Customer Reviews
Good fantasy for older kids 
2008-05-18
The Subtle Knife is Vol. 2 of a trilogy, following The Golden Compass and preceeding The Amber Spy Glass. It is an involving tale with many characters and a variety of locations, but it is not for the faint of heart. Torture, death, fear and suffering abound.
Lyra and Will, both about 12 years old, seek to find and fulfill their role in the war against the "Authority". Thay have supporters in their struggles: armored bears, allied witches and angels, and an intrepid balloonist, among others, but they battle against a hoard of antagonists including adults, witches and angels who support the "Authority", soul-eating specters, and their own fears and insecurities.
The book is well written and beautifully produced in the audio version. The voices are clearly differentiated, so there is no question about who is talking; the voices fit the characters; and they are the same voices throughout the 3 book series - no confusion there.
If you like the dark side of fantasy, I recommend the entire series. If you try to jump in with this book, you will be sorely confused.
The Subtle Knife is for all ages 2008-05-14
The Subtle Knife, by Phillip Pullman, is the sequel to bestseller The Golden Compass. It follows the story of Will, a young boy trying to find his father, and Lyra, a girl with a mysterious past who is destined to end an eternal war. Pullman adds his own flare to the book by incorporating atheism as an important plot element. The compelling adventure sequences, colorful dialogue, and highly developed characters partially camouflage his blunt dislike for a Divine authority. Until the last quarter of the book, it is nearly impossible to detect Pullman's hidden message: get rid of God. His outlook has caused quite a controversy with religious groups, although it has not seemed to stunt the book's popularity.
For avid readers, The Subtle Knife is a fun, quick read, although occasionally difficult to plow through. Overall, it is a good fantasy, perfect for a fast summer read. It is not like most other fantasy books with its dark undertones. This makes it enjoyable for readers of all ages. One of the pleasing aspects of the book is that it requires you to remember and think about pieces of information from its prequel. For readers unfamiliar to the His Dark Materials series, it is nearly impossible to appreciate the content of The Subtle Knife without first reading The Golden Compass. Read the His Dark Materials series and embark on a compelling journey through the universe with Lyra.
A Good Series, But Not Lord-of-the-Rings-Good 
2008-05-06
Nope, I don't get it yet.
After finishing The Golden Compass, I'd assumed that the brilliance I'd heard so much about lay ahead in the following books of the trilogy. Now, having finished The Subtle Knife, I can only hope that said brilliance is mostly in Book 3.
Now, I don't want to overstate my case. So far, these are fine books, and fun. While I feel that The Subtle Knife isn't as good, overall, as The Golden Compass... it is still an enjoyable adventure, with decent characters. Book 1 had a much better climactic development, however, with the trek north and capture at Bolvangar -- Book 2 feels like it goes from episode to episode without much of a build towards anything in particular. Hunting down a knife isn't as compelling a tale, in my mind, as journeying to the arctic to free stolen children. This book also suffers from the absence of Iorek, who was the best character outside of Lyra.
Book 2 intersperses Lyra and newcomer Will's adventures with the continuing adventures of Lee Scoresby, but he doesn't grab me as a great character, either, and Lord Asriel is nowhere to be found (and Mrs. Coulter isn't terribly central, either).
Others have made much to-do about the daring of this series to challenge religion, etc. And, that's well and good... but (and maybe due to my own background), I don't find this series' "critique" of religion strong enough to carry it by itself. It's a fine background, but no better than if it had been in defense of that same religion, or anything else. Lyra doesn't (so far, at least) ever oppose the Church for any real reason except that they've hurt her friends; it's hardly a philosophical manifesto against authoritarianism.
Look, I liked The Subtle Knife (and, more, The Golden Compass). I'm going to read The Amber Spyglass, and I'll report on what I find there. I'm hoping for something truly great. But, thus far, the comparisons this series has drawn to The Lord of the Rings and the Harry Potter series are unwarranted.
So far, solidly three stars, and nothing to be ashamed of.
It's fiction people 
2008-04-23
So many people complain that the 'His Dark Materials' series is anti-God and anti-religion. Well guess what? It's just a story. While some of Pullman's personal bias against organized religion is revealed through his work, it's not enough to utterly convince someone to abandon their faith.
From a story standpoint, what Pullman does is incredible. What "antagonist" could possibly have more power and influence than The Authority (God) himself? While many are offended by it, all it provides is a chance to tell an amazing story that spreads through so many worlds simply because the scale of the story and conflict is so large.
