His Dark Materials

Fansite recommendation: http://www.bridgetothestars.net/
Fandom: His Dark Material Trilogy: Northern Lights/Golden Compass, Subtle Knife, Amber Spyglass
Author: Philip Pullman


Like his counterpart C.S. Lewis, Pullman weaves a beautiful tale with numerous underlying themes of parallel worlds that connect, choices, love and growing up. Difference is, His Dark Materials is very, very unlike the Narnia Chronicles, it is what one would call the antithesis of Narnia in fact.

The story starts off with the introduction of a young Oxford girl, Lyra and her daemon. What started out as normal lives changed drastically when one day they had to try to save a friend who was kidnapped. Lyra finds herself going on a unfathomable mission all around the world, meeting Talking Bears, an airship pilot, gypsies and many others who will either hinder or aid her in her quest within the quest.

The beauty of Pullman's work lies in his ability to hide layers and layers of themes in such a remarkably elegant manner that every time you re-read, you seem to find a surprise in store for you. The complex personalities of the characters leave them with so much humanity in them, that no matter how twisted they seem, they do have at least one redeeming quality in them. Pullman does not ask the question of whether what is done is good or evil but instead asks if you would have done it. A worthy read if you're looking for a serious book to spend some quality time with.

I doubt the upcoming movie would do him justice.