Customer Reviews
and the great adventure continues 
2008-05-12
Part of the genius of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials is that, while the trilogy may have been marketed to "young readers," it easily moved beyond that category and into the realm of "young readers of all ages." I'm sure children or young adults enjoy the adventures he imagines, but I'm in my sixth decade, and I believe the stories of Lyra and Will and Lee and Iorek and all the rest are among the finest literature of our time.
"Once Upon a Time in the North" is a worthy addition to the great saga, as we learn a lot about the young Lee Scoresby and how he became the man who would later be a major figure in Lyra's quest. When I turned the last page of this story, it was such a bittersweet moment, knowing what is to come.
Confused in the North. 
2008-05-11
Okay, I did like this book, but I had to give it 3 stars for the inconsistencies that appeared. I remember Iorek telling Lyra that the armored bears are a proud race and that only reason he was working in the town was because they made him drunk and stole his armor, and now here he is, apparently along with several other bears, living in the town and working there. I don't understand? Why are they all there, why are they debasing themselves working for humans instead of being in Svalbard with the other armored bears? Why don't they have all have complete armor, Iorek only has his helmet. I'm confused.
Once Upon a Time in the North 2008-05-01
I got this for my granddaughters and read it before I gave it to them. We are Pullman fans. Once Upon a Time in the North is a wonderful mix of fantasy and reality with moral and political messages that are right on target in 2008.
Finally - and this one really delivers! Better than I expected. 2008-04-29
Once Upon a Time in the North is a prquel to the His Dark Materials Series of books and, though short - like Lyra's Oxford was - there is some wonderful reading here. Fans of the series will love it. And new readers will seek out the rest of Pullman's works about these characters.
This is one of my favorite Pullman books because it is about Iorek Byrnison and Lee Scoresby's early dealings and this one is western themed, too. Hester, daemon of Lee, is back with all her biting wit and wisdom and Lee Scoresby is merely in his mid 20's in age.
Great reading for all ages.
Joyous but shor 
2008-04-22
First things first, let's get the rating out of the way. I give this book four stars simply because it isn't long enough. And I was a little disappointed when I'd finished it because I just didn't want it to stop. Perhaps that's a sign of how good the book actually is.
But to take off that star, one has to consider the reasons why it deserved the full five in the first place. The title should give things away just a little; this is essentially a western short story. And a rollicking good one too, because this is the tale of how Lee Scoresby the aeronaut and the bear Iorek Byrnison first met. The events take place a full thirty-five years before the climax of His Dark Materials, when Lee is but a young man of 24 and newly introduced to the balloon he has recently won in a poker game. As a result his flying is best described as inexpert.
So it is that Lee (and his daemon Hester) arrive in the town of Novy Odense and become involved in a stand-off between a put-upon sailor named van Berda and the power of corporate privilege. After meeting a shady figure from his past, Lee decides he must choose a side, which is how he comes across Iorek.
As you'd expect from something written by Pullman, the story reads with an effortless grace and is beautifully and finely observed and constructed. The extras, like Lyra's Oxford before it are in turn intriguing and useful, including documents and artefacts connected to the narrative itself, as well as a board game, 'Peril At The Pole'.
The last couple of pages are especially curious and relate to Lyra and her correspondence with a minor character from book one.
As with Lyra's Oxford, the slight disappointment is that there isn't more to read but it seems as if, for the moment, this is the way Pullman will realise this world: in fits and starts, and I suppose this is better by far than nothing at all.
An essential purchase for fans of His Dark Materials.
Fine piece of swashbuckling, gunslinging fun. 2008-04-17
In this new prequel episode from Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials universe, Lee Scoresby--Texan aeronaut and future friend to Lyra Belacqua--is just 24 years old, and he's recently won his hot-air balloon in a poker game. He finds himself floating North to the windswept Arctic island of Novy Odense, where he and his hare daemon Hester are quickly tangled in a deadly plot involving oil magnate Larsen Manganese, corrupt mayoral candidate Ivan Poliakov, and Lee's longtime nemesis from the Dakota Country: Pierre McConville, a hired killer with at least twenty murders to his name.
It's only after Lee forms an alliance with one of the island's reviled armored bears that he can fight to break up the conspiracy in a gun-twirling classic western shoot out--and battle of wits. This exquisite clothbound volume features the illustrations of John Lawrence, a removable board game—Peril of the Pole—on the inside back cover, and a glimpse for Pullman fans into the first friendship of two of the most beloved characters in the His Dark Materials trilogy: Lee Scoresby and armored bear Iorek Byrnison.
Once Upon a Prequel 2008-04-12
"Once upon a time in the North" is the story of young Texan Lee Scoresby, who becomes enmeshed in a political and financial conspiracy to control the Arctic island-city, Novy Ordense. Scoresby becomes the ally of Captain van Breda whose cargo is being illegally held by the minions of an evil mining company seeking to get their candidate elected mayor in an upcoming election. This will make it easier for the company to control the natural resources of Novy Ordense, including newly discovered oil.
