Rating: 
Summary: Will the real "Amber Spyglass" please stand up?
Review: "The Amber Spyglass" is a bad book.It's not just because it's a mediocre and entirely unsatisfying conclusion to a hither fore excellent fantasy series. It's not because it's "anti-Christian" or any such rubbish as that. It's just a bad book. Where Pullman had earlier peopled his novels with complex and realistic characters, these same characters devolve into robotic stereotypes. Mrs. Coulter, for example, turns into a mommy. But Pullman's worst character assassination brings down Lyra Silvertongue, the formerly spunky, independent, and assertive little girl who enchanted us in "The Golden Compass." In "The Amber Spyglass," she becomes an analytical worrywart, and gets dragged around by the hand from scene to scene by Will Parry, like some B-movie Hollywood actress. Pullman continues to introduce new characters and creatures in the third book, none of whom are interesting or compelling. There are the Lilliputian spies, proud and haughty just like their Swiftian counterparts, but not at all humorous. And the "mulefa," who vie with Lucas' "ewoks" for the most insipidly sweet and cute fictional species in contemporary fantasy. And as if to make up for the lack of craft, Pullman strings us along with a continual barrage of cheap cliff-hangers, as if he didn't trust us to keep reading without prodding. And I definitely mean cheap. It was obvious that 'Paradise Lost' wasn't the only body of fiction that influenced Pullman; he also stole gimmicks from schlock-masters such as King, Grisham, and Roy Rogers. The book's ending, which I will not reveal, was overtly manipulated into place. Pullman spent a good deal of the third book inventing random rules for his universe to keep the ending intact. Rules, I might add, which seemed unnecessary and illogical. (Spend too much time in another universe and you get sick? Make too many cuts with the subtle knife and specters jump out?) Bottom line: this book stinks. Especially in comparison to "The Golden Compass," which may be one of the best fantasy novels of all time. But I had to ask myself as I finished "The Amber Spyglass": is this REALLY what Pullman strove to accomplish from the very beginning? I prefer to think otherwise, I prefer to think that Pullman had to rush this last book because of popular acclaim for the beginning of the series, and that, if given time, he really could have written a masterpiece. That way, I can always hope he'll someday publish the "real" "Amber Spyglass."
Rating: 
Summary: And Excellent End to an Excellent Trilogy
Review: I don't read series that often. I get bored with the same old characters and the sometimes amazing twists and turns the author takes to keep the story going for another book or two. His Dark Materials blew my mind, frankly. The first book was wonderful and they actually kept getting better. I seriously can't recommend these books enough. They're imaginative and I adore all the characters...I'm pretty sure that there's a deep philosophical truth underneath it all if only I could spare the time to ponder it. Five out of five stars for the whole series. Buy this one for your family and friends.
Rating:
Summary: A Classic Series, and A Great Ending
Review: I've seen a lot of fantasy series compared to classic works, and read more than a few. After a while, a blurb on a series comparing it to, say "Lord of the Rings" has become meaningless to me. There are, I think, many good books in the fantasy and YA fantasy genre, but very few great ones. "His Dark Materials" is one of the few fantasy series I have seen compared to the classics which truly deserves to be. It is truly an outstanding work of fiction, and will be remembered far longer than many others which are getting more press and "hype". In terms of age level this series is definitely aimed at an older group than say, Harry Potter or the Chronicles of Narnia. It is more truly a YA or perhaps even adult book, despite its being marketed as a children's one. Themse include quantum physics, the existence of God, original sin, Heaven, the afterlife, and adolescence. And they all tie neatly together. I recommend this entire series without reservation to anyone who truly wants to read a new classic in the fantasy genre. And Pullman finishes the series in a superb manner with the closing volume, "The Amber Spyglass."
Rating:
Summary: A good review
Review: The amber spyglass is an amazingly emotional book. U get sooooo involved and U really feel for all the things that happen to the main characters Lyra and Will U wont understand what i'm on about unless youve read the first 2 By Tom Gillingham
Rating:
Summary: For parent and child
Review: My [age} year old daughter and I still read at night, and we began the "Golden Compass" last spring. We devoured that and the "Subtle Knife" quickly and were delighted when the paperback version of the "Amber Spyglass" arrived this fall. I am still reading this book to my daughter, although I finished it on my own last night. To be sure, this book has problems -- the universes Pullman creates at not completely consistent and he seems ready to change his "rules" -- the nature of "Dust," the physicality of angels, etc. -- when it fits the greater narrative purpose. As a practicing Catholic, I am also troubled by the strong anticlerical themes of the "Dark Materials" series. And the hints of sexuality in this last book are going to be a little tricky to negotiate. But having said those things, I would urge you to buy this book and read it with -- or to -- a young adult. It is full of important ideas that we will discuss for months, perhaps years, to come. As a vehicle to help children think for themselves, this is an excellent choice. We have read "Lord of the Rings" together, and I am anxious to hear my daughter's thoughtful comparison of these two similar, yet distinctly different, trilogies. By all means, buy it -- for yourself and your child.
