![]() ![]() Lyra and Will serve as the focal point through whose eyes we see everything in the novels. The intricate and inescapable bond between human and daemon is emphasized and explored through the series by the observations of others (mainly Will, a resourceful and clever boy we meet in the second book). It is a universe in which a human being’s soul or “daemon” (embodied by an animal) lives outside their body. Lyra, an energetic and silver-tongued young girl, lives in a world parallel to ours. The main characters are ordinary in every way and, like many people, are able to do extraordinary things when the need arises. There’s something for everyone in these books-elements of mythology, science, fantasy, magic, philosophy, theology and cosmology are reflected upon, with Oxford serving as the backdrop throughout more than 1,200 pages. The trilogy consists of The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass. ![]() But not to worry: This series is no worse than The Hunger Games or Harry Potter (to which it is often compared). This has been attributed to Pullman’s attitudes toward religion and to the violence that occurs throughout the series. ![]() This series bears the dubious distinction of appearing 8th on the most frequently challenged or banned books from the years 2000 to 2009. In honor of the upcoming Banned Books Week (September 25 to October 1), I present for your reading pleasure one of my favorite children’s/young adult series, His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman. ![]()
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