If you only like books when you agree with the author's point of view, and you're conservative (especially religiously conservative) don't read this trilogy; you will hate it.

I am infatuated with (adore/love) this trilogy. I loved it immediately, as soon as I figured out what a daemon was, and the more I read, the more I loved. The story is utterly complex and very intelligent. The themes tend to be dark, or at best realistic. The characters are well-developed, there's plenty of action, and everything is vividly described, especially Lyra's world. (Granted descriptions may not be complete, but I'd say they're complete enough that you can fill in the missing details with no problems, although they might not correspond with someone else's ideas.)

Being an adult (with no children), I can't say what it's like to read it as a child, nor how appropriate it is for a child. The basic theme of the series is to illustrate the growing up process, so I don't think the series can be fully appreciated until you are an adult.

The Harry Potter books were amusing, but they don't even begin to be in the same league as these books.

Although not a big fan of Pullman's other stuff, I must nevertheless state that these books defy description. It was like discovering the magic of reading all over again.

By the end of the first chapter, you will be ready for the next book. It's that captivating. Never before have the complex issues of science, religion, love, innocence, and growing up been addressed in such a tasteful and understandable way. The characters are easy to identify with and, while there isn't much humor, the edge-of-your-seat suspense will keep you turning page after page after page. And when you're done with the entire trilogy, you'll beg for more. These books are my most prized possesion, and Philip Pullman is my all-time favorite author. READ THESE BOOKS!!! You'll never want to put them down.

I actually read this trilogy THE same semester I took a course Milton. An acquaintance made the recommendation in a completely unrelated encounter. I even assumed the title and opening quotes were a matter of pretense or homage or something silly. Well, how wrong I was! Such a scatterbrain, I! There is method in Pullman's... okay, wrong bard.

Any rate...

Quite a bit going on here. I have some issues (naphtha? give me a break Pullman, could you USE a more Edenic word for "oil"? pearls before swine...) but on the whole a captivating read. If you happen to be an easily-scandalized, fundamentalist Christian, DON'T BOTHER, as you'll wet yourself reading and then tell your pastor about it. Milton, as Puritanical as he was, would be sick with your lot (yeah, read "Areopagitica" and tell ME about censorship). Otherwise, whatever age you might be, you'll come away with more than you left with...

...Like thinking Lyra every time you read of "immortal Eve."

His dark materials is an ingenius fantasy of another world
in which Lyra hides in a meeting room and overhears a devious
plot in which a man called the Master wants to kill Lyra's uncle
Asriel.And Lyra feels she must warn Asriel.This may sound like SpyKids where the kids are the heroes and lots of stupid unrealistic things happen but do not be decieved. This is a great story that deserves four and a half stars of recognition.the reason for this high rating is it has non-stop action, suspense, mystery,and what am i leaving out ... oh yeah everything else you would find in the perfect book.i can find no reason all or even half a reason why Harry Potter or Lord of The Rings are more popular it is also a mystery why i have not discovered this book sooner.Pullman is a unique author who to me is the best in his field since Mark Twain(who i highly recommend to anyone who can read)so please send your hate mail and death threats to VIXXER282 at yahoo.com