The Subtle Knife

By: Philip Pullman

Narrated by: Philip Pullman, full cast

Length: 9 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's Summary

In this stunning sequel to The Golden Compass, the intrepid Lyra finds herself in a shimmering, haunted otherworld, Cittagazze, where soul-eating Specters stalk the streets and wingbeats of distant angels sound against the sky. But she is not without allies: 12-year-old Will Parry, fleeing for his life after taking another's, has also stumbled into this strange new realm.

On a perilous journey from world to world, Lyra and Will uncover a deadly secret: an object of extraordinary and devastating power. And with every step, they move closer to an even greater threat, and the shattering truth of their own destiny.

Listen to the rest of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials series.

©1997 Philip Pullman

Critic Reviews

"The superb production of this fascinating fantasy epic makes it a heart-thumping listening adventure." (AudioFile)

 "The story gallops with ferocious momentum [and] Pullman is devilishly inventive." (The New York Times Book Review)

"More than fulfilling the promise of The Golden Compass, this second volume starts off at a heart-thumping pace and never slows down." (Publishers Weekly)   

 "A resoundingly successful sequel." ( Booklist)   

Wonderful story

I listen to A LOT of books on audible.com. This and Golden Compass received great ratings except for those who wrote a review. I see this often. I guess we have some literary critics who haunt audible.com. :) I found The Golden Compass and this book wonderful stories. The narration on both were great, and the music didn't bother me a bit. I'm starting the 3rd book with great expectation. If you like a well read, great stories then these books are for you.

12 of 12 people found this review helpful

The second book in a fantastic trilogy!

His Dark Materials, of which this is the second book, is a terrific fantasy. While aimed at younger readers, the series holds up brilliantly for adults, as well.

In the second book, Lyra's adventure continues, as she finds herself in another world and discovers Will, a young boy who becomes her companion through the rest of the series. Lyra & Will also find other types of beings in this world, angels and witches; some are helpful, some not so. You'll enjoy taking the journey with them, and the narration -by author Philip Pullman and a full cast- helps pull you into the story.

29 of 31 people found this review helpful

Another Terrific Book

This is the second book of the trilogy, and I thought if anything it surpassed the first with the introduction of new and compelling characters and plot developments. The actors and production are superb. Perhaps the best youth recorded book I have heard, including all of the Harry Potter books. Very highly recommended.

13 of 14 people found this review helpful

Enjoyed as much as the first

Great second book. I love the narration in these books. Each character has it's own voice. The books really come alive.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Really Fantastic

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.

11 of 12 people found this review helpful

an earful

The second part of the trilogy is wonderfully compelling. The musical interludes between chapters are terrible -- ear piercing interrruptions to an otherwise great dramatization.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Lose yourself in another world

I read the Pullman trilogy years ago and it has made me think more than nearly any other books I have read. The audiobook is very well done, with a full cast, and really helps you appreciate the layers of storytelling going on. Wonderful characters, wonderful imaginative story.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Brilliant!

What a great story! I thought the first book was entertaining but this was even better. The cast is great and the book was enjoyed by both my 10 year old son and I. It is easy to follow and very thought provoking. I have listened to close to 50 audio books now and this is the best I have heard. I wish there were more than three books in the series. I hope they make this into a movie.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

A solid reading of a fine story

Overall this is both an enjoyable adventure and a very well done audiobook.

Production:

Philip Pullman does a fantastic job as the narrator, and with a few minor exceptions the rest of cast of thousands does a first rate job too.

On the other hand this audiobook is overproduced as if they are trying to compete with television (Pullman reads the narration, a huge cast of BBC folks reads all the dialog, and overbearing musical segues punctuate the beginning and end of as each chapter).

While it's good to see that American audiobooks aren't the only ones to suffer from being overproduced, someone needs to give these audiobook folks the message that there's no need to try to produce these things as if they were cheesy television shows.

Plot:

I'm a little disappointed that Pullman twists theistic themes and elements ("authority," angels, Hades, Adam and Eve, original sin) around a central plot that castigates "the church" as all evil, stifling, and oppressive.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Worth continuing

If you read the Golden Compass you have no choice but to continue this series. I wish I could say this was as an enjoyable, but I can't. I can say that it is an interesting, if not a tad confusing. In general the series walks a thin line between young-adult and adult literature. There are times I found it a tad childish, and there are moments when I can't see a child understand the complex story.

Like most trilogies, this is an in between story that mostly sets up the next and final book.

The production is first rate. 20 year of audio book listening I can say it is one of the best on that level.

I am half way through the third book and I can say that I look forward to listen to them all again which is something I seldom do.

8 of 10 people found this review helpful