Northern Lights (v1 His Dark Materials)

His Dark Materials
by Philip Pullman
Review by Renata

Pullman has been writing the epic journey of Lyra Silvertongue for over 30 years – and counting. In that time many writers of fantasy have tried to bottle the same lyrical lightning without coming close. Pullman’s propulsive storytelling works on so many levels – adventure, mythic quest, allegory, coming-of-age tale – and his nuanced, unforgettable characters burst off the page. 

Every human in this world has a daemon, a shapeshifting animal companion who reflects, challenges and amplifies their human’s unique qualities, and I promise, you will spend time wondering what kind of daemon you’d get! In lesser hands, this device might not last the distance; here, it’s an example of a master storyteller’s ability to create deep layers of meaning and magic. 

Pullman has said the series was never conceived of as “for children only” and while some of the later titles in his Book of Dust series have more mature themes, the original trilogy is a rare example of a story that defies marketing demographics to deliver riches for imaginations of all ages.