Lyra's Oxford

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Attention all serious book collectors and fans of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials. This undoubtedly beautiful package, cloth-bound in a classy red and adorned by numerous illustrations by master engraver and illustrator John Lawrence, is sure to be a must-purchase. A pint-sized pocket volume, Lyra's Oxford packages together a short story set in the same universe as his famous trilogy, a fold-out map of the alternate-reality city of Oxford which Lyra and her daemon Pantalaimon inhabit, a short brochure for a cruise to The Levant aboard the SS Zenobia and a postcard from the inventor of the amber spyglass, Mary Malone. Pullman, in his introduction, suggests that the peripheral items within "might be connected with the story, or they might not; they might be connected to stories that haven't appeared yet. It's difficult to tell."

The story, "Lyra and the Birds", begins when Lyra and Pantalaimon spot a witch's daemon called Ragi being pursued over the rooftops of Oxford by a frenzied pack of birds. The daemon heads straight for Lyra and is given shelter. The creature was given Lyra's name as somebody who might help. The daemon is seeking one Sebastian Makepeace--an alchemist living in a part of Oxford known as Jericho. Together Lyra and Pan try to guide the daemon to the home of this man, but it is a journey fraught with more danger than they had at first anticipated.

Somehow, this is a book that puzzles and fascinates all at the same time. It's very sumptuous and lovingly crafted but tantalising brief. The fourth volume in Pullman's award-winning sequence is The Book of Dust and despite the author's reputation for taking his time in writing each of his longer works, it is now just too far away in the future to be funny anymore. (Age 10 and over)--John McLay

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Book Description
A new short story from master storyteller, Philip Pullman, set in the Oxford of Lyra's world in His Dark Materials trilogy, bound with a beautifully illustrated map.

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From the Back Cover
A beguiling new episode from the universe of His Dark Materials and other matter never before seen in this world

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About the Author
Philip Pullman is one of the most highly acclaimed children's authors of the decade. He has been on the shortlist of just about every major children's book award in the last few years, and has won the Smarties Prize (Gold Award, 9-11 age category) for THE FIREWORK-MAKER'S DAUGHTER and the prestigious Carnegie Medal for NORTHERN LIGHTS. He was the first children's author ever to win the Whitbread Prize for his novel THE AMBER SPYGLASS.

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2008-08-04 rating:
Where are they now?
If you have read "His Dark Materials Trilogy" and enjoyed them you might be asking yourself the very question my title asks; where are they now?
Well... If you take a chance to read this book you will get some idea.
Here we look in on Lyra about two years after the end of the book "The Amber Spyglass".
Some people might describe this as a cheap money making ploy, but I think true fans (like myself) that were left at the end of the last book sobbing into their tissues, would enjoy this.
Yes, it might be a bit pricely, let us not forget that this short story is about the same length as a long chapter. But, we get the cool map and other paraphernalia that have fallen out between worlds into ours.

If the trilogy was nothing more than a story to you, you probably won't be all that excited about this, nor will you be very happy at paying a regular book price for a chapter long story. But, if it was more; if you fell in love with Lyra and Pan and all her friends then you should check this book out as it gives you that little bit more of a connection to that world and its magic.
It shows you that even though the trilogy is finished and all's right with the world(s), Lyra may be dealing with the aftermath for years to come!

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review by: date: 2008-05-28 rating:
Rip-off
A complete money making exercise is all this short story is. You can dress it up all you want with fancy maps and illustrations but I think the loyal fans of His Dark Materials trilogy are being seriously ripped off with this.

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review by: date: 2008-03-23 rating:
Hope
With a book like this you are always going to be a little disappointed, as almost all the main characters are missing and it doesn't directly follow the plot lines of His Dark Materials.

But take it is as I did, as a symbol of hope that there would be more books surrounding the same characters.

It's a good story though very short, the hardback version is a beautifully created book, with cloth coverings, maps, postcards. It is a must have for any true fan.

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review by: xyzzy date: 2008-01-30 rating:
The continuing adventures of Lyra a Silvertongue
"This book contains a story in several other things. The other things might be connected with the story, or they might not; they might be connected to stories that haven't appeared yet. It's not easy to tell."

It has now been a couple of years since Lyra had her adventures in the dark materials. She is now settled in the Oxford of her world. Lying on the roof with her daemon, Pantalaimon (From: Pine marten) Lyra speculates on the meaning of the random movements of birds. Little did Lyra realize that this would soon bring her to a new adventure in the search for a well known alchemist; and a new understanding of witches, and life in general.

This story can easily be a trial balloon for a new book.

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The unabridged production on one compact disk may be a tad more expensive. However it is performed by the author and a full cast on top of this is not a well-designed case and a pamphlet tells a little bit about the beginning of the book also includes some of the materials that he describes the beginning it might've been lost between worlds. There are some pictures of Oxford that might be the real one might not. And a foldout map of Lyra's Oxford.

Bill Pullman sounds awful lot like Jim Dale as he begins his story with a quote from Oskar Baedecker's "The Coast of Bohemia."




review by: date: 2007-02-08 rating:
Short and sweet
This is just an introduction to the next release from Philip Pullman, 'The Book of Dust'. It gives some relevant information leading to the next book. I guess it's just a little something to keep us going!

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