-
The Golden Compass
- His Dark Materials, Book 1
- Narrated by: Philip Pullman, Joanna Wyatt, Rupert Degas, Alison Dowling, Douglas Blackwell, Jill Shilling, Stephen Thorne, Sean Barrett, Garrick Hagon, John O'Connor, Susan Sheridan, Full Cast
- Series: His Dark Materials, Book 1
- Length: 10 hrs and 39 mins
- Categories: Children's Audiobooks, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Audible Premium Plus
$14.95 a month
Buy for $35.00
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
His Dark Materials: The Subtle Knife (Book 2)
- His Dark Materials, Book 2
- By: Philip Pullman
- Narrated by: Philip Pullman, full cast
- Length: 8 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Lost in a new world, Lyra finds Will - a boy on the run, a murderer - a worthy and welcome ally. For this is a world where soul-eating Specters stalk the streets and witches share the skies with troops of angels. Each is searching - Lyra for the meaning of Dark Matter, Will for his missing father - but what they find instead is a deadly secret, a knife of untold power. And neither Lyra nor Will suspects how tightly their lives, their loves, their destinies are bound together...until they are split apart.
-
-
The second book in a fantastic trilogy!
- By Geoffrey on 12-03-03
By: Philip Pullman
-
The Amber Spyglass
- His Dark Materials, Book 3
- By: Philip Pullman
- Narrated by: Philip Pullman, full cast
- Length: 14 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Lyra and Will, the two ordinary children whose extraordinary adventures begin in The Golden Compass and The Subtle Knife, are in unspeakable danger. With help from Iorek Byrnison the armored bear and two tiny Gallivespian spies, they must journey to a dank and gray-lit world where no living soul has ever gone.
-
-
Sophisticated and Thought Provoking!
- By Jim on 03-16-05
By: Philip Pullman
-
The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage
- Book of Dust, Volume 1
- By: Philip Pullman
- Narrated by: Michael Sheen
- Length: 13 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Renowned storyteller Philip Pullman returns to the parallel world of Lyra Belacqua and His Dark Materials for a thrilling and epic adventure in which daemons, alethiometers, and the Magisterium all play parts.
-
-
Disturbing differences from print text
- By Damon D. Hickey on 10-24-17
By: Philip Pullman
-
The Book of Dust: The Secret Commonwealth
- The Book of Dust, Volume 2
- By: Philip Pullman
- Narrated by: Michael Sheen
- Length: 19 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The windows between the many worlds have been sealed, and the momentous adventures of Lyra Silvertongue’s youth are long behind her - or so she thought. Lyra is now a 20-year-old undergraduate at St. Sophia’s College, and intrigue is swirling around her once more. Her daemon, Pantalaimon, is witness to a brutal murder, and the dying man entrusts them with secrets that carry echoes from their past. The more Lyra is drawn into these mysteries, the less she is sure of.
-
-
Worth the long wait since Amber Spyglass
- By Maddy Avena on 10-14-19
By: Philip Pullman
-
Once Upon a Time in the North
- By: Philip Pullman
- Narrated by: Philip Pullman, Nigel Whitmey, Sean Barrett, and others
- Length: 2 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Another mesmerizing episode from the universe of His Dark Materials set in the far frozen Arctic, including the very first meeting of those two legends and friends Lee Scoresby, the Texan balloonist, and Iorek Byrnison, the armored bear.
-
-
If you like His Dark Materials....
- By Ellen on 12-31-17
By: Philip Pullman
-
The Collectors
- By: Philip Pullman
- Narrated by: Bill Nighy
- Length: 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
"But the thing is," said Horley, "they didn’t know each other at all. Never heard of each other. It wasn’t about the makers. Only about the works." On a dark winter's night in 1970, Horley and Grinstead huddle for warmth in the Senior Common Room of a college in Oxford. Conversation turns to the two impressive works of art that Horley has recently added to his collection....
