His Dark Materials

[Trebz]

Finished this trilogy a couple of weeks ago. One of the best most original fantasy series I've read in a long long time. Apparently it's classed as a childrens novel but it seems a little brutal in places. Highly recommended to anyone whos a little tired of the same old fantasy books and fancies some magical "Narnia" style fantasy injecting into their reading.

 

[Sar]

Read the first one, and got mid-way through the second one and stopped reading (a habit of mine).

Twas ok, not bad, must get back and finish them off sometime - been reading a lot of books on Philosophy recently.

 

[dysfunction]

The cronicles of Narnia were superb. I'd recommend that to anyone.

Ive bought this Dark Materials trilogy but I have not read any of it yet

 

[Vae]

Bought them for my sister a couple of years ago but she didn't read them so I swiped them. They were good but I'm not sure they deserve the praise they get. Also I'd agree - rather violent/brutal for childrens books.

 

[leggy]

I agree with Trebz0r here. Absolutely stunning trilogy, I think I got through the lot in a week and a half.

The universe he has created is amazing and the whole daemon culture is beyond words. If you haven't read it, do so now.

 

[TdC]

heh I'll have to get around to this, purely based on you lot thing is, I've just gotten Crossroads of Twilight and *must* read it. it's like crack

 

[Covenant]

heh I'll have to get around to this, purely based on you lot thing is, I've just gotten Crossroads of Twilight and *must* read it. it's like crack

I'm sure I don't need to give my opinion on RJ in this forum again...

HDM - good series. There's a lot of thought-provoking stuff in there, actually, if you read it carefully.

Spoiler

Although the way the third book ends is, I feel, disappointing from such a good trilogy - it feels rushed. The part where The Authority is "killed" is very anti-climactic - blink and you'll miss it!

 

[TdC]

I'm sure I don't need to give my opinion on RJ in this forum again...

tbh I'm not at all pleased with RJ atm. I just.....have.....to.........read

 

[Jonny_Darko]

Read the first one, and got mid-way through the second one and stopped reading (a habit of mine).

How is this possible? I'm halfway through the second one at the moment and I'm finding it hard to put it down long enough to go to work! Already it's one of the richest, deepest and most compelling and original books I've read. Pullman's Universe is a-fricking-mazing.

Seems reminiscent of Babylon 5 almost, in a way - the epic storyline and the huge mystery slowly coming together - and if they're going with it where I think they're going then isn't just big and good it's damn daring, especially in a "children's book".

There was one moment in the first book I had to put it down and spend a couple of minutes composing myself after some of the nastiest imagery I've ever encountered -

Spoiler

Where Iorek rips the other bear's jaw off and it describes his tongue just hanging down over his throat with nothing to hold it up. Dunno why it hit me so hard but I nearly threw up.

 

[Nightchill]

I bought His Dark Materials when I was travelling Europe. Unsurprisingly there weren't many books in English at the German/French book stores. The classics all were (so read a lot of those) and the odd fantasy book. His Dark Materials was a giant one book (containing the trilogy). Enjoyed it