Englischsprachige Literatur

Pullman Philip

Northern Lights

Scholastic Childrenīs Books, london 1995

Galbraith3

So, finally Iīve read the first of the “His Dark materials” trilogy, although I had sworn never to touch a Pullman again after trying to read the third of the series in German. And I must offer my apologies to the author. This book is much more fun, maybe so because reading about the Northpole is more interesting when itīs frosty cold outside. And the idea of a daimon who, like an alter ego, is always with you, sharing all your feelings, sometimes acting for you, is really sweet. Specially for children such a Guardian Angel must be fascinating and comforting. And whereas the daimon of an adult canīt change his appearance, that of a child can adopt any animal form in split seconds according to the needs of his human counterpart.
We meet 12-year-old Lyra, who gets involved in all kinds of adventures, and acts with considerable bravado. Asked to tell the truth she “.....shook her story in order as if she were settling a pack of cards ready for dealing.” (p. 108) The plot is a mixture of Tolkien, Rowling, Pratchet and centers around the daimons, that have to be separated from their children in order to produce enough energy to enter into a parallel world when the Aurora appears over the Northpole. Itīs as easy as that, you know.