The Subtle Knife (His Dark Materials)

Philip Pullman

I wasn't expecting much improvement in this second installment of the series, and in that way I...more

I wasn't expecting much improvement in this second installment of the series, and in that way I wasn't disappointed. I continue to have the same problems with Pullman's writing as in The Golden Compass. The writing still feels stilted and forced, and the really sad thing is that this time around the story itself also started to feel that way. Again, characters do things that sometimes don't make sense and seem to have more understanding than they should logically be able to. And speaking of characters, I really hope I'm not the only person who thinks Lyra is a totally annoying character. The habit of lying is so ingrained in her that when she knows not only that she should tell the truth, but that the only way the person she's talking to will be able to help her is that she tells them the truth, she still has a huge struggle against her habit of lying. I know someone like this, who will lie about anything and everything, even if it doesn't matter. I've seen the destruction that habit has wrought in her life and the lives of others around her, including her children. So it's very upsetting to see Lyra exhibiting the same destructive behavior and yet being exhalted in an award-winning children's book. Lyra isn't the only one, either. I think I know which characters I'm supposed to think are the good ones, and which are supposed to be the bad ones, but honestly I can't tell a difference based on their actions. They all lie, manipulate, steal, cheat, kill and destroy on an equal basis and I just really don't think those are great examples to be giving children. I don't have any children of my own, and if I did, I wouldn't stop them from reading the books if they wanted, but I would definitely have thorough discussions with them about right and wrong and how those concepts aren't really included in these books.   hide

Philip Pullman is a courageous writer - however, rumour has it that the movie studio making the...more

Philip Pullman is a courageous writer - however, rumour has it that the movie studio making the film adaptation didn't have the courage to carry through the series' message. We shall see. What pulls these books (Golden Compass, Subtle Knife and Amber Spyglass) well out of the ranks of kiddy-fiction is the fact that Pullman thinks big. The themes at work here are theories of genesis, of life, spirit and *gasp* the danger and waste that come with blind belief in religion. And his ideas are very original (not that I'm going to write spoilers in here). This is definitely NOT a sword-and-sorcery novel. Pullman creates truly memorable characters: Lyra (the protagonist of the Golden Compass) is a dirty, impulsive, fierce yet brilliant little girl who drew the short hand when it came to loving and responsible parents. Will is a very interesting character, and the description given when Lyra first meets him is a good example of what sets Pullman apart from other fantasy authors. Will is a murderer, 'savage and courteous and unhappy', and that makes him a suitable companion for Lyra in her quest to find 'Dust', the invisible pollen that makes all worlds go round. Pullman's writing style is simple and direct, but I enjoyed his tone. It works - I could believe that I was looking at things through a child's eyes. The next book, the Amber Spyglass, is also a must-read if only to tie all the threads of the story together.   hide

The second book of His Dark Materials begins with Will Parry, a boy of 12 in our own world, who...more

The second book of His Dark Materials begins with Will Parry, a boy of 12 in our own world, who must flee from men who are searching for him. He finds himself in a crossroads between the worlds- a city called Citagazze. There he encounters Lyra, the heroine of the Golden Compass. Together they begin a search for Will’s father, who was lost many years ago exploring the different worlds. They learn more about the coming battle between Lord Asriel (Lyra’s father) and “the Authority”, and are exposed to danger at every turn. The amazing adventure of Golden Compass continues, as does the rich philosophical concepts explored and political intrigue. It’s not just a fun read- but a thought-provoking look at human nature, free will, cosmology and physics.   hide

Much better book than Golden Compass, as far as pace and plot go. Since I'd figured out by this...more

Much better book than Golden Compass, as far as pace and plot go. Since I'd figured out by this time that this takes place in alternate realities, or worlds, I could easily transition between them and even keep them straight. However, I can see the direction this series is heading and I'm not sure yet what I think about that. Pullman has grown-ups who are mostly trying to do the right thing, but end up doing terrible and stupid things instead. And the two children, Lyra and Will, are coming into an awareness that is ruining their gultless innocence. (Pullman would say their inexperience.) Also, there's this interesting debate between what is truly good and what is truly evil. Pullman seems to be saying (through the grown-up characters) that God is actually evil, and that the rebel angels who fell from heaven in the beginning were really trying to give humanity knowledge and strength and the ability to rule their own lives. It's a disturbing paradigm shift that doesn't hold up well against the natural themes of the book. For example, if this is true, and the angels are rallying around Lord Asriel to take back heaven, then why did Asriel have to kill Lyra's friend to do it? That doesn't seem right? And why does Will's dad break his solemn oath if he's on the side of the 'real' good?   hide

~Talk About A Sequel~ This book was at first quite different, and this made it a great sequel. Then...more

~Talk About A Sequel~ This book was at first quite different, and this made it a great sequel. Then it became, only partly, like a traditional sequel. Not in the sense of the story, because there are plenty of great new adventures with some great character development, including a key new character. I mean that it just seems to build up to the third book, maybe another reason to read it, huh? I still highly recommend it. Although I liked the first one better, this one is still five-star material. (07/10/03)   hide