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Loading... The Subtle Knife (1997)by Philip Pullman
 MoonlightLibrary | Apr 27, 2013 |  he second book of a fantasy trilogy can be by far the slowest. Surprises about the new world have largely been told. We've met most of the characters, and they've left their world of comfort behind for a more dangerous quest. The third book is the final, ultimate confrontation. But the second is often a kind of travelogue with a few obstacles thrown in to hold our interest while the characters get from here to there. Not so with The Subtle Knife. While The Golden Compass introduced us to a fascinating alternate world with many imaginative characters, Mr. Pullman's bag of tricks is by no means exhausted. In this second book, we learn there are an infinite number of parallel worlds, including our own. He introduces us to many more creative characters, like the spectral beings that eat people's souls and the various levels of good and bad angels. And all of these are connected by a common thread, though known by different names in each world--the mysterious dust, dark matter etc., the source of what makes us who we are. In addition to the flawed but charming Lyra, we get a second protagonist, Will, a troubled boy from our own world. Together they go on a more complex quest, during which their relationship is deepened by their shared trials and personal tragedies. This book is richer in plot than the first, more multi-layered and probably better written.(I'm still not a fan of his omniscient, head hopping style, but he has some beautiful turns of a phrase). All and all, it's a better book than the first, which tended to be more of a children's fantasy (Gyptians and armored bears and witches, oh my!). It is, however, much darker, moving further from what anyone would call a children's book. Yes, it can be read on multiple levels, but The Wizard of OZ, it ain't. It's difficult to review this trilogy without commenting on the often discussed controversy about Mr. Pullman's anti-religious views. I was led to expect the opposite of C.S. Lewis' Space trilogy (Out of the Silent Planet, Peralandra, That Hideous Strength), which devolved from a darn good space travel story to an outright religious diatribe. I keep looking for that aspect to rear its ugly head. Though I take no position on his point of view, I'm deeply offended by a writer who is so self-righteous that he spoils a good story by sticking a soap box smack in the middle, climbing upon it and preaching. I have to say there was no sign of this in The Subtle Knife. The Subtle Knife is an ambitious, imaginative and refreshingly original story that I thoroughly enjoyed. (  ) dlitwack | Apr 24, 2013 | I liked this less than the first book, but I still thought it was brilliant. (  ) shanaqui | Apr 9, 2013 | Second time is not the charm, I guess. I like the story, but not as much. I like the writing, but I find myself impatient for it to be over. I hate when this happens. (  ) satyridae | Apr 5, 2013 | The audiobook was fantastic - same as The Golden Compass, Philip Pullman narrates with a full voice cast. ( ) JennyArch | Apr 3, 2013 |
 J. R. R. Tolkien, the granddaddy of modern high fantasy, asserted that the best fantasy writing is marked by ''arresting strangeness.'' Philip Pullman measures up; his work is devilishly inventive. His worlds teem with angels, witches, humans, animal familiars, talking bears and Specters, creatures resembling deadly airborne jellyfish... Put Philip Pullman on the shelf with Ursula K. Le Guin, Susan Cooper, Lloyd Alexander, at least until we get to see Volume 3.
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Wikipedia in English (3)
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The Subtle Knife is Book 2 of the His Dark Materials trilogy, and the audiobook is an unabridged version narrated by the author and performed by a full cast. Lyra has left her world and stumbled into a strange, adult-less city called Citagazze, where children run wild in the streets and are haunted by invisible ‘spectres’ – phantasms that feed on one’s soul. Here she meets Will, a fierce, determined young boy who has just killed a man in self-defence. Together, the pair overcome adversities, such as Lyra’s alethiometer being stolen, and Will acquires and learns how to use the Subtle Knife – the sharpest knife in existence, and used to cut windows into other worlds.
The problem with this novel is that it feels like a filler novel. The entire time, even when something interesting was happening, I was always thinking, ‘And when is the real story going to start?’ It always felt like the problems in the novel – Lyra’s alethiometer, Will getting the knife and learning to use it, then the two travelling together and never reaching their destination – needed to be overcome before the novel proper could start. The writing is still superb, and the voice actor playing Will is a brilliant addition to the cast – as is the cast on a whole, the entire thing is beautifully performed – but I was always eager for the ‘real’ story to start.
Will is a fine partner to Lyra – a boy ever fiercer than herself, who’s smart, cautious, and introspective. He’s observant and wary of the world around him. He doesn’t bluster in and hope for the best, or rely on his wits to get himself out of tough situations like Lyra does: Will cautiously considers every prospect and safely chooses the best one, and only when forced will he fight like a devil to win at any cost. Another interesting character introduced in this novel is Mary Malone, a doctor of physics, studying dark matter. Her story was interesting, but it was frustrating that the conclusion was never reached – it will be concluded n the next book, The Amber Spyglass – but the whole novel feels like it was abruptly cut off, with little to no conclusion or even a climax.
So as you can see, I still loved this book even though it frustrates me. Personally I feel that if a reader does not want to invest in the entire series, each novel should be wrapped up to leave it at that particular point – even cliffhangers can work in this way, because the reader can imagine their own next instalment. But nothing is concluded in The Subtle Knife: it’s all a big set up for the massive volume of The Amber Spyglass. However, if you want to read the entire trilogy it’s a very good filler novel. (