-
-
Short but sweet
- By Abel on 01-15-15
By: Philip Pullman
-
His Dark Materials: The Subtle Knife (Book 2)
- His Dark Materials, Book 2
- By: Philip Pullman
- Narrated by: Philip Pullman, full cast
- Length: 8 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Lost in a new world, Lyra finds Will - a boy on the run, a murderer - a worthy and welcome ally. For this is a world where soul-eating Specters stalk the streets and witches share the skies with troops of angels. Each is searching - Lyra for the meaning of Dark Matter, Will for his missing father - but what they find instead is a deadly secret, a knife of untold power. And neither Lyra nor Will suspects how tightly their lives, their loves, their destinies are bound together...until they are split apart.
-
-
The second book in a fantastic trilogy!
- By Geoffrey on 12-03-03
By: Philip Pullman
-
The Amber Spyglass
- His Dark Materials, Book 3
- By: Philip Pullman
- Narrated by: Philip Pullman, full cast
- Length: 14 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Lyra and Will, the two ordinary children whose extraordinary adventures begin in The Golden Compass and The Subtle Knife, are in unspeakable danger. With help from Iorek Byrnison the armored bear and two tiny Gallivespian spies, they must journey to a dank and gray-lit world where no living soul has ever gone.
-
-
Sophisticated and Thought Provoking!
- By Jim on 03-16-05
By: Philip Pullman
-
The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage
- Book of Dust, Volume 1
- By: Philip Pullman
- Narrated by: Michael Sheen
- Length: 13 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Renowned storyteller Philip Pullman returns to the parallel world of Lyra Belacqua and His Dark Materials for a thrilling and epic adventure in which daemons, alethiometers, and the Magisterium all play parts.
-
-
Disturbing differences from print text
- By Damon D. Hickey on 10-24-17
By: Philip Pullman
-
The Book of Dust: The Secret Commonwealth
- The Book of Dust, Volume 2
- By: Philip Pullman
- Narrated by: Michael Sheen
- Length: 19 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The windows between the many worlds have been sealed, and the momentous adventures of Lyra Silvertongue’s youth are long behind her - or so she thought. Lyra is now a 20-year-old undergraduate at St. Sophia’s College, and intrigue is swirling around her once more. Her daemon, Pantalaimon, is witness to a brutal murder, and the dying man entrusts them with secrets that carry echoes from their past. The more Lyra is drawn into these mysteries, the less she is sure of.
-
-
Worth the long wait since Amber Spyglass
- By Maddy Avena on 10-14-19
By: Philip Pullman
-
Once Upon a Time in the North
- By: Philip Pullman
- Narrated by: Philip Pullman, Nigel Whitmey, Sean Barrett, and others
- Length: 2 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Another mesmerizing episode from the universe of His Dark Materials set in the far frozen Arctic, including the very first meeting of those two legends and friends Lee Scoresby, the Texan balloonist, and Iorek Byrnison, the armored bear.
-
-
If you like His Dark Materials....
- By Ellen on 12-31-17
By: Philip Pullman
-
The Collectors
- By: Philip Pullman
- Narrated by: Bill Nighy
- Length: 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
"But the thing is," said Horley, "they didn’t know each other at all. Never heard of each other. It wasn’t about the makers. Only about the works." On a dark winter's night in 1970, Horley and Grinstead huddle for warmth in the Senior Common Room of a college in Oxford. Conversation turns to the two impressive works of art that Horley has recently added to his collection....
-
-
Short but sweet
- By Abel on 01-15-15
By: Philip Pullman
-
Lyra's Oxford
- By: Philip Pullman
- Narrated by: Philip Pullman, Joanna Wyatt, Anton Lesser, and others
- Length: 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
An exciting new tale set in the world of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials saga. Lyra's Oxford opens in the thrilling comfort and familiarity of Jordan College, where Lyra and her daemon Pantalaimon sit on the sun-drenched roof looking out over all of Oxford. But their peace is shattered when a strange bird (a witch's daemon, on its own) tumbles out of the sky. It is Ragi, daemon of Yelena Pazhets.
