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The Golden Compass, Deluxe 10th Anniversary Edition (His Dark Materials, Book 1)(Rough-cut)

The Golden Compass, Deluxe 10th Anniversary Edition (His Dark Materials, Book 1)(Rough-cut)

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Author: Philip Pullman
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

List Price: $22.95
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New (40) Used (30) Collectible (3) from $4.44

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars 1461 reviews
Sales Rank: 18328

Media: Hardcover
Edition: 10 Dlx Anv
Reading Level: Young Adult
Pages: 432
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.6
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.4

ISBN: 0375838309
EAN: 9780375838309
ASIN: 0375838309

Publication Date: October 24, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Also Available In:

  • Mass Market Paperback - The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, Book 1)
  • Paperback - The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, Book 1)
  • Paperback - The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, Book 1)
  • Paperback - The Golden Compass (Movie Tie-in Edition)
  • Library Binding - Golden Compass Deluxe Edition (Pullman, Philip, His Dark Materials)
  • Paperback - Northern Lights (His Dark Materials)
  • Mass Market Paperback - The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, Book 1)
  • Mass Market Paperback - The Golden Compass
  • Paperback - The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, Book 1)
  • Unbound - Golden Compass
  • Paperback - The Golden Compass
  • Paperback - Northern Lights (His Dark Materials)
  • Paperback - Northern Lights (His Dark Materials)
  • Turtleback - The Golden Compass
  • Turtleback - The Golden Compass
  • Turtleback - The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials Trilogy)
  • Library Binding - The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, Book 1)
  • School & Library Binding - The Golden Compass (His Dare Materials)
  • School & Library Binding - Golden Compass
  • School & Library Binding - Golden Compass (His Dark Materials)
  • Audio Cassette - The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, Book 1)
  • Hardcover - The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, Book 1)
  • Paperback - The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, Book 1)
  • Audio Cassette - The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, Book 1)
  • Audio Cassette - The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, Book 1)
  • Audio CD - The Golden Compass Anniversary Edition (His Dark Materials)
  • Audio CD - His Dark Materials, Book I: The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials)
  • Unknown Binding - The Golden Compass
  • Audio Cassette - Northern Lights: Oxford Pt.1
  • Audio CD - Northern Lights: Complete & Unabridged
  • Unknown Binding - Golden Compass (His Dark Materials)
  • Board book - The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, Book 1)
  • Audio CD - His Dark Materials, Book I: The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials)
  • Audio CD - The Golden Compass His Dark Materials, Book I
  • Audio Cassette - The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, 1)
  • Audio Cassette - The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, Book 1)
  • Audio Cassette - The Golden Compass: (His Dark Materials, Book 1)
  • Audio Cassette - The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, Book 1)
  • Library Binding - The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials)
  • Library Binding - The Golden Compass (His Darak Materials)
  • Unknown Binding - The Golden Compass
  • Audio CD - Northern Lights (Cover to Cover)
  • Audio Download - The Golden Compass: His Dark Materials, Book 1 (Unabridged)
  • Kindle Edition - The Golden Compass
  • Mass Market Paperback - The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, Book 1)

Similar Items:

  • The Subtle Knife (His Dark Materials, Book 2)
  • The Amber Spyglass (His Dark Materials, Book 3)
  • The Subtle Knife, Deluxe 10th Anniversary Edition (His Dark Materials, Book 2)(Rough-cut)
  • The Amber Spyglass, Deluxe 10th Anniversary Edition (His Dark Materials, Book 3)(Rough-cut)
  • Lyra's Oxford

Editorial Reviews:

