two colors throughout, illustrated with the twelve engravings from the first illustrated edition published in 1688, with ribbon marker. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

Kindle Oxford Milton has no notes, 12 Dore illustrations
The Kindle Oxford Milton PARADISE LOST has no notes, and the Afterword explains that this was deliberate but that notes are nice to have, and you can get them in other places.

Meanwhile, if you don't want to pay extra for Philip Pullman's excellent introduction and sparse personal comments before each book, as well as 12 Dore illustrations which normal Kindles won't make much of -- then you might prefer to pick up an ebook freebie from Gutenberg or Amazon itself.

Sorry to have to be so specific about what edition I'm reviewing, but as you can see all the PARADISE LOSTs get jumbled together in the review sections.

Wow, Pullman!?
I'm sure Milton would be furious if he read the intro. to this book.It's classic how Pullman pulls Paradise Lost into portraying his own view points of the world.I should have guessed.Don't buy it, Pullman has apparently no idea of Milton's history, and has misread the book.

Classic beauty
I reluctantly studied this at university but once I started reading I could see how wonderfully rich the text was. There was so much to it. Milton took a section from Genesis where there was little description and he gave great thought to it. Perfection was not a simple issue, and paradise was not a simple place. Milton, in some ways, "filled in" what wasn't mentioned in Genesis. Perfection and paradise are complex ideas that we probably can't completely comprehend (since we're all imperfect).
And then the all time issue of Satan vs God... I thought Milton did a great job of representing this.

All in all, I highly recommend this great epic.

Not what I expected.
The audio version of Paradise Lost is good.I was expecting more of a dramatisation rather than just a reading of the text, but that's just my misunderstanding.

A magnificent edition of a magnificent poem!
I have to begin with a confession: as a young English major, I hated Milton.At the time, I justified my distaste by assuring myself that none of the stuff in "Paradise Lost" was TRUE.

Time passed, as it does, and now I discover that in my golden years I have a whole treasure-house of unread poetry!I still think that "Paradise Lost" is fiction, but by now I am wise enough to treat the whole thing as world-historical myth, and superb writing to boot!

As everyone else has noticed, this particular edition from Oxford World's Classics is a triumph of the book-maker's art.The type is beautifully set, the illustrations are terrific, and the book is strongly bound.

I hear rumors (once again) that "books are going to become extinct."I'm not sure I believe them any more now than I did 30 years ago, but I'm pretty sure that books like this will NEVER become extinct -- any more than paintings were driven out by photography.I may be doing 70-80% of my reading on a Kindle in the future, and my "paper library" may become more select, but I don't think personal libraries are ever going to vanish.Let's wait & see!

In the meantime, buy this book.Period. ... Read more

Product Description
Factory sealed box set trilogy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Something wrong with the listing
I ordered this item, waited a few days, a package arrived and ... it was the wrong book.What I got was a reference book ABOUT the Philip Pullman trilogy (of which I can't find a separate listing on amazon, so I can't provide a reference).I contacted the seller, who was very polite but said they would only refund my money if I mailed the book back at my own expense (to England) which would have been more than the book was worth.So, I kept it, and I ordered the trilogy again on this amazon listing which is clearly, from picture and description, a boxed set of the original books by Philip Pullman (from a vendor in the US this time), waited a few days and...it was the wrong book again.I got another copy of the reference book about the trilogy.I contacted Amazon and the 2nd seller and told them there was something apparently wrong with the listing.I never heard a word from anyone.

So, now I have two copies of a reference book about a set of books that I have ordered and paid for twice but still don't own.

Definitely DO NOT order from this listing. ... Read more

Product Description
This is the official reference guide to Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy. It contains everything Pullman fans need to know: in-depth, chapter-referenced sections on characters, places, creatures, sciences, languages, and much more. ... Read more

Product Description
Enter the realm of His Dark Materials-soon to be a major motion picture starring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig.

After exploring the worlds of Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, and Narnia, David Colbert turns to Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy. From the philosophy of William Blake and John Milton's poem Paradise Lost to quantum physics and the Bible, this book reveals the complex origins and controversial themes that make Pullman's trilogy a modern marvel in literature. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Illuminating, but hardly inspiring, look at Pullman's trilogy
This book explains some of the inspiration for the "His Dark Materials" series (including the reason behind the American title, for the Brits who get so annoyed by the American title-it has nothing to do the alethiometer-of course, this made the movie that much more agrivating to watch). Colbert doesn't stop with the obvious influences (though he does a good job of making them accessible)-of Blake and Milton. He explains the poetry, lives, and evolution of the characters and their creator. As with so much writing, knowing about the author's life helps understand his writing; this is especially true of the literature studying, Anglican reared, agnostic/atheist writing this series.

However, Colbert's writing is often scattered and doesn't flow very well. The sidebars often take away from the writing. The inserts (the grey pages) are annoyingly put in right in the middle of a sentence. Put them at the end of the freaking chapters!
He could have also spent more time discussing daemons-I felt the chapter just got thrown in as an afterthought. Gyptians, the armoured bears, the witches, and all the otherworldly creatures also seemed to be glossed over. There are so many layers to the Dark Materials trilogy. While this book certainly helps uncover many of them, there are still more layers to unearth-this book is often just a boring explanation, much like an English class analysing Beowulf.