-
-
Great story, great reading
- By Helen Feddema on 03-28-05
By: Philip Pullman
-
His Dark Materials: Serpentine
- By: Philip Pullman
- Narrated by: Olivia Colman
- Length: 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A bewitching tale with a fascinating new glimpse of young Lyra and her dæmon, Pantalaimon. This companion to the New York Times best-selling His Dark Materials and The Book of Dust series follows Pullman's beloved characters on a brand new adventure. After the world-altering events of The Amber Spyglass, Lyra and Pan find themselves irrevocably changed.
-
-
Too Short for the Price
- By Uriel Dana on 10-16-20
By: Philip Pullman
-
Daemon Voices
- On Stories and Storytelling
- By: Philip Pullman
- Narrated by: Philip Pullman, Simon Mason
- Length: 12 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
One of the most highly acclaimed and best-selling authors of our time now gives us a book that charts the history of his own enchantment with story - from his own books to those of Blake, Milton, Dickens, and the Brothers Grimm, among others - and delves into the role of story in education, religion, and science. At once personal and wide-ranging, Daemon Voices is both a revelation of the writing mind and the methods of a great contemporary master and a fascinating exploration of storytelling itself.
-
-
Varying topics mean varying reactions.
- By Jessie S. on 03-14-19
By: Philip Pullman
-
The Chronicles of Narnia Adult Box Set
- By: C. S. Lewis
- Narrated by: Kenneth Branagh, Alex Jennings, Michael York, and others
- Length: 33 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For over 60 years, readers of all ages have been enchanted by the magical realms, the epic battles between good and evil, and the unforgettable creatures of Narnia. This box set includes all seven titles in The Chronicles of Narnia - The Magician's Nephew; The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe; The Horse and His Boy; Prince Caspian; The Voyage of the Dawn Treader; The Silver Chair; and The Last Battle.
-
-
Comes without book subdivisions - chapter key below
- By Daniel on 01-07-20
By: C. S. Lewis
-
The Shadow in the North
- A Sally Lockhart Mystery
- By: Philip Pullman
- Narrated by: Anton Lesser
- Length: 8 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The year is 1878, and Sally Lockhart has started her own financial consulting business. When a client loses a fortune in the unexpected collapse of a British shipping firm, Sally is determined to find out why. But as she comes closer to learning the identity of the firm's elusive owner, she discovers that her questions are far from simple...and that the answers could cost her her life.
-
-
A great story, but part of the plot is missing!
- By Jody on 03-23-05
By: Philip Pullman
-
The Ruby in the Smoke
- A Sally Lockhart Mystery
- By: Philip Pullman
- Narrated by: Anton Lesser
- Length: 6 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In search of clues to the mystery of her father's death, 16-year-old Sally Lockhart ventures into the shadowy underworld of Victorian London. Pursued by villains at every turn, the intrepid Sally finally uncovers two dark mysteries, and realizes that she herself is the key to both.
-
-
A Must Read For All Ages
- By Bonita on 06-23-04
By: Philip Pullman
-
Grimm Tales for Young and Old
- By: Philip Pullman
- Narrated by: Samuel West
- Length: 10 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this enchanting selection of fairy tales, award-winning author Philip Pullman presents his 50 favourite stories from the Brothers Grimm in a 'clear as water' retelling, making them feel fresh and unfamiliar with his dark, distinctive voice.
-
-
Fresh and Fast
- By Virginia Waldron on 04-10-15
By: Philip Pullman
-
Dune
- By: Frank Herbert
- Narrated by: Scott Brick, Orlagh Cassidy, Euan Morton, and others
- Length: 21 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Here is the novel that will be forever considered a triumph of the imagination. Set on the desert planet Arrakis, Dune is the story of the boy Paul Atreides, who would become the mysterious man known as Maud'dib. He would avenge the traitorous plot against his noble family and would bring to fruition humankind's most ancient and unattainable dream.
-
-
This is NOT a faithful recitation of the book!
