The Colby Echo

Issue date: 4/23/08 Section: Arts & Entertainment

Media Credit: reader2.com Pullman continues to impress in third book.

I am sad to say that I have only been recently introduced to the work of Philip Pullman and like many, my introduction was brought on by the release of The Golden Compass into theaters. Having read the movie's better half, I subsequently read its sequel The Subtle Knife. Pullman thoroughly impressed me with his first two books, a testament to which is that I read them during the school year, in the midst of homework and classes. I eagerly awaited my chance to read the conclusion to the trilogy, The Amber Spyglass, and the opportunity presented itself in the form of breaks in between studying for exams. The book is quite an engaging read and certainly lives up to the first two.

For those who are not familiar with Pullman's work, the basis of these novels is that there are many worlds parallel to our own. In the world of Lyra, the protagonist, the avatars of people's souls are present in the form of animal-daemons, who follow around their counterparts. In the other worlds, all sentient beings have souls, some within them, some outside. People can travel between worlds by various means, and inevitably this leads to conflict. This conflict is expanded over the course of the first two novels and reaches epic scale in The Amber Spyglass.

Pullman seamlessly segues into the concluding novel, picking up the narrative where the second book ended. The story opens with Lyra captured by her wicked mother, Mrs. Coulter. Her friend Will sets out to rescue her and then together they must conquer death and then face the wrath of The Authority (God). As in the first two novels, the overall theme of the book is humanity's struggle against the oppressive power of religion. While the theme may be humanity's struggle, Pullman adds a myriad of other sentient beings, which he presents as equals to mankind and similarly oppressed by The Authority. People and the creatures band together in an alliance against their enemy. As in all struggles, some people fight for one side, some the other.

The most striking aspect of The Amber Spyglass, is that it is much darker and intimidating than the first two novels in the series. It is clear that Pullman felt his epic trilogy needed a suitable conclusion and for the most part he succeeds. He sets many complicated and sometimes frightening issues in the spotlight. He criticizes Christianity more openly, and presents his own metaphysical system. He also directly confronts the idea of death and the afterlife, in rather harrowing fashion. This was one of the most amazingly powerful sections of the novel, in which the protagonists must learn to face death. Pullman even creates his own version of the Trinity, pushing the boundaries of what might be called young-adult fiction. This brings in the greatest aspect of The Amber Spyglass. While on the surface it might appear to be a children's novel, it is in reality, a book for all ages. You could easily read it at age ten, twenty and seventy and bring something new and just as inspiring away.

The weakest part of the novel is, sadly, its conclusion. The climactic ending sequence was not as riveting as I would have liked and felt rushed. In addition, Pullman's bittersweet ending feels contrived and sudden. Yet these flaws do not diminish the power of the novel as a whole; Pullman writes with poignant prose and an intellectual, creative mind. I would certainly recommend The Amber Spyglass to anyone; just be certain to read the series in order.

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