Impressive book! Philip Pullman's first part of His Dark Materials trilogy contains the elements that make a great classic. Majestic and grandly written, filled with gripping moments and entertaining imagination. Northern Lights is one of the very rare 21st century books that could edge out fantasy legends like Tolkien, Lewis and Dahl. Imagine dark fantasy, an advanced children's literature, then throw in some fantastic adventures, a feisty and witty heroine, a sturdy Polar Bear King, nasty evil villains, edged with a twist of the recent religious issues written in a very gripping and hard-to-put down style, Pullman's book had suddenly become a J.R.R. Tolkien-J. K. Rowling-Dan Brown masterpiece. Of course, this was compared to history's most successful literature, a personal favourite of mine, the Harry Potter series. I'd like to clarify this: Northern Lights isn't a Harry-Potter-kind-of-read, but it is as great as J. K. Rowling's craft. I would say more realistic than the Harry Potter series. OK, so stupid of me to compare since I really hate to compare things, I mean, why would I compare Harry Potter with His Dark Materials when they're two different stories altogether? Please do excuse my silliness, but I do believe that like Harry Potter, Pullman's book dwells not really on the face of children's literature but more on the young adult field. This is a very dark book. There are murders, blood, PG-13 bear against bear fights, witches against Tartars, children mutilation and so many perilous moments that an eight-year old kid might find horrifying to read. Also, it's a kind of novel that would spark the inevitable questions of 'what-ifs'. If in Harry Potter you would ask, what if there are really wizards and witches hiding from us Muggles, living a completely different lifestyle full of magic and spells? What if there's really a school of witchcraft and wizardry disguised as a ruined castle in the remote mountains of Scotland? What if there's really a magical barrier in King's Cross Station between Platforms 9 and 10, and that Muggles are just to indifferent to notice it? Those are the questions one might ask after reading Rowling's book. But in Pullman's, you'll ask entirely different kind of questions, such as, what if there are other universes existing beneath the world that we know? What if there are windows in our world that could open into a completely unusual place? What if the church was hiding a significant truth from us human beings and why did they silenced so many theologians and scientists from the past who suggested about other worlds? What if there is really another world existing beyond the Northern Lights? And why, of all places, the Northern Lights only shimmer in the North Pole? The book tries to ask so many questions that are most left unanswered, until you hurry into Book 2, The Subtle Knife, the pivotal part of the trilogy. But of course, this is a work of fiction, I'm just too astounded to dwell in the real world right now because I was engrossed by such a magnificent work of literary art. And so far, it's one of the most ambitious work since Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter. Since this book is one-liner for movie adaptation, I say, this would make a great film too, if properly made stripped out of Hollywood's subservience. However, such a great ensemble of actors will play the characters: Nicoel Kidman as Mrs Coulter, Daniel Craig as Lord Asriel, Eva Green as Serafina Pekkala and the newcomer Dakota Blue Richards as Lyra. It will open December 7th, this year.

The things that really made this book shine are the characters. Totally unforgettable, especially the young feisty heroine, Lyra Belacqua, or so named Lyra Silvertongue for her intelligence and wide grasp. It is very rare for books to have such a solid character as this, so opinionated, so witty and so determined for a 12-year old girl. I also love the way prophecy was foretold and that innocence itself would fulfill every marked event that the Magisterium was fearing to befall. Lord Asriel also was a very mysterious icon. This aristocrat is so ambitious that you really feel some kind of hatred for this guy, of course I wouldn't give out why. It highly connects to the plot and to Lyra's adventures. There so many amazing characters, and my favorite would have to be the wondrous Polar Bear, Iorek Byrnison. Such a spiffing bear! He's like Aragorn of the Lord of the Rings turned into a mighty polar bear.

Apparently, a novel wouldn't work without a very good story, and I shall say it's one of the most unique I've read so far. Cleverly plotted, filled with astounding images. It's one of those books that reminds me about my love of writing, about my dreams of becoming a writer and all that stuff (of course that would happen by the time Mars and Pluto would switch places, haha!). Audience might expect it to have a fairy tale ending, but sad to say no. It's a cliffhanger, and after you flip the last page, like me, you'll surely have your hands itching for the 2nd book. Harry Potter fans would love this, and if you're also itching for the 7th and last book of the wizard boy saga, then Pullman's His Dark Materials would be an awesome read for a long wait for Rowling's final epic.
Lastly, the best thing I like about this book is that it's a children's novel that's truly intelligent. It's a dark, almost gothic, vivid fantasy literature for children - for imaginative, clever, and bright children, that is. In fact, it's not only for children, it's actually for everybody from 10-80 years old who enjoys adventures, some nifty twists and turns, mighty battles, flights and magic.

Northern Lights is such a bloody good book. It's one of the works that most writers dream of having and dream of putting in history - immortality. Like Harry Potter, Northern Lights would surely be around and be read in the next generations to come. Now, excuse me while I scurry into the next book of the trilogy, The Subtle Knife.


Rating: A+