The Amber Spyglass: His Dark Materials, Book 3

Book Summary

With the help of two lesser angels, Will rescues Lyra, held a drugged captive, at the end of The Subtle Knife by her evil mother, who may or may not have discovered her maternal instinct. Once free, they make for the world of the dead, which, no matter the goodness of the soul, is Hell for everyone. There they work to free the spirits of the dead into oblivion, which is far better than the afterlife they lead.

Meanwhile the Church plots Lyra's murder, as they believe her to be a new Eve, who will bring about another Fall; Lord Asriel readies his forces for battle with Metatron, the angel who has taken over heaven from the decrepit and feeble-minded Authority; Dr. Mary Malone ends up in a world of gentle creatures who can see Dust, and begins making discoveries about the changes all the worlds are suffering; and all the worlds and all the races begin taking sides for the final climactic battle.

Is It Any Good?

It has been said that the His Dark Materials trilogy is Philip Pullman's version of Milton's Paradise Lost. But this third book in the series makes it clear that it's rather a response to Milton, one that, if the book-banners tear their eyes off Harry Potter for a while, could become the Christian Satanic Verses. If you haven't read the first two books, don't even think of trying to read this one first -- Pullman, praise be, wastes no time bringing readers up to speed. In fact, even if you have read the previous books, you may want to reread them before tackling this -- there's a lot to keep track of.

Readers who were expecting the conclusion of the trilogy to make all things clear may be disappointed; Pullman has a lot to say, but he also leaves a lot for readers to figure out themselves. Still, the author hasn't lost his touch -- it's as riveting and fast-paced as ever. His characterizations are even stronger, although his plotting is weaker here than in the first two books; there's a lot of meandering about, setups that promise more than they deliver, and plot lines that just peter out. But Pullman's point, his response to Milton, seems clear enough to perceptive and more mature readers: The only heaven is in our own world, and the best we can hope for after life is oblivion. If your faith is easily offended, stay away. If you agree with the author that Paradise is what we make of it right here and now, great. If not, it's still a feverishly exciting adventure.