The Amber Spyglass (His Dark Materials, #3) in The Toast

Mar 08, 2014 Adam rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, philosophical-fiction, appleton-public-library, interlibrary-loan

Though it seems like Pullman may have invited this to some extent (both in the overall anti-theist story/theme and in his own expressed opinions), most reviewers seem to misread these books entirely. They slam him for taking on what it first seems like a narrowly propagandist aim, and then slam him again when they find things in the book that contradict this simplistic interpretation. In fact, Pullman keeps the thematic implications coming fast and thick, and while they are all focused around th Though it seems like Pullman may have invited this to some extent (both in the overall anti-theist story/theme and in his own expressed opinions), most reviewers seem to misread these books entirely. They slam him for taking on what it first seems like a narrowly propagandist aim, and then slam him again when they find things in the book that contradict this simplistic interpretation. In fact, Pullman keeps the thematic implications coming fast and thick, and while they are all focused around the same issues (maturity, consciousness, and free, creative thought) and often come with characters' own interpretations, they remain contradictory and ambiguous. Perhaps if the book moved a bit slower, and we had time to chew on these things, they would rankle, but since it's one of those series that bites and doesn't let go until you've finished (I read Amber Spyglass in one sitting), they do exactly what they're supposed to do: provoke meditation and provide the impression of depth and complexity.

Much of the world building in the series is very creative and satisfying. Lyra's world especially mines aspects of our historical imagination that, while they are growing more prosaic as steam punk gains popularity, maintain some originality here. All he has to do is play with a bit of scientific terminology to put us back in a time when the scientific plumbing of cosmic mysteries still felt novel and a bit transgressive. And the Arctic setting is almost like Arctic Dreams for children.

The multi-verse concept gives Pullman the freedom to put world building to work. Lyra's world to some extent reflects her character (it is wild and creative, often fierce and hostile, but conflict occurs in the open and love is abundant in the right places) and its preoccupations frame her place in the story (Original Sin, Dust, and the Authority). The world of the Subtle Knife, in contrast, is full of fear and paranoia, and both love and conflicts are suppressed and hidden; the motives of its antagonists are ambiguous: all traits that are reflected in Will's character. His role in the story is also highlighted in the world of the book (pretty straightforwardly; he finds the knife and the world is where it was made and most used).

I found the new world in Amber Spyglass a bit lame (it is very reminiscent of the tribal anthropologist scenario in Speaker for the Dead and suffers many similar limitations; the ecology is described too much and is so simple that the world just feels like an educational model or something). Perhaps not coincidentally, that also has the least to do with themes and characters in the book; the mulefa accomplish little more than helping Mary discover the true nature of Dust. They are just a key that unlocks the final bit of world and theme exposition.

The way world building and fantasy elements are woven together with character and plot to explore a complex suite of themes shows that Pullman both understands the role of magic in fiction and has a tremendous skill for the execution of the craft. That said, as the series goes on, it begins to suffer a bit from action fatigue. The plot progresses very quickly, which is what keep makes it such a fast read, but it also seems to leave moments of humor, quirk, and tenderness by the wayside. This is especially apparent with Lyra. Her relationship with Pan was easily the best idea in the Golden Compass; it gave her character dimensionality while enacting a satisfying fantasy of companionship. But Lyra and Pan especially are sidelined for most of the next two books; Subtle Knife of course focuses on Will and in Amber Spyglass, Lyra is a sleeping damsel in distress (ugh) for the first half and Pan is gone for most of the second. The book ends on a strong note, however, getting the climax of the action out of the way early on and leaving nearly a hundred pages for the true climax: Will and Lyra's relationship. There are some moments in there that had me on the verge of actually feeling something. ...more

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Mar 13, 2009 Celia rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: youngadult, fantasy, audio-book

Over halfway through... god, when Lyra has to leave Pan on the shore. So torturous to listen to.

...

I had forgotten how this ends. I knew it wasn't a happy ending, but I'd forgotten the agonising parts. But it's a perfect ending too, painful as it is for Lyra and Will. What an amazing series this is. ...more

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Nov 11, 2008 Flora rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: scifi-fantasy-speculative, kidlit, ya

It's the most messy and flawed of the three: the point where the balance between philosophy and plot tips over in the favour of the former. But still, those worlds and the people in them! ...more

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