Great as an overview, as a reference...eh.
I'm writing a college thesis on Pullman's His Dark Materials, so I was excited to find this book. However, I was slightly disappointed when it arrived. It's well written and a great overview, but if you've already started doing some looking and thinking on your own it doesn't give you much that's new.

This book is a great starting point, and great for a fun read. I don't so much reccomend it as a primary reference, but as a helpful guide it's very well done.

Wonderfully informative without being overwhelming
Philip Pullman's _His Dark Materials_ trilogy is so full of references and allusions to subjects and works of literature that the average adult, never mind the average teenager, knows nothing about, that I was afraid this book would be either absurdly simplified or overwhelming in its scope. Happily, David Colbert seems to strike a near-perfect balance between making his subject matter understandable and doing justice to it at least in an introductory way, which is no more than he aims to do. I'm sure that the fact that Colbert had access to Pullman and was able to discuss his ideas with him also helped immeasurably.

Where did Pullman get the idea of daemons, and how did it change as he wrote? What other author wrote about the impossibility of winning a sparring match with a bear? Is Lord Asriel "on the side of" good or evil? These are only a few of the questions that are answered (or not, in the case of the last one), in this illustrated guide to the background of _His Dark Materials_, with the added bonus of some direct peeks into the mind that created this brilliantl work. ... Read more

Product Description
More than anything else in the world, Lila wants to be a Firework-Maker. But every Firework-Maker must make a perilous journey to face the terrifying Fire-Fiend! Can Lila possibly survive? Especially when she doesn't know she needs special protection to survive his flames...The exciting and heart-warming story of Lila's journey to face the fearful fire demon fizzes with fun and drama.Amazon.com Review

"A thousand miles ago, in a country east of the jungle and south of the mountains, there lived a firework-maker called Lalchand and his daughter, Lila."

Lila, the heroine of Philip Pullman's charming fable, was, as a baby, "a cross little thing, always crying and refusing her food, but Lalchand built a cradle for her in the corner of the workshop, where she could see the sparks play and listen to the fizz and crackle of the gunpowder." Once out of her cradle, she showed a marked talent for pyrotechnics, even inventing her own fireworks with names like Tumbling Demons and Shimmering Coins. Nevertheless, when Lila tells her father she'd like to become a master firework-maker, he's shocked.Firework-making is no job for a girl, he tells her; besides, with her burned fingers and singed eyebrows, he's afraid he'll never be able to find a husband for her.

If Lalchand is horrified by Lila's ambitions, his daughter is equallyappalled by the prospect of a husband. Instead, she decides to run away to Mount Merapi, where every firework-maker must go to claim some of the royal sulphur from Razvani the Fire-Fiend. Lila's adventures on the road to Merapi alternate with those of her best friend, Chulak, and his talking white elephant, Hamlet, who set out after her when they learn something that could mean life or death for Lila. Along the way, they meet pirates, wild animals, and supernatural beings of everystripe until, at last, Lila must face the scariest obstacle of all: her own fear. Pullman invests The Firework-Maker's Daughter with wit, wonder, and more than a few goose bumps. The charm of the prose is reflected in the black and white illustrations by S. Saelig Gallagher that punctuate this slim novel. Though not as sophisticated as Pullman's remarkable fantasy novels The GoldenCompass and The Subtle Knife, this engaging story does share a courageous heroine, an exciting adventure, and a singular philosophy that ties everything together in a deeply satisfying denouement. (Ages 9 to 12) --Alix Wilber ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

I read for children
I read and review books for a friend who is a teacher.We are trying to find book that are fast paced and short to encourage children with reading difficulties find joy in reading books.Getting the books as cheaply as possible is also a prerequisite.

too bad i'm not a child anymore
i think i would have liked this short, simple book a lot more if i were younger. having read other phillip pullman books, i suppose i was expecting something a little more substantial, but nevertheless, i did enjoy the simplicity and quick read. and since the book was only a buck fifty, i'd certainly say i got more than my money's worth. but if you're an adult like me (i am, despite the fact that i never use caps) you may just want to borrow it from the library

My daughter liked it
My daughter read this for a book club and really enjoyed this.

I like Philip Pullman, but...
A bit shallow for Pullman. Not as interesting as I'd hoped.

