The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, Book 1) Publisher: Laurel Leaf

1st book in my all time favorite book series. Arrived in great condition for the price. Cover was a little beat up, but I bought it used so it was expected. All pages in great condition, no tears, no stains.

Awesome

It is not worth reviewing or reading the reviews of “The Golden Compass” (British title “The Northern Lights”) until one has finished the complete story of “Dark Materials” by Philip Pullman.As with any genre the author is trying to express a concept or make a point. By using the genre, whether it is westerns sci-fi or historic peace, the author envelops the concept in a palatable story. Sometimes the envelope completely masks the purpose of the story; at other times the purpose is so blatant that one doesn't even know why anything was being enveloped. This is one of those rare stories that polarize readers from one extreme to the other.We recognize and other phenomena about this story. In many stories, the reader's rule look at the antagonists are the protagonist and once in a while can sympathize but never recognizes themselves as the protagonist. In Philip Pullman's “Dark Materials” it seems that everybody recognizes themselves with an “if the shoe fits attitude” whether it is them or not.Now dark materials, book one “The Golden Compass.” Lyra who ran wild around Jordan Collage at Oxford is now hiding in a closet in the Retiring Room. There she sees that the Master is about to poison her uncle Lord Asriel. Now Lyra must figure out who are the good guys from the bad if there are good and bad guys. In the process, she finds and fulfills her destiny without fully realizing what that destiny is. The people and creatures around her know more of her destiny than she does. Soon she must leave Jordon College and is given a beautiful golden instrument with pictures and arms that resemble a compass. What she is supposed to do with it is not clear at first.

From page one, we read about Lyra Balancqua and her daemon pan, the familiar embodiment of her soul, pan at Oxford in a world very similar to our own bit very different all the same. She is catapulted within a few pages into an adventure to save her best friend and win her uncle’s love and respect.She is equipes with an Alethiometer, a magical device that tells you the truth about any question the weirder asks of it. Lyra uses her cunning and this magical device to brave great perils.Philip Pullman writes this story masterfully and in a unique way that makes you root for Lyra and pan as they recruit interesting characters and groups to help her on her adventures.This story is so unique and yet so familiar at the same time and is written so well that you can’t help but love the story, the characters and the world you escape into every time you pick up a book. This is a must read for fantasy epic adventure fans. Magic, strange worlds, fantastic characters, well constructed plots and twists. What more could one ask for in a read? Get your copy now.

One day I read the Golden Compass. It was a great book. There was something about it that intrigued me, kept me guessing, even after the third time I read it. There was something in the book that I liked. It was the daemons. In fact I liked those little guys so much; I made my own imaginary daemon.

This book really hits home the importance of spirt animals.