 List Price: $12.99
Lowest Price: $7.31 
Product Description: 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. Customer Reviews: Rating: 
Date: 2008-06-18
A fair start to the epic trilogy
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the His Dark Materials trilogy and had quite the high expectation for this prequel. While not terribly disappointed, I am a little let down after reading it.
It's really only a chapter in the life of Lee Scoresby. It ties up the loose ends about his life not mentioned later in the trilogy. It reads very fast, as the 'chapter' lacks the detailed plot development found in the later books. Like the credit card ad, "In, out and on with life" sums up this brief story.
Now, take my review with some salt; I'm a lot older than the target audience for the book. Unlike the trilogy, which can be read at many different levels, this is simply a short adventure story. Definitely read it at some point as it compltes the understanding of Scoresby, but don't rush to pay $10 for it right now. Rating:
Date: 2008-06-04
A fine return to Lyra's world
A prequel to the events of the His Dark Materials series, Philip Pullman's Once Upon a Time in the North tells the story of Lee Scoresby and Iorek Byrinson's first meeting, and how they came to be friends. While not delving at all into the mysteries or intrigues that were the heart of the rest of the His Dark Materials books, it was still a treat all the same to return to the world that Pullman created.
It is a short story (it is printed as a matching volume to Lyra's Oxford) and takes place over the course of a day or two, at most. Lee Scoresby has only had his balloon for a short time, after winning it in a hand of poker, and is still learning the ropes to flying it. He has traveled to the North to look for work, and after landing on the island of Novy Odense, is pulled into a political intrigue that he quickly discovers he wants no part of, yet his sense of honor prevails and he finds himself in the middle of a gun fight towards the end of the story, trying to help those he feels are being treated wrongly. Iorek Byrnison is also at odds with the same group, so befriends Scoresby and together they take on the enemy.
The gunfight towards the end of the book is well written, and even though I know Scoresby lives through this (as he plays a strong part in the later stories) I found myself still anxious as to the outcome of the story. I think that's a merit of Pullman's writing; that even though you know Scoresby will survive the situation, you still find yourself concerned for his well-being.
A nice edition and a good story to provide a little background to these two characters. The addition of "historically correct" documents to the book just adds to the details.
There is a board game that is included in the back of the book, which has no bearing on the story whatsoever. I just thought that I'd mention that it was there. Rating:
Date: 2008-05-30
a good prequel
Not much substance here, but a satisfying read for those who liked His Dark Materials. Rating: 
Date: 2008-05-28
the ruby in the smoke by philip pullman
The Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman is the pinnacle in young adult adventure. The pre-feminist protagonist, Sally Lockhart, is a realistic and compelling role model. The storytelling is tight and crisp, the subject matter manages to be sophisticated without pandering. Though it differs greatly from his most famous books (the Golden Compass trilogy), it is a wonderfully rendered yarn for kids a little too modern for Nancy Drew and her ilk. Rating:
Date: 2008-05-25
It leaves me wanting more...
I was introduced to "His Dark Materials" when it was first released and I have read each book multiple times. Every time I finish I always want more and Philip Pullman has given his fans small tastes of more with "Lyra's Oxford" and this.
Between the two, I find this book to be more appealing and more fun to read. We didn't get enough of Lee Scornsby in the trilogy and it is nice to learn a little more about him. Overall, this book takes a few hours to read and throws you back into the world of "His Dark Materials". It is a must have for anyone that loves the original trilogy. |
