Rating: 
Summary: A Masterpiece...
Review: The first two books in this trilogy were fantastic, and this book is just ten times better. From the minute you pick it up, you are immediately engrossed in this story.
The book picks up with Will going off in search of Lyra. After their inevitable reunion, the adventure that ensues is everything that Mr Pullman hinted to in the previous two books. Multi-world travel (including new ones), all out war, a confrontation with a supposedly "all-powerfull" being, and the temptation. What happens during the confrontation with the "all powerfull" is supposed to be a metaphor...see if you can figure it out.
Many people complain that the book is very anti-religous. Those people are not quite grasping Mr. Pullman's intent. He is shedding light on his view of organized religion and its history of oppression. Remember it's one man's opinion.
The story is fast-paced and very exciting. The reader will get very emotionally attached to the two central characters, Lyra and Will. I was very sorry when the stroy was over and can't wait for "The Book of Dust" to be published. I recommend this story to mature teens and to every adult who enjoys well written stories that also make you think about life and what happens afterwards. My highest compliments to Mr. Pullman.
Rating:
Summary: Truly a classic. Excellent book and an excellent trilogy!
Review: This trilogy by Phillip Pullman will be a classic for both adults and children, a claim that is made all too often but is true in this case. If you are offput that this may be a children's book or is too much science fiction, don't be! Under the umbrella of an excellent novel with an intricate plot, well-developed and extremely complicated characters this trilogy deals with physics, organized religion, adventure, personal responsibility and more. His Dark Materials is a haunting and disturbing trio that stays with the reader well beyond the end of all three novels. Only read this after the other two: The Golden Compass and The Subtle Knife. People read books for different reasons: some like beautiful and lyrical writing, some well enjoy well developed plots, and some prefer novels more character driven. His Dark Materials will satisfy almost any reader. They are the most interesting books I have read in a long time. Pullman did an excellent job in terms of research and searching his imagination, a function not often used. READ THESE BOOKS!
Rating:
Summary: a beautiful heart-breaking conclusion
Review: Though of these three books I do love the first the most, this book is still amoung my favourites in the whole world. It is just as beautifully written, beautifully created and beautifully different as the other two. When I finished the last chapter I cried for nights before I could recover from not being able to read about Lyra any more.
I know there are a lot of religeous people who find this book offensive but, as I said in my review on the Golden Compass-IT'S JUST A BOOK! The auther has his own views and you don't have to agree with them. These are my favourite books and I'm a Christian. It doesn't matter. People who hate this book also hate the Harry Potter books for the same reasons. Why is this? I do not know. I am also a huge fan of the Harry Potter books. Peole have to understand that just because something published states an opinion that they don't agree with doesn't mean they have to burn it or detest it because they are not being forced to share those opinions. Sure, if you are Christian, be warned before you read these, but I think there really is a message in these books if you block out the anti-religeon.
The only flaws of the Amber Spyglass are that some of the parts with Mary are a bit boring, though that is only because the parts with Lyra and Will are so interesting, and that the auther maybe went a tiny bit overboard with the anti-religeon. The rest is perfect.
I have read this book two or three times (I can't remember which) and gotten at least five friends hooked on the series. I think everyone should read these books. They are true litterature at its best.
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