Philip Pullman was born in England in 1946. He graduated from Oxford and became a teacher for twelve years before deciding to write full time. Pullman has written many young adult books, including two trilogies. The Golden Compass, published in 1995 and book one of the His Dark Materials trilogy, is a novel that explores the possibilities of traveling to new worlds and predicting the future. A quote from the poem Paradise Lost preceding the book creates an interesting mood for readers.

This book’s genre is difficult to categorize with just one type of literature. Corporeal souls, witches, polar bears that talk, as well as other illusory characters and objects create a "pure fantasy" sense. On the other hand, scientists studying their universe in a world that is quite different but oddly comparable to ours and a compass that can predict the future creates the science fiction route in the novel. Also, the main character, a young girl named Lyra, goes on a great journey to rescue stolen children and put a stop to an evil force. This mixes adventure into the story.

The novel is set in a world similar to ours. There is not much evidence that the world is different from ours scientifically, but the creatures inhabiting their earth are different. Firstly, every human being has a companion "animal" called a dæmon that is physically and mentally attached to each person- if man and dæmon become permanently separated, the man will die and the dæmon will feel lost and unimportant. Pullman describes what Lyra feels when someone else holds her dæmon, named Pantalaimon- "… all strength went out of her. It was as if an alien hand had reached right inside where no hand had a right to be, and wrenched at something deep…She felt faint, dizzy, sick, disgusted, limp with shock. One of the men was holding Pantalaimon (241)." Second, the polar bears in the book can communicate with humans, and a bear helps Lyra throughout her journey. Third, Lyra’s father, Lord Asriel, found the properties of this "Dust" that appears to come from the Aurora. We do not find the real cause or purpose of Dust, but do find its use at the end of the book. Consequently, the setting of the novel is a world that is quite similar to ours but altered in many ways.

Lyra Belacqua, the mischievous, intelligent, and persistent 11-year-old raised chaotically by Oxford scholars, is believable as a real person, but she is quite extraordinary for being so young. When Lord Asriel brings news to the Scholars of this mysterious Dust and a picture showing the outline of a city in the Aurora, Lyra overhears and it sets her fate. The Master of Oxford gives Lyra a mysterious compass, which Lyra eventually uses to predict future happenings. After children begin to go missing by inexplicable "Gobblers," Lyra is taken from Oxford to live with the scheming Mrs. Coulter. After Lyra finds that Mrs. Coulter herself is behind the abductions of the children, she escapes and finds safety with a people called the gyptians. Lyra travels North with the gyptians to try to rescue the stolen children. Lyra’s adventure becomes a struggle for life or death of not only herself but also many others.

There are many characters that help Lyra throughout her journey. Iorek Byrnison seems to be most important, the tireless and majestic king of the bears. He is Lyra’s transportation through the North, and by the end of the novel they truly love each other. Iorek was personified with real emotion and conversation, and the reader could imagine him as a human. At one point at the end of the story, Pullman writes, "There was no way back. [Lyra] stood and raised her hand to the watching bear. Iorek stood on his hind legs to acknowledge her, and then turned… (341)." Iorek would have given his life to save Lyra and he wanted to help her in all aspects, but in this case he could not. Pullman goes on to write that Lyra felt very alone without Iorek.

This novel is extremely well rounded in nearly all aspects. The author’s writing style is readable for young people but complex enough for adults, allowing for readers of all ages to enjoy the book. The descriptions of the characters and setting are just enough to create a beautiful image in the reader’s mind. The seamless plot is excellently intertwined, with every detail having substance and importance. Characters are introduced in an interesting way and the action is ceaseless, keeping the reader intrigued. The ending allows the reader to ponder the second novel, but it is not as well described as the rest of the book. In contrast, given that this novel is the first in a trilogy, the reader must have a certain tolerance for a cliffhanger ending. In conclusion, I would recommend this novel to any reader because it was among the greatest I have read.