Perfectly crafted
A perfectly crafted children's story, a lovely balance and the characters were delightful. Some of the wit reminded me of Terry Pratchet but alot more subtle. ... Read more

Product Description
Best selling authors of Finding God in the Lord of the Rings Kurt Bruner and Jim Ware team up again in a study of Philip Pullman's popular His Dark Materials fantasy series. Unlike authors such as J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis, Pullman writes from an intentionally anti-Christian perspective. As the authors explore Pullman's themes, characters, and charges against Christianity, they ultimately conclude that though Pullman intended to do just the opposite, he has created a cosmos that seems to confirm the existence of a loving God—one where truth wins out over deception, grace trumps the virtue of self-reliance, and relationship is prized above independence. Released in conjunction with the major feature film, Shedding Light on His Dark Materials will equip parents, teachers, and readers to better understand and respond to Pullman's brilliant but troubling work. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Sheds No Light
Let me start by noting that Pullman's Dark Materials Trilogy is more a work of Philosophy than Fantasy.To call it a fantasy is like calling the Mona Lisa just a quick sketch.Bruner and Ware, and other "Christian" writers seemed to have missed that concept.
Furthermore, in an effort to reveal the "hidden spiritual themes" within Pullman's work, Bruner and Ware simply twist and rearrange Pullman's text and his thoughts, telling us what Pullman is Really thinking, throw in an unrelated bible verse, develop it through their warped narrowed minded thought process, then magically come up with some lame anti-christian theme.With their techniques, these two authors could make Hamlet sound like a Romantic Comedy, with Jesus as the Hero of course.

My first recommendation to everyone would be to read the Dark Materials Trilogy (Golden Compass/Subtle Knife/Amber Spyglass) before reading any of the books written to analyze it. There is a reason it has created such a stir in the literary world...it is a great work of literature.Read it with an open mind and enjoy the images and emotions and excitement that Pullman offers us.
My second recommendation would be to forego this "Shedding Light..." book.Not only does it NOT shed any light upon Pullman's Dark Materials, it actually casts a blurry shadow and misleads the reader into a false and misguided perspective of a superb body of work.

Good Overview of His Dark Materials
I picked this book up because of the publisher, SaltRiver. They also published the best analysis of the Harry Potter series I have ever read ("Finding God in Harry Potter"). So I picked it up, having read Northern Lights (retitled "The Golden Compass" later on) when I was younger, and having seen the recent film adaptation.

The book is a collection of short meditations on certain themes found in Pullman's His Dark Materials from a Christian perspective. They tend to be good, but very, very basic. For instance, one of the mediatations is on "Family," and they talk about all the broken family relationships in the His Dark Materials books, and then talk about how God is our Father and we are his family.

In terms of literary criticism, the book does not provide any overview or summary of the story or Pullman's world, and so in that way assumes you have *some* knowledge of the His Dark Materials universe, while the writing style makes it clear they do not expect you to have any knowledge of the story, which is odd.

In addition, the book does not really explore Pullman's universe and analize it in any kind of depth. Mostly they simply use bits and pieces of it as springboards for thematic discussion. In the way of simply describing and dealing in the universe as is, Finding God in Harry Potter does a much better job of it.

I do recommend this book, though. Bruner and Ware reveal a very important fact about the His Dark Materials trilogy, which is that atheist Pullman *assumes* a Christian world, a world where free grace, love, self-sacrifice, nobility, and honor hold sway, in order to attack that world. No matter what atheist Pullman does, he is revealing the God he doesn't believe in. That is one of the best values of this book. Its discussions on the "Authority" (aka God) and the "Magisterium" (aka the Church) are quite good.

One last thing I enjoyed about the book. It does take Pullman to task, but it also recognizes the value of storytelling and Pullman's talents as an artist, so it is not fully negative, nor fully positive. There is little rhetorical fire-and-brimstone, and simply a reasoned, balanced analysis.

A Thoughtful Christian Perspective on the work of Philip Pullman
There has been a strong outcry within the religious community about the anti-Christian worldview of Philip Pullman with movements to boycott The Golden Compass film and the books. Instead of joining the boycott (which traditionally doesn't work and only drives more people toward whatever is being boycotted), I decided to read Kurt Bruner & Jim Ware's insight.

Each chapter of this book opens with an excerpt from Pullman then the authors examine different themes from the books and compare them to traditional Christian views, include Scriptures and their own theological insight. It results in a well-crafted and excellent text. In the afterthought section, when a friend hears that Jim Ware is working on this book, he says, "Pullman. Pretty dark stuff, huh?" Many Christians will find the answer surprising.

Ware says, "I've given that last question a lot of thought during the weeks and months since Kurt and I first undertook this project. And the more I've pondered it, the more certain I've become that my friend was wrong...That's not for lack of trying on the author's part, of course. Pullman definitely deserves an A for effort. He's done his level best to offend the sensibilities of traditionally minded, God-fearing people...Yet despite the shadows that hang about the perimeter of his imaginary world Pullman hasn't quite succeeded in keeping out the light. It seeps in relentlessly through the cracks. It upstages the writer's purported agenda and steals the scene at every opportunity. And it makes its presence felt most effectively at the very heart of the drama." (p. 154-155)

Yes, you can go along with the herd mentality and boycott the Pullman books and the film. Or you can take a more balanced approach and celebrate the skilled storytelling from Philip Pullman and understand how he didn't fulfill his intended agenda.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to examine the spiritual themes in His Dark Materials. ... Read more

Product Description
With The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ, Philip Pullman issues a serious challenge to the reader to look again at the Gospels, and ask whether or not it is reasonable to believe what the New Testament and the Church teach about the founder of Christianity. In Philip Pullman's Jesus Gerald O'Collins takes up that challenge with authority, passion and flair.
... Read more