So if people just took the moment to see how the anti-God and anti-religion themes play into the story, they would realize how well told and well crafted it is. It's not meant to be taken literally.
As for the book itself, it's great. While it can occasionally get a little wordy and overly descriptive, the story is incredible. The characters are likable, and even the "minor" characters we follow through the whole book will make an impact before the story closes.
So please read this book with an open mind and you'll be delighted by an epic story of friendship and a seemingly hopeless conflict against the most powerful "foe" imaginable.
His Dark Materials, Book II: The Subtle Knife (His Dark Materials) 2008-04-20
This was a natural progression of the story after the Golden Compass. This version was via CD, with an excellently acted cast.
I was told about all three books in the Dark Materials Series prior to purchasing. I can say this series is now among my top books.
An enticing sequel 2008-07-24
Will is a secretive boy whose mother is mentally ill and whose father went missing on an arctic expedition shortly after his birth. What he thought was his mother's delusion of men out to get her turns frighteningly real, and Will is propelled into another world where he meets Lyra Silvertongue, whom we last saw leaving her own world in pursuit of her father, Lord Asriel, at the end of "The Golden Compass." The two become allies and travel through multiple worlds on a quest to find Will's father and to help Lord Asriel in his plot to overthrow The Authority (God).
Uncertainty about the future and the adolescent's quest for answers to life's big questions are deftly woven into a very unique and thrilling fantasy in the second volume of Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials." Questions about God, the Church, and religion in general abound and Pullman's personal views become more and more clear. If you love God and His Church you will want to read this carefully before you decide to let your kids read it. The prose is beautiful, the tale is everything that makes a great epic, and I came to love the characters; even the bad ones. All of this, though appears to be a vehicle to teach a lesson. Much like "The Chronicles of Narnia" teach lessons about God and Christ, "His Dark Materials" teaches lessons about a mystical, yet atheistic world.
All that said, this is a well-written book with a lot to offer in entertainment, as well as food for thought. However, I only recommend it to a discerning reader who knows what he/she believes. Parents be alert.
The Transition 2008-06-09
The beggining of this book is a little obscure. It takes place in our everyday world, which at first was a little confusing, for the main fact that I expected it to be in a diffrent world all together, not one so familiar. But when Lyra and Wills' life intertwine the pieces start to make sense. "The Subtle Knife" really puts these two characters to the test. As a reader you are trying to figure out Will and Lyra's fate. What is great about this book is that it leaves you with questions on every page. At the end some questions are answered and some are not. it is definitley the ment to be the transition between "The Golden Compass" and "The Amber Spyglass".
The Subtle Knife, Audio-Phillip Pulman 2008-06-06
Pulman's are some of the best audio tapes out there. He has an entire cast of readers, and reads most of it himself. There are musical interludes between chapters, and they are incredibly easy to follow. I have taught gifted children with the Golden Compass, and have read the others with my own child. A hearty THUMBS UP! to Pulman's audio CDs.
A great sequal 2008-06-03
This book has already recieved an exorbent amount of reviews. It deserves no less. Although, this series has raised some controversy lately the basics is that this novel is well writen and unique. The worlds that Pullman has created are unlike any others. The characters are solid as well as the writing. If you have already started the trilogy then perhapse it is a given that you will finish it to it's conclusion. If you have yet to begin then now is a great time to do so.
The intriguing continuation of the Golden Compass 2008-05-24
I could not stop reading the Golden Compass; I read it at one sitting, fascinated by the plot twists and fantasy environment. Although it had a satisfying ending, the promise of a sequel was strong. I couldn't wait to read the next book. I advise having the entire series in hand before you begin the Golden Compass.
Warning: this does not let the reader stop at the final page. You definitely need book 3 before you settle into book 2 or you won't sleep till you have it!
Like the fantasy worlds of Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter, Philip Pullman creates a world both modern and antique, a alternative to our known history. It is an appropriate fantasy for younger readers, but the blurring lines between fact and fiction will appeal to older readers as well.
Remember: THIS IS A FANTASY SERIES. Don't let some blinkered bigot intrude on your enjoyment of these great books. To say more would reveal one of many twists in a tale that will not unravel.
Book 3: The Amber Spyglass (His Dark Materials, Book 3)
His Dark Materials Trilogy (The Golden Compass; The Subtle Knife; The Amber Spyglass) (His Dark Materials)