Amazon.com Review
Some books improve with age--the age of the reader, that is. Such is certainly the case with Philip Pullman's heroic, at times heart-wrenching novel, The Golden Compass, a story ostensibly for children but one perhaps even better appreciated by adults. The protagonist of this complex fantasy is young Lyra Belacqua, a precocious orphan growing up within the precincts of Oxford University. But it quickly becomes clear that Lyra's Oxford is not precisely like our own--nor is her world. For one thing, people there each have a personal daemon, the manifestation of their souls in animal form. For another, hers is a universe in which science, theology, and magic are closely allied:
As for what experimental theology was, Lyra had no more idea than the urchins. She had formed the notion that it was concerned with magic, with the movements of the stars and planets, with tiny particles of matter, but that was guesswork, really. Probably the stars had daemons just as humans did, and experimental theology involved talking to them.
Not that Lyra spends much time worrying about it; what she likes best is "clambering over the College roofs with Roger the kitchen boy who was her particular friend, to spit plum stones on the heads of passing Scholars or to hoot like owls outside a window where a tutorial was going on, or racing through the narrow streets, or stealing apples from the market, or waging war." But Lyra's carefree existence changes forever when she and her daemon, Pantalaimon, first prevent an assassination attempt against her uncle, the powerful Lord Asriel, and then overhear a secret discussion about a mysterious entity known as Dust. Soon she and Pan are swept up in a dangerous game involving disappearing children, a beautiful woman with a golden monkey daemon, a trip to the far north, and a set of allies ranging from "gyptians" to witches to an armor-clad polar bear.

In The Golden Compass, Philip Pullman has written a masterpiece that transcends genre. It is a children's book that will appeal to adults, a fantasy novel that will charm even the most hardened realist. Best of all, the author doesn't speak down to his audience, nor does he pull his punches; there is genuine terror in this book, and heartbreak, betrayal, and loss. There is also love, loyalty, and an abiding morality that infuses the story but never overwhelms it. This is one of those rare novels that one wishes would never end. Fortunately, its sequel, The Subtle Knife, will help put off that inevitability for a while longer. --Alix Wilber

Product Description
Published in 40 countries, Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy--The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass--has graced the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, San Francisco Chronicle, Book Sense, and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists. In 1996, The Golden Compass changed the face of fantasy publishing, and 2006 marks its 10 Year Anniversary--and an opportunity to celebrate with a deluxe hardcover. Pullman created new material just for this edition (archival documents, scientific notes and "found" letters of Lord Asriel) which has been illustrated and handlettered by renowned British artist Ian Beck and will be included in the back matter. The deluxe edition also features Pullman's own chapter opening spot art. A quality collectible--with the enticement of never-before-seen new material--for Pullman fans.


Customer Reviews:   Read 1456 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars Golden Compass-an ultimate classic   November 16, 2008
Olivia (USA)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman is the first book in the trilogy: His Dark Materials. The story is remarkably told in a parallel universe that is similar to ours, but of course, this being a work of fantasy fiction, Pullman included magic and other fantastical beings. The story has many main characters but the most important character is a stubborn and courageous young girl from Great Britain, Lyra. The whole story is about a golden compass, Lyra and her daemon Pan, and their magnificent journey through this parallel universe, carrying out a task that is not immediately defined but they know it will save their world and make history. The story is a delectably retold history of our world in a more fascinating and magical setting. From beginning to end, the storyline is filled with suspense and unpredictable events.
I believe that the book was very well written, and the plot was gripping. Philip Pullman managed to put all of his imagination and creativity into this book, without having the wording too verbose or hard to interpret. His writing style was very detailed, descriptive, and yet simple so that not only young adults like myself could read it, but also that adults would still enjoy his brilliant work of literature.
The Golden Compass also holds many ingenious and significant metaphors, such as the daemon, an animal that is part of your soul, but really stands for your true character or conscious being able to converse with its human form. Along with metaphors it has a very strong religious(especially Christian) and moral take on things. Philip Pullman delectably writes a simple fantasy fiction children's story, but with remarkable hidden messages that readers of all ages would enjoy to interpret and read. No doubt this trilogy will soon be up there with other great fantastical classics of literature.



5 out of 5 stars Northern Lights / Golden Compass = Wonderful!   November 15, 2008
ACHILLEOS PANAYIOTIS
Seriously I have no idea what all the fuss was about (the book being anti christian and all) but what I can say is that it's a brilliant dark fantasy book which combines our world with another and brings out a wonderful story.
The Golden Compass is a compelling and wonderful story of fantasy and adventure. I was still wondering about Lyra and her friends long after it ended.



4 out of 5 stars Adventure in the far, far north   November 7, 2008
Ms. LJ (Barrow, Ak)
Being a resident of Alaska, I loved this book. Plus, the fast-paced action creates a story that you can't put down because you really, really want to know what's next. Read this book if you love fantasy, if you're looking forward to the film and want to read the book first, or if you've heard the controversy but want to learn the facts straight from the source. In addition, the book contains a few gorgeous descriptions of life in the far, far North. I give it a 9 out of 10.