- By Alex Pomeroy on 10-24-19
By: Frank Herbert
-
Northern Lights
- The Compass Series, Book 1
- By: Lise Gold
- Narrated by: Addison Barnes
- Length: 4 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Hannah Hudson decides to take a break from her busy restaurant and her life in London after her girlfriend, who she thought she’d spend her life with, suddenly walks out on her. She travels to a small boutique hotel in Kirkenes, Norway, hoping to spend a peaceful and relaxing Christmas by herself. Kristine Miller loves adventure. A bank manager living in a small town in Louisiana, she’ll take every opportunity she can get to explore the world. Kristine travels to Norway hoping to see the famous northern lights but then she meets Hannah, a fellow guest at her hotel....
-
-
Nicely written story except romantic scenes seem clinical
- By AZ Desert Gal on 01-17-19
By: Lise Gold
-
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Book 7
- By: J.K. Rowling
- Narrated by: Jim Dale
- Length: 21 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
As he climbs into the sidecar of Hagrid's motorbike and takes to the skies, leaving Privet Drive for the last time, Harry Potter knows that Lord Voldemort and the Death Eaters are not far behind. The protective charm that has kept Harry safe until now is broken, but he cannot keep hiding. The Dark Lord is breathing fear into everything Harry loves and to stop him Harry will have to find and destroy the remaining Horcruxes. The final battle must begin - Harry must stand and face his enemy....
-
-
I'm so sad it's over!!
- By Erin on 05-19-16
By: J.K. Rowling
-
The Hobbit
- By: J. R. R. Tolkien
- Narrated by: Rob Inglis
- Length: 11 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Like every other hobbit, Bilbo Baggins likes nothing better than a quiet evening in his snug hole in the ground, dining on a sumptuous dinner in front of a fire. But when a wandering wizard captivates him with tales of the unknown, Bilbo becomes restless. Soon he joins the wizard’s band of homeless dwarves in search of giant spiders, savage wolves, and other dangers. Bilbo quickly tires of the quest for adventure and longs for the security of his familiar home. But before he can return to his life of comfort, he must face the greatest threat of all.
-
-
Finally! Thank you Audible!
- By Bryan J. Peterson on 10-20-12
By: J. R. R. Tolkien
-
Ready Player Two
- A Novel
- By: Ernest Cline
- Narrated by: Wil Wheaton
- Length: 13 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Days after winning OASIS founder James Halliday’s contest, Wade Watts makes a discovery that changes everything. Hidden within Halliday’s vaults, waiting for his heir to find, lies a technological advancement that will once again change the world and make the OASIS 1,000 times more wondrous - and addictive - than even Wade dreamed possible. With it comes a new riddle, and a new quest - a last Easter egg from Halliday, hinting at a mysterious prize. And an unexpected, impossibly powerful, and dangerous new rival awaits, one who’ll kill millions to get what he wants.
-
-
Heartbreakingly Disappointing and Insulting
- By Marcus Haynes on 11-28-20
By: Ernest Cline
Publisher's Summary
His Dark Materials is now an HBO original series starring Dafne Keen, Ruth Wilson, James Mcavoy, and Lin-Manuel Miranda!
The modern fantasy classic that Entertainment Weekly named an “All-Time Greatest Novel” and Newsweek hailed as a “Top 100 Book of All Time”.
Philip Pullman takes listeners to a world where humans have animal familiars and where parallel universes are within reach.
Lyra is rushing to the cold, far North, where witch clans and armored bears rule. North, where the Gobblers take the children they steal - including her friend Roger. North, where her fearsome uncle Asriel is trying to build a bridge to a parallel world.
Can one small girl make a difference in such great and terrible endeavors? This is Lyra: a savage, a schemer, a liar, and as fierce and true a champion as Roger or Asriel could want.
But what Lyra doesn't know is that to help one of them will be to betray the other....
A masterwork of storytelling and suspense, Philip Pullman's award-winning The Golden Compass is the first in the His Dark Materials series, which continues with The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass.
