Fiction Book Blog

The Golden Compass is the first book in Pullman’s “His Dark Materials” trilogy.  It is set in an alternate universe where people’s souls (called daemons) take animal form, and walk with them on the outside of they’re bodies.

The story is centered on a young girl named Lyra Belacqua and her daemon, Pantalaimon.  She was raised at Oxford University, under the watch of her uncle, Lord Asriel, who is a scholar at the university.  When he returns from a trip to the Arctic, Lyra overhears his report to the other scholars about something called “Dust” and how he has seen another universe through the Northern Lights, and Lyra is given a mysterious device called an alethiometer, a device that can be read by very few people, but those who can are rewarded with knowing the answer to anything asked of it.  From here Lyra begins her journey to the Arctic.  Along the way she meets some enemies, like the deceptively charming Mrs. Coulter, and friends, like Iorek Byrnson, the talking armored polar bear.

Though written as a children’s book, the metaphors and symbolism is this book is very deep, and it is in fact deeply critical of the Church as well as authority in general.  Those who are easily offended might want to steer clear of this complex book.  However; those who agree that the church might abuse its authority, or like to be challenged in their beliefs would find His Dark Materials to be an engaging and compelling read. I’d give it six out of ten stars.