Lyra's Oxford (2003)

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Lyra’s Oxford is the pocket-sized book containing the short story Lyra and the Birds, and it a sequel to His Dark Materials, taking place roughly two years after the events in The Amber Spyglass. The book also contains other material that is somewhat relevant – a postcard from Mary Malone, advertisements and pages from a glossary among others . In the short story, Lyra now splits her time between her school St Sophia’s, where she is learning to read the alethiometer through experience and wisdom, not grace, and Jordan college, her home. When a witch’s demon comes begging for Lyra’s help, how can she resist?

I really liked this short story. When I read it years ago I don’t think I really understood it, and it seemed almost pointless. Now that I’m older I see the point: Lyra is learning to read everything, the world around her, and people, not just the alethiometer. The story smacks of Lyra’s ‘special snowflake’ status as wild birds react in very un-wild ways around her, but it adds to the point that Lyra’s growing up and her wisdom is growing as well. She’s not just the street smart barbarian anymore, but growing into a competent young woman. Pullman spends a lot of time describing Lyra’s Oxford, which I really like as well.

Also, Pantalaimon is totally awesome. ( )

"Tantalizingly brief," indeed. Can't wait for The Book of Dust but that won't be anytime soon. And though I can't help wanting more, the end of The Amber Spyglass was so heartbreakingly perfect...how will he top it? Will have to wait and see... ( )

Good chill out read in between books and a great, light follow on read from Pullman's trilogy "His Dark Materials'. Enjoyed pulling out the map and the extras - postcard, dictionary page etc added to the mystique of Oxford in earlier times. ( )

Don't read this expecting the epic grandeur of the final battle in The Amber Spyglass. Instead, take this for what it is: as the title suggests, this is a glimpse of Lyra Silvertongue's home town. So, we get a map, which it is instructive to compare with its modern fold-out, full-colour relief counterpart in this world. We get the deliciously realistic post-cards and brochures and cruise timetables that support what we know from the trilogy and hint at what we don't. And we have, almost incidentally, a short dream-like story that shows that, for Lyra back in her own world, things aren't as happy ever after as we might have expected.

Yes, it is a mild disappointment if you were looking for more action. But, on the plus side, the hardback is a handsome volume to own, to hold, to peruse; and, along with Once Upon a Time in the North, it shows that Pullman has not abandoned the worlds that, God-like, he has created and that in time we may hope for something a little more substantial than these tasters. ( )

I enjoyed this little novelette follow-up to the His Dark Materials series. No, it nowhere near matches the depth and breadth that the HDM series covered, but it was really nice to visit Lyra and Pan again. ( )