Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that there is some mild swearing, as well as gunfights that include injury and death.
Families who read this book could discuss Lee's actions. Why does he get involved in this situation? Why does he help the captain, at such great risk to himself?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Matt Berman
This, like its predecessor, Lyra's Oxford, is a brilliant author at play. Having created one of the greatest fantasy epics, His Dark Materials, both Pullman (like Tolkien before him) and his many fans are reluctant to leave the vivid world and marvelous characters he created. So here he offers a little backstory: the first meeting of two of readers' favorite characters: aeronaut Lee Scoresby and armored bear Iorek Byrnison. The series is so rich that there is a possibility for many such little tales, as many as the author cares to make.
In addition to the rip-roaring, action-packed story, the book itself is a pleasure. A hardcover the size of a paperback, it fits comfortably in the hand or coat pocket. Creamy paper bound in rough cloth is filled with little woodcut illustrations, documents, news articles, and even a related board game tucked into an envelope attached to the back cover. The care that went into creating this shows -- it's a gift for Pullman's devoted readers.
From The Book
The gas-valve was stuck. It needed a wrench, but the only tool to hand was a dirty old revolver, which the pilot hauled from the holster at his waist and used to bang the valve till it loosened all at once, releasing more gas than he really wanted. The balloon sagged and drooped suddenly, and plunged downwards, scattering a group of men clustered around a broken tractor. The gondola smashed into the hard ground, and bounced and dragged behind the emptying balloon across the open space until it finally came to rest only feet away from a gas storage tank.
The pilot gingerly untangled his fingers from the rope he'd been holding on to, worked out which way up he was, shifted the tool box off his legs, wiped the oily water out of his eyes, and hauled himself upright.
"Well, Hester, looks like we're getting the hang of this," he said.
Plot Summary:
Decades before Lyra's birth, a young Lee Scoresby pilots his recently acquired balloon to the Arctic, where he gets involved in a deadly confrontation between the government, an oil baron with a private army, a crooked politician, a ship's captain, and a hired killer from Lee's past. Teaming up for the first time with armored bear Iorek Byrnison. Lee risks his life to help the captain. Includes a board game, "Peril of the Pole."
Related Books:
Other Books by Philip Pullman:
The Golden Compass: His Dark Materials, Book 1
The Subtle Knife
The Amber Spyglass
Lyra's Oxford
Clockwork, or All Wound Up
I Was A Rat!
The Broken Bridge
Old-Fashioned Adventures:
Mr. Tucket by Gary Paulsen
The Pirate's Son by Geraldine McCaughrean
Bandit's Moon by Sid Fleischman
Operation Red Jericho: The Guild of Specialists, Book 1 by Joshua Mowll
Related Web sites:
Author's Site
Series Site
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Sexual ContentLee lusts after two women. |
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ViolenceSeveral shootings with injuries and deaths; a tense gun battle. |
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LanguageA fair amount of mild swearing: hells, damns, ass, bastards, and the word for a female dog used correctly. |
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Social BehaviorLee risks his life to stand up for what he believes is right. |
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Commercialism |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoSmoking, drinking, and drunkenness. |
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