Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Review #31: Once Upon a Time in the North by Philip Pullman

Once Upon a Time in the North (His Dark Materials)

  • Publisher: Random House Children's Books
  • Publication date: 4/8/2008
  • Pages: 112

  • Synopsis:
    In this new prequel episode from Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials universe, Lee Scoresby--Texan aeronaut and future friend to Lyra Belacqua--is just 24 years old, and he's recently won his hot-air balloon in a poker game. He finds himself floating North to the windswept Arctic island of Novy Odense, where he and his hare daemon Hester are quickly tangled in a deadly plot involving oil magnate Larsen Manganese, corrupt mayoral candidate Ivan Poliakov, and Lee's longtime nemesis from the Dakota Country: Pierre McConville, a hired killer with at least twenty murders to his name.

    It's only after Lee forms an alliance with one of the island's reviled armored bears that he can fight to break up the conspiracy in a gun-twirling classic western shoot out--and battle of wits. This exquisite clothbound volume features the illustrations of John Lawrence, a removable board game—Peril of the Pole—on the inside back cover, and a glimpse for Pullman fans into the first friendship of two of the most beloved characters in the His Dark Materials trilogy: Lee Scoresby and armored bear Iorek Byrnison.

    My Thoughts/Review:
    I have been meaning to read this book for a while now. I've read all the other books in the His Dark Materials series. This novel is another awesome book by Philip Pullman. It was basically a short story before the core series happened. I loved this entire series and the worlds it takes place in. The idea of having an animal counterpart that is essentially your soul and being is an amazing premise in a book. I just love the world Pullman has created with the daemons.

    This book is definitely a must read if you have read His Dark Materials. And if you haven't read Phillip Pullmans series you need to. I read them a few years back and they are an instant classic. It mostly features Lee Scoresby and Iorek Byrnison the polar bear. You don't have to read that books befo It was a great little story and was so quick to read. I should have read it sooner. It also includes a board game in it so that is fun. Overall a great book and a good read. =]

    Overall I give this book...
    Awesome book and great little story for any Philip Pullman fan. =]
    5 out of 5 Stars

    Thanks for Visiting and Happy Reading. =]

    -Michael

    1 comment:

    1. Oh my GOODNESS, I LOVE His Dark Materials. The books are unbefreakinglievable. The imagination, creativity and genius that's gone into them. The many-worlds, the compass, the knife, Dust, the animal daemons, everything! I haven't read any of the other stories--I wasn't really sure what the deal was with them before. I'll look them up now :)

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