A Number One New York Times Best Seller
Winner of the Guardian Prize for Children's Fiction
Published in 40 Countries
"Arguably the best juvenile fantasy novel of the past 20 years." (The Washington Post)
"Very grand indeed." (The New York Times)
"Pullman is quite possibly a genius." (Newsweek)
Don't miss Philip Pullman's epic new trilogy set in the world of His Dark Materials, the Book of Dust:
- La Belle Sauvage
- The Secret Commonwealth
Critic Reviews
"Superb...Wonder-filled." (Washington Post Book World)
"Very grand indeed...Scene after scene of power and beauty." (The New York Times)
"A rousing, page-turning adventure that promises to please fantasy readers of all ages." (Library Journal)
Featured Article: 10 Best Full Cast Audiobooks
As any audiobook fan knows, the perfect narration can take a listen from good to great. Full cast ensembles in particular are the perfect choice for those times you really want to dive headfirst into a story. A cast of narrators, sometimes accompanied by music or sound effects, craft a unique and immersive listening experience. Unique performances let listeners intimately experience each character’s personality as the story progresses. If you’re looking to liven up a long road trip or day of chores, look no further than our list of the top 10 full cast audiobooks.
What listeners say about The Golden Compass
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jane Doe
- 11-06-18
not good for listening the car
Plenty of reviews will tell you about the wonderful story. This performance is full cast audio. I feel like the mixing was off though. Some voices are very clear, but the voice of the narrator (Phillip Pullman) is oddly...muffled. It's fine to listen to while going for a walk or doing quiet things at home. It's often quite difficult to follow while in the car though. His voice (or the mixing thereof) just doesn't work well with road noise even in a relatively quiet car. Just a note for those who are looking for things to while away the long drives.
63 people found this helpful
-
Overall
- Arnold C. Macdonald
- 01-28-04
A Terrific Book
My entire family has gotten hooked on this book, to the extent that we look for reasons to get in the car and drive with it. I was so enthralled that we ran out of gas. Imaginitive premise, interesting and well-developed characters, and many plot twists. I thought you could not top Jim Dale reading the Harry Potter stories, but this is right up there.
A word of advice: With different actors playing different characters, this did not play back well on level 2, and we almost gave up on it. Load it at the highest resolution you can play. If it seems a little slow at the start, hang in there. The characters keep getting more imaginitive, and the plot more suspensful.
65 people found this helpful
-
Overall
- GSDNH
- 11-13-03
Best Audio Book I've ever Heard
I've been listening to audio books for quite some time and this one by far is the best. Performed by a full cast where each actor assumes the role of one of the characters, the listener is transported into Pullman's world.
Set in the fictional past of early 20th century England, every human has what is called a "demon". As children these demons can assume any animal form, often changing depending on the mood of their child. Demons are animal representations of human souls, and no one is complete without one. After puberty, the demons assume one form and stay that way for life. Demons seem to take on the type of animal the person is in life, for example servants tend to have dogs as demons, loyal and obedient. Scholars have birds such as ravens, intelligent and far-seeing. One sailor has a dolphin or some such creature as a demon, thereby tying him forever to the ocean. Humans and their demons are mentally connected. What one feels, the other feels. They can talk to each other and cannot be away from each other, even at close distances or they feel great pain and anxiety.
Lyra, an orphaned pre-teen girl, and her demon Pan (yet to assume one form) find themselves in the middle of a political conspiracy. Unsure of who to trust and who their true allies are, their life was changed forever when they witnessed the Master of the college where they had spent all their years as a ward, attempt to poison Lyra's estranged uncle.
Her uncle, involved in some strange discoveries and experiments has returned to the college to ask for money to continue his work, investigating the origin of subatomic particles referred to as "dust". For some reason the scholars of the college are suprised to learn that this mysterious "dust" does not cling to children. After he receives the money and thwarts an attempt to poison him, he returns to his work.
What is dust? And why are children all over England disappearing? Lyra soon embarks on a journey to seek these answers.
123 people found this helpful
-
Overall
- Scott
- 09-08-08
Thoroughly enjoyable
If you like Harry Potter you will enjoy this story of a little girl
and her journey in a world like ours, but a little different. It's
not magical like Harry but the supernatural is there, and so
is the suspense and adventure. Great characters that you
learn to love and hate. So much better than the movie.
Read the book!
