The Subtle Knife (His Dark Materials)

Pullman, Philip

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1407104071 ISBN 13: 9781407104072

Publisher: Scholastic, 2007

There are worlds beyond our own - the Compass will show the way... The second novel in Philip Pullman's epic HIS DARK MATERIALS trilogy. The first, NORTHERN LIGHTS, is now the stunning motion picture THE GOLDEN COMPASS, made by New Line Cinema and Scholastic Media. THE SUBTLE KNIFE brings Lyra to an eerie city where she meets a mysterious boy - a murderer. Will's fate is strangely linked with hers, and together they must find a powerful and secret object which people from many worlds would kill to possess. "A work of genius" TIME OUT

Review:

At the end of The Northern Lights, Lyra Silvertongue watched in fear and fascination as her father, Lord Asriel, created a bridge between worlds. Lyra and her daemon, Pantalaimon, are now lost in an alternate universe where they meet Will Parry, a fugitive from a third universe. Will has found a small window between Cittagazze (a place where children roam unchecked but invisible Specters suck the spirit out of adults) and his Oxford, which, with its Burger Kings and cars, is frighteningly different from the Oxford Lyra knows.

Will's father, an explorer, disappeared years ago, but recently some odd characters have started asking questions about him, and now, having accidentally killed one of them, Will is wanted by the police. Armed with the Subtle Knife, a tool that cuts any material (including that which separates universes) and Lyra's alethiometer, the children set out to find John Parry, with adults of various stripes in desperate pursuit.

Lyra's finest qualities, her courage and quick mind, are stretched to the limit as she has to lie, cheat and steal to keep herself and Will out of danger. However, she must also learn when to tell the truth and when to trust, for, though she does not yet know it, she has a huge part to play in the upcoming battle between Good and Evil.

Review:

"I'm delighted that His Dark Materials is being done on the radio. I've always loved radio drama – it can move from the epic to the intimate in a moment. The sweep of the whole thing seems to have been very well maintained; and the cast is great, especially the two leads, Lulu and Daniel. The makers have used all the resources of my favourite medium to create a vivid and atmospheric production." (Philip Pullman BBC press release)

"Fans of Pullman's original book will love this audio drama which helps to bring the characters vividly to life." (Pete Boomer http://www.sci-fi-online.com)