His Dark Materials Trilogy: The Golden Compass

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Books
Genre:	Science Fiction & Fantasy
Author:	Philip Pullman

Summary Golden Compass:
Enter Lyra Belacqua, orphan of Jordan College, cared for by scholars. Lyra is hiding in the retiring room, with her deamon. L yra was with her deamon, Pantalaimon. She wanted to explore the retiring room, but of course she was not allowed here. Lord Asriel arrives, and Lyra stops him from drinking the poisoned Tokay and starts discussing about Dust, much the same as in the movie. (we’ll soon learn to be the main topic of the trilogy). After that, we learn about Lyra’s life outside Jordan College, she plays and wars with gyptians (travellers in boats) and streets kids England. They raid, play mud. Much like in the movie, it will be revealed how she loved playing on rooftops of Jordan College with her good friend the kitchen boy, Roger.
Then a problem arises in the cities of London, children went missing. They were kidnapped by the gobblers, headed by Mrs. Coulter, the stunningly intelligent woman who has a golden monkey for a deamon. (Pan can take any form he wants). This was fine, until Billy Costa one of Lyra’s gyptian friends was taken. Lyra then set out a game of hunting down these gobblers. Then Roger went missing too, and no one was taking Lyra seriously about them Gobblers.
Then Mrs. Coulter suddenly arrives (like in the movie), adopts Lyra and the Master or Jordan College gives her the golden compass or the alethiometer. Lyra leaves Jordan college, travels all around London. She dresses up, attends parties and such, she became Mrs. Coulter’s little assistant. Until she discovered that Mrs. Coulter was the head of the Gobblers and she ran away. Like in the movie, the gyptians get a hold of her. They tell her of her lineage, apparently, Lord Asriel and Mrs. Coulter are Lyra’s real parents. Lord Asriel is now a captive of the Armored bears in Svalbard. Lyra is brought to the place of the gyptians, hidden, because the whole of London is looking for her. (thanks to Mrs. Coulter.) They hide Lyra, and tag her along in their journey to the North to rescue the kidnapped children. They bring her because of her skill of being able to read the alethiometer, which will be very useful for the upcoming battle. We now hear that Lyra has an important part to play in the future of the world, and she must not know how she will achieve this, no one should help her. In the town, she meets Iorek Byrnison, helps him find his armor (via golden compass) and they are able to hire him for his skill to fight, together with the Texan Lee Scoresby.
While resting on their journey to “Bolvangar”, this is the final destination of the gyptians, we find out early on actually that this was where the kids are kept. Lyra finds Tony Makarios in a nearby village, his deamon was cut off by the gobblers (so that they may learn more about dust), and he eventually died.
During the journey, Lyra was kidnapped was brought to Bolvangar. She pretends to be a dumb kid named Lizzie. She sees Roger and Tony, and frees all the deamons of the children separated from them. Mrs. Coulter arrives, Lyra escapes from her again and the gyptians save the children, with the help of witches lead by Serafina Pekkala.
On continues Lyra’s Journey to Svalbard, together with Roger. Lyra thinks that her ultimate goal is to deliver the golden compass to her father, Lord Asriel. Like in the movie, she tricks the bear king Iofur Raknison and Iorek Byrnison beats him and becomes the bear King. Because of Lyra’s exceptional lying skills she is now called Lyra Silvertongue. Now, she goes to her father, who has a much much bigger plan. We now find out that he didn’t need the golden compass but a child. Lord Asriel kidnaps roger, goes up north and finishes his experiment by opening a window to a new world.(Killing Roger in the process) Lyra then follows suit and wants to learn about the true meaning of dust.

Thoughts:
I wish the movie followed the book closely. Such a waste for a wonderful epic fantasy. I didn’t expect to like it that much. I’m just going to compare the book and movie. When I watched the movie, I had so many questions! I didn’t get the quest, i didnt get the purpose and I didn’t like Lyra that much. I don’t know. After reading the book, then watching the film, I’ve realized how much they’ve taken out. They didn’t make the Gobblers clear. I know these things always happen in the book-to-movie business, but this was way confusing! Anyway, I’ll still have to admit that the production was great. And I loved the battle with the bears. I just wish they followed the ending of the book.