Rating:
Summary: This series is overtly anti-religion (of any kind)
Review: Our family listened to the first book on tape and loved it. We were anxious to hear more about Lyra and her adventures in the "other world" she entered at the end of the book. Fortunately, I decided to read books two and three before passing them on to my preteen. These books, especially "The Amber Spyglass," are so overtly anti-religion that I would be astonished if anyone nominating them for Parents' Awards has actually read all three books. The underlying theme is that there is no G-d, and that the mission of "the Church" is to prevent mankind from seeking or gaining wisdom. Further, the Church undertakes unspeakable evil to attain this goal. Only through the loss of innocence of two 12-year olds can mankind (and all sentient beings in billions of alternative but simultaneous worlds) truly be saved. The "Authority" (G-d, who isn't -really- G-d) is depicted as a decrepit, senile old man who ultimately dissipates when his glass encasement is broken and he's exposed to air. The "Regent of Heaven," once a man and now a powerful angel, wages war among the worlds to preserve the status quo. I certainly did come to care about the adventurers in this series: Lyra, Will, Dr. Mary, Serafina Pekkala, and my favorite, Iorek Bearnison. Pullman does a wonderful job breathing life into his characters. But the delivery of such vehement anti-religious sentiment left me absolutely stunned---and resolute that my child will NOT be reading this series as long as she's a child.
Rating:
Summary: The Amber Spyglass
Review: In all honesty, this is the best book I have ever read. It made me laugh hysterically, and it made me bawl my eyes out. I have never enjoyed a book so much, and I can actually imagine my own daemon. I have an immense love for all the characters, especially Lyra, Iorek Byrnison, and Will Parry. Again, this is the most amazing book in the most amazing trilogy that I have ever come in contact with. And I'm not lying.
Rating:
Summary: God this book is awesome
Review: All I can say about this book is that ANYONE who has read the first two has to be absolutely nuts not to read this and anyone who HASN'T read the His Dark Materials trilogy, then I order you to go to your local bookstore. God, this book is awesome!!! Terrific job, Philip Pullman! I could rave on about this for days but I'll only say a few things: If you really love adventure, romance, evilness, and tragedy THIS BOOK IS THE ONE FOR YOU!!!!!!!!! And I'm serious. It's only faults were 1: the scenes with Mrs. Coulter and everything (I found them rather boring) even though the rest of the book is spectacular; and 2: the ending was awful. Sorry, but it was. I'm not saying it should have been that corny happily ever after but it was just so sad that it made me cry (I'm even admitting it) because I had grown to love Lyra and Will and all the other characters that make up this riveting series. I'm not kidding...Otherwise, the book was terrific. I wasn't exactly thrilled about Will and Lyra falling in love because it made the ending so sad but you had to, Philip Pullman, because otherwise the story wouldn't have worked, right? Well, anyway, thank you Phillip Pullman for giving me Lyra and Will and Iorek Byrnison and Serafina Pekkala and all the rest because you introduced me to a whole new world! (No pun intended.)
Rating:
Summary: Satisfying conclusion
Review: I approached this book with trepidation, for fear that it would be a let down from the first two in the trilogy. It did not disappoint. All the credit in the world belongs to Pullman for not treating his young audience like morons. Aside from the philosophical questions he poses this series stand on its own as a thrilling fantasy.
Rating:
Summary: The End
Review: The Amber Spyglass is, of course, the last book in His Dark Materials. It is, overall, a really great book, but I won't say anymore about the plot, since you can get that from the dust-jacket.
In this book, we are introduced to a number of new and interesting people and places. Philip Pullman always does an excellent job with that.
The ending, though, is a little disappointing. I had one friend say that he wanted to through the book out the window once he read it. But I think that the ending was really the best way for the series to close, even though it does tend to make the reader mad.
If you like fantasy, then definitely read His Dark Materials.
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