This is a short story (96 pages) that is completely stand-alone, or that could have fit just as nicely as a rather long flashback in one of the "Dark Materials" books describing an adventure of young (24 years old) Lee Scoresby and how he first met and befriended Iorek Byrnison, future King of the Bears, some 35 years before the events that take place in the "Dark Materials" trilogy. These are the only two characters from the "Dark Materials" to appear, and although "Once Upon A Time" takes place in the same alternate universe and with the same flavor, there is little of the fantasy and SF aspects that suffuse the former books (excepting daemons and talking bears, of course!). "Once upon a Time" is a rather straight-ahead, old fashioned adventure story with a western flavor (guns, hired bad guy, pretty girls, nice girls, a bar, a couple of fights and the hero prevailing at the end), but is nonetheless very enjoyable, especially if you happen to have read the original trilogy.
The book was written for a young adult audience in a skillful enough way so as to be enjoyable by young adults of all ages. It is also very handsomely packaged in a very small Navy blue hardcover and comes with a board game in an envelope glued to the inside back cover (that I have not opened). All in all, the entire package seems a good deal especially priced at $10.
Adventurous quick paced story 2008-04-10
I generally don't read the product dimensions for books (barring textbooks) so I was surprised at how compact "Once Upon a Time in the North" is. The cover illustration by John Lawrence is excellent and very striking against the dark blue background. As the book was manufactured in Malaysia, I feel a little home pride. :) A boardgame "Peril of the Pole" is included, nicely illustrated by Lawrence as well. The players (aeronauts) compete to be the final player left on the board (in the air) while navigating the dangers of the North.
"Once Upon a Time in the North" can be a stand-alone since it is primarily a prequel to His Dark Materials trilogy. Three "documents" at the end of the book relate to Lyra, but this is the only indication of characters from HDM. The pictures and "documents" flresh out the story of how Lee Scoresby and Iorek Byrnison meet.
A 96-page story, the events are very quick-paced. Scoresby crashlanded in Novy Odense where the oil causes some political intrigue. Ivan Dimitrvoich Poliakov, a candidate for Mayor, builds his campaign on anti-bear sentiments, but profit is behind it. A sinister figure from Lee's past emerges which complicates matters. This story sets a loose background for some of the bears' "fall from grace" that held a part in "The Golden Compass."
The audience seems to be more geared towards teen readers and older as there are references made to sex - it is not consummated, but the yearning for it is baldly there. The climax of the story is also violent, which may not be surprising after His Dark Materials trilogy, but as this is shorter, it may seem more violent.
There are several scenes lightly touching upon the close bond between a human and his/her daemon, but doesn't rehash the scientific explanation of it, of course. If read before the trilogy, readers may not grip exactly how close the bond is (since the trilogy emphasizes it) but gives warning as to possible ways it could be used in the future.
"Once Upon a Time in the North" is a strong read for Philip Pullman, His Dark Materials universe and general fantasy-action fans of the non-elf/dwarf/orc type.
Elements of Evil, Timeless Heroes 2008-04-09
A crooked politician and an equally corrupt businessman, a pending election with universal implications, one ice-cold killer and the initial meeting of two friends; Philip Pullman masterfully takes all these elements and weaves an interesting prequel to the classic, His Dark Materials, trilogy.
The initial meeting of Texas aeronaut Lee Scoresby - the winner of a hot-air balloon in a recent poker game - and his hare daemon, Hester, with the armored bear, Iorek Byrnison, is explored in this action-packed adventure.
The layout of the hardbound novella is certainly a throwback to the past, with the story told in text, drawings and other resources. Included is a fold-out board game, Peril of the Pole, which proves that imagination still goes a long way in having fun.
This YA fantasy series continues to take twists and turns through an epic landscape.
Worth the wait ! 2008-04-08
Finally the second of a pair of short books with further & earlier stories
about the characters of "His Dark Materials" has arrived! Readers who have eagerly followed developments have been calling this the 'little green book' to match with Philip Pullman's 'little red book', "Lyra's Oxford" (10/03). But that was only provisionally, as it turned out to be an attractive,dark blue little volume with an extra. One almost expected the fold-out board game. The charming John Lawrence black & white wood-cut illustrations are an attraction in their own right. I even framed my map from "Lyra's Oxford" it's so attractive & one can follow the action of the story as it moves across the city. The recent book features witty dialogue by aeronaut Lee Scoresby; Mr.Pullman shows a good ear for American dialect, in this case Texan,& doesn't overdo it.
For those who might be interested in the author speaking about one of the
inspirations for the entire "His Dark Materials" series,epic poet John Milton, here is the link.(see Comment below)
'Lyra's Oxford was a dark red book. "Once Upon a Time in the North" will be a dark blue book. There still remains a green book. And that will be Will's book. Eventually...'--Philip Pullman
