In advance of publication of La Belle Sauvage, the first volume of Philip Pullman's long-awaited Book of Dust trilogy, I am re-reading His Dark Materials. I'm well on with Northern Lights and loving it as much as I did first time around, 20 years ago, and I'm currently in the Arctic with Lyra, the gyptians, Iorek Byrnison the armoured bear, balloonist Lee Scoresby, the despicable Mrs. Coulter, and the witches led by Serafina Pekkala.
It's a marvellously imaginative and thoughtful page-turner which, whether you read it for its wider philosophical commentary, for its use of the very clever concept that is the daemon*, for the breadth and depth of its world-building, or for its action adventure plot, makes rich and satisfying reading.
*See this post.
I didn't know there was another book coming soon; now, I'm excited. I recently listened to audiobook versions of the first two volumes of His Dark Materials and enjoyed the story all over again in a new format. The production with different voices doing all the characters was excellent, and the actor playing Lyra was outstanding. On to The Amber Spyglass!
Posted by: Readerlane | 21 July 2017 at 10:59 AM
Excellent!
I believe 19th. October is the release date for La Belle Sauvage.
Posted by: Cornflower | 21 July 2017 at 12:34 PM
Was it really 20 years ago!
Posted by: Mary | 22 July 2017 at 01:20 AM
Yes, the first book came out in 1995, and I read it a year or so after that. Where does the time go?
Posted by: Cornflower | 23 July 2017 at 08:48 AM
I have the first book of Dust on order and am extremely anxious to read it, but s l o w l y.
I can't recall how many times I have read His Dark Materials, I love the way Mr Pullman evokes his worlds and his characters.
Posted by: Toffeeapple | 25 July 2017 at 01:50 PM