I've already order the rest of the series and am busy reading
them all!
14 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Baelabog
- 10-21-17
Good story, okay reading
my only issue with this audio book is the difference in volume from the narrator and the characters. narrator is very quiet while character voices are loud and often yelling about something. as a night listener, this is very off-putting. I enjoy the story, but won't be investing in the rest of the books due to this.
35 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Deborah
- 10-24-17
Unusual production is problematic
The Golden Compass is a well known and respected work such that I think I don't have to review the book itself. It's fun and has a lot of well-imagined characters and adventures and is well written.
However, this recording is unusually "produced" for a recorded book. Philip Pullman acts as the narrator, reading all of the descriptive and background material, while a whole cast of actors fill in the dialogue of the characters. In my opinion, Pullman does a great job as the narrator, but I have some problems with the accompanying cast. I tried really hard to give this new approach to recording a book a chance, but in some ways it just doesn't work for me. One of the first jarring things is that the dialogue portions sound as if they were recorded in an entirely different room (which they probably were) and then spliced into the narrative.
Another of my problems is the performances of some of the characters, particularly the central female character, Lyra, who sounds either like a pre-teen girl or a woman trying to sound like a pre-teen girl. The voicing seems to me artificially light and high in pitch. That would seem to be appropriate for the character, but the problem is that almost every speech starts out sounding somewhat normal but progresses quickly to become breathless and even strident as the character apparently gets more excited. I found this more and more annoying as the performance continued. Especially given the prevalence of child characters and the lower-class British accents used, I frequently felt as if I was listening to a recording of Oliver (without the music of course)! To me it's overly dramatic, particularly for a reading which is NOT a real performance. My point, I guess, is that I don't want to be listening on tape to a live performance of the work. I want to be listening to a reading of the work, and this production crosses that line and not altogether successfully.
This recording might appeal to a younger generation of people who are more accustomed to watching live performances of written works than actually reading the works from cover to cover in book form.
40 people found this helpful
-
Overall
- Christopher
- 11-27-07
Better read than heard
In my opinion novels read by the authors are generally inferior to those read by actors, and this is a case in point. To make matters worse, the dialogue is read by actors but the editing is so poor that there is a jarring abruptness each time there is a transition from non-dialogue to dialogue, as in there is no pause at all between the two. This is a fabulous book and I recommend it highly, but this audio rendering leaves a lot to be desired.
66 people found this helpful
-
Overall
- Kristine
- 04-23-08
Amazing!!
This was hard to start listening to. The voice of Lyra was sort of manic, but she grew on me. And once "knowing" her, I realized that it is her character, not just bad direction.
The plot completely drew me in, until I was at the point of not wanting to turn off my Ipod. The story, along with the full cast really made you feel the intensity of their situations.
Now for the "anti-God" thing...umm...I didn't think that it was that bad. Especially since the world that Lyra lives in is basically a "parallel" world. Yes, the Church has done some incredibly horrific things in the past. So why is it such a stretch for someone to put it into a fictional story? And for the whole thing about "killing God"??? A bit over-hyped...but that is the fundamentalist way.
Young children wouldn't understand this story very well, and some parts would scare them. Older kids I think should read/listen to it. They should recieve more credit than many are willing to give.
27 people found this helpful
-
Overall
- Geoffrey
- 10-31-03
Brilliant fantasy!
Although aimed at younger readers, like the Harry Potter books, The Golden Compass trilogy is very entertaining to adults, as well. The story follows young Lyra and her daemon Pan through adventures in an alternate universe, where magic is common and each person's soul takes on the external form of his or her daemon. Pullman's writing is brilliant and very dynamic, and this is much more than a simple children's book. While great for listeners of any age, younger children may need a little guidance, though shouldn't have too much trouble following the story. Highly recommended!
42 people found this helpful
-
Overall
- Bev
- 08-28-07
More for adults than kids...
While I don't think this is a book for children, I do think this book is amazing - the narriator is very good as well. I loved these books when I read them - and I loved them just as much while listening. You won't be disappointed.
24 people found this helpful