Parallel Worlds, Fantasy, & Fiction

"The Golden Compass" is the first book I have ever read by Philip Pullman. I was intrigued after reading an epinion by jrk about it. Now I’m hooked and ready to find the second book of this trilogy so that I can accompany our hero, Lyra Belacqua, (or was it Lyra Silvertongue?) as she walks across the bridge that connects her world to a parallel one that shines through the changing colors of the Aurora Borealis.

The title of this book comes from Pullman's fictional instrument, the alethiometer. This instrument can tell you the answer to any question you have about the past and present, while also giving advice and warnings regarding the future. Trouble is, there’s a code involved and there were only a handful of these instruments ever created. The books that explain the code are nowhere to be found; but one little girl who has been given charge of the alethiometer, is very special indeed. She studies it, works it, and learns how to listen to it, divining its secrets, which helps her set the path of her fantastic, impossible journey.

So who is this precious, gifted little girl? Her name is Lyra, and she is the daughter of two very powerful people, neither of whom raised her. Lyra thinks her parents are dead. It is the master and scholars of Jordan College, in Oxford, England, who have been given charge to raise and protect her. Allowed a lot of freedom, she develops a close friendship with another child named Roger. Together they explore the streets of Oxford, the roofs of Jordan College, as well as the dark basements below. It is her insatiable curiosity and defiance of "house rules" that puts her in a position of secrecy, where she save her "uncle's" life and hears about "dust" for the first time.

There is a definite sense of “other worldliness” in Lyra’s universe. It is differentiated from our own, first of all, by the fact that all humans have daemons. No, I didn’t say demons, I said daemons.

So what is a daemon? Well, each human from the time they are born to the time they die, are connected spiritually and physically to an animal lifeform. These really are extensions of the humans' souls or spirits; they act as comforter, seeker, guide, and protector, and, most of all, companion, while loving and nurturing their human throughout their entire lifespan. Even in death, the two---personality & soul---remain connected.

As children, the daemons have the capacity to change form---one minute a mouse, the next, an ermine, a sparrow, a moth, a butterfly; virtually whatever they "need" to be in the moment. When the children evolve into adulthood, their personality (which encompasses who they really are) defines the shape of their daemon. It is then that the daemon stops changing and settles into one stable animal form. They can never be too far from one another, as they are connected by invisible ties.

The plot of this book centers upon the mystery of “dust” and the vision of a sparkling city that appears in the midst of the Aurora Borealis. There are secret experiments being done up north where the Aurora magnificently spans the Arctic skies. What are these experiments? Who is behind them, and why are children disappearing? What’s the connection between the missing children, the northern experiments, and “dust”? How are her parents involved?

When Lyra’s dear friend, Roger, disappears, and word that her uncle (father?) has become imprisoned in a northern palace, Lyra must seek out some answers. She vows to find a way to head north and rescue them both.

Lyra is the key character, the golden child. As she follows her destiny willingly, she has to undergo endless hardships and trials. It is her pure heart, loving nature, and fierce determination that spur her and her daemon, Pantalaimon, on to the freezing edge of the world….she knows that it is up to her to stop “something” horrible from happening.

Slowly, Lyra discovers what the secret experiments are all about---and why the children have been kidnapped. The truth is unspeakably terrible and the experiments have to be stopped. Her heroic quest to save these children will bind her to some other key characters: the “gyptians”, some helpful witches, and one very special armored bear by the name of Iorek.

Philip Pullman, our author, weaves a plot around science, exploration, the church, deception, and courage. Though the premise is of a sci-fi nature, the story is a reminder that there are always the horrible possibilities of evil tied to “progress” and exploration. The urge to go beyond at all costs and without conscience must always be questioned. Can there be a balance between curiosity, hope, and skepticism (even cynicism) as scientists and masterminds connect with politicians and religion? Pullman is not afraid to implicate the church with atrocities.

We don’t have to look far to see real life examples/possibilities that in our own lives and times could have powerful impact one way or the other….gene encoding and cloning, political alliances being made (known and “unknown”), new viruses and antibodies……and who is in control? Not the general populous! We know what people in power want us to know. We criticize the media for sticking their noses and cameras into everybody’s business, but maybe we should pay more attention ourselves! It’s just too easy to be comfortable and ignorant.

Hopefully, there will always be “Lyras”, true righteousness, and even needed innocence that will force us to look outside our everyday lives to ask “questions” and demand to know the answers. How easily we can be deceived and led awry. It takes people with courage and tenacity to ensure our evolution does not take a horrible turn.

Congratulations to Philip Pullman for pulling these tough concepts together in such a wonderful, mythical way. “The Golden Compass” is the first of his trilogy, and I’m anxious to move on to the second book now---“The Subtle Knife”. (Now, I’ve got something to keep my imagination wired while I wait for Harry Potter’s fifth book to come out---Ha!)

Check out jrk's review at:
http://www.epinions.com/book-review-3C7F-107576EF-3A034B81-prod2