2 out of 5 stars Took me forever to read...   October 23, 2008
J. Llewellyn (Australia)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful

Ok. First of all. This book took me two weeks to read, which is a ridiculously long time for me. I've been known to finish a couple of books in a day.

The reason it took me so long was that I was lost from the very beginning. There was just way to many characters and questions introduced in the first few chaptes and I couldn't seem to catch up. I'm not sure if this was Pullman's writing style (lots of dialogue, not many descriptions) or my fragmented reading style - but I just couldn't get into the story.

I wasn't a huge fan of the characters. I liked the setting and thought the premise was original... but I wasn't blown away.

Yes, I will read it again because I think it will read better the second time.
Yes, I will read the next book.

But overall - I probably wouldn't have even finished it if I hadn't of purchased it.




4 out of 5 stars Magically Adventure Tale for Both Children and Adults (A Grade)   October 18, 2008
C. Garrabrant (Bloomfield, NJ USA)
Philip Pullman's Northern Lights is also known as The Golden Compass, which was made into a movie last year. Published in 1995, this is the first novel in Pullman's His Dark Material's trilogy about the journey of a young orphan girl, Lyra Belacqua, and the world she inhabits. This world Pullman has creative is a fantasy and mystical adventure where people have shift changing animals called daemons by their sides. These daemons are a part of the person's soul and their personality.

Lyra's daemon is named Pantalaimon and they reside at Jordan College, in Oxford, England, which is parallel universe during pre World War II. Lyra has free reign of the college since her Uncle Asriel is quite powerful and a major benefactor to the college. He keeps her there for her own safe keeping as he travels around the world as an explorer. One day Asriel comes for a visit and Lyra stumbles upon a plot to assassinate him. The Master of the college wants to do away with Asriel because of his on-going search for a mysterious particle called Dust that is found near the Aurora Borealis.

Asriel leaves on his merry way, and Lyra continues as she has always done, playing with childish abandon and causing a ruckus. Lyra sometimes is a bit too curious for her own good. But things begin to change as children in the town go missing. Soon there are rumors that the children are being taken away and being eaten by "The Gobblers". Lyra is safe and sound, but the children she plays with, including her one close friend, Roger have been kidnapped. She decides it is up to her to solve the mystery of The Gobblers and the missing children. Lyra doesn't get that far in her investigation because a beautiful and mysterious woman, Marisa Coulter comes to the college and takes Lyra away as her assistant. The big question is, who is Mrs. Coulter and why is she so interested in Lyra? That mystery is soon solved because Coulter is behind the kidnapping of the children. And not only is she kidnapping the children for a horrible reason, she may be responsible for imprisoning Lyra's uncle and has plans for the Dust that could change the world.

Northern Lights is a wonderful, fantasy tale that has so many hidden meanings and subtle undertones, mainly dealing with religion and the bible. When I first began to read, I really couldn't see why some people would be so up in arms about this book. But as I continue to read, I could definitely see the philosophical, theological and spiritual aspects that Pullman has written, mainly from John Milton's Paradise Lost. (I found this information from Wikipedia.com) Lyra is the main storyteller and she is a spunky and a tad bit bratty. But what would you expect with no parental guidance? She is also very smart and brave. Her journey is one that is dangerous and scary. The many people and creatures she meets, from talking bears to witches really bring the story alive. Pullman's world building and storytelling is incredible. I didn't want to stop reading because each page would bring me to the final epic battle, and in my eyes this was a battle between good and evil. See, there are those religious undertones I am talking about.

"Epic" is the main word that comes to mind when describing Northern Lights. Things build up slowly, where Pullman introduces all the characters nicely to the point where the action starts and doesn't let up. Some books are much like the movie going experience and I would definitely say that Northern Lights is one of them. This would be a great book to act out, chapter by chapter, especially with children, who of course are the ones that Pullman has written this tale for.

I enjoyed my reading experience so much so, that I would definitely be interested in reading the next two books in this trilogy and perhaps one day if I have my own children, I can sit down and we can read Northern Lights and the rest of His Dark Materials trilogy together.

Katiebabs
His Dark Materials Trilogy (His Dark Materials)



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