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Lyra's Oxford | 
 enlarge | Author: Philip Pullman
Publisher: Corgi Childrens
Category: Book
List Price: £4.99
Buy New: £1.14
You Save: £3.85 (77%)
New (31) Used (4) from £1.14
Avg. Customer Rating:  6 reviews
Sales Rank: 5425
Media: Paperback
Pages: 64
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 6.4 x 4.3 x 0.4
ISBN: 055255751X
EAN: 9780552557511
ASIN: 055255751X
Publication Date: November 1, 2007
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: BRAND NEW - ***Delivery usually * 2 - 3 * working days - From Aphrohead of SOUTHPORT, Lancs, UK *** . Priority Airmail used Worldwide on International orders. Thanks from all at Aphrohead.
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Amazon.co.uk Review
Attention all serious book collectors and fans of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials. This undoubtedly beautiful package, cloth-bound in a classy red and adorned by numerous illustrations by master engraver and illustrator John Lawrence, is sure to be a must-purchase. A pint-sized pocket volume, Lyra's Oxford packages together a short story set in the same universe as his famous trilogy, a fold-out map of the alternate-reality city of Oxford which Lyra and her daemon Pantalaimon inhabit, a short brochure for a cruise to The Levant aboard the SS Zenobia and a postcard from the inventor of the amber spyglass, Mary Malone. Pullman, in his introduction, suggests that the peripheral items within "might be connected with the story, or they might not; they might be connected to stories that haven't appeared yet. It's difficult to tell." The story, "Lyra and the Birds", begins when Lyra and Pantalaimon spot a witch's daemon called Ragi being pursued over the rooftops of Oxford by a frenzied pack of birds. The daemon heads straight for Lyra and is given shelter. The creature was given Lyra's name as somebody who might help. The daemon is seeking one Sebastian Makepeace--an alchemist living in a part of Oxford known as Jericho. Together Lyra and Pan try to guide the daemon to the home of this man, but it is a journey fraught with more danger than they had at first anticipated. Somehow, this is a book that puzzles and fascinates all at the same time. It's very sumptuous and lovingly crafted but tantalising brief. The fourth volume in Pullman's award-winning sequence is The Book of Dust and despite the author's reputation for taking his time in writing each of his longer works, it is now just too far away in the future to be funny anymore. (Age 10 and over)--John McLay
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
 One for the fans, but better was to come June 2, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
As someone who has recently finished reading His Dark Materials and considers it one of the best series of novels ever written, I eagerly bought both this and Once Upon A Time In The North together from Amazon and - considering them both together - I am glad I did. I love miscellanies and companion books and both of these books are both great for the serious fan, containing snippets of information deliberately out of context - the idea being to make you think and fill in the gaps with your own imagination.
But if you have only read the first book (or seen the film), I would advise buying Once Upon A Time In The North - as that is a great standalone story of reasonable length - and not this one until you have read your way to the end of the His Dark Materials trilogy.
The story in Lyra's Oxford - Lyra and the Birds - is great if you want to find out more about Lyra Silvertongue's life after the end of The Amber Spyglass, but as a standalone story it is - I have to sadly admit - a bit boring. I think Philip Pullman definitely learned a lesson from this though, because the next short story - Once Upon A Time In The North (out now) - sees him return to form with a genuinely exciting short story that requires no prior knowledge of the series to enjoy.
 Not really worth the bother June 2, 2008
This was the first of two spin-offs from the superb His Dark Materials trilogy. This is a sequel set some time after the end of The Amber Spyglass. Unfortunately, what passes for action is rather insignificant. As Pullman himself says in the foreword, the "story" (such as it is at under 50 pages) hints at other things which may happen.
Worse still, this book includes a free map of Lyra's Oxford. I want my intellect stimulated by good writing. I can use my own imagination to create where the story is set.
This is almost like Pullman entered a contest to write the opening chapter to a book, because this is no more than an opening chapter, and the mighty work that put Pullman on the map deserves better.
 Give this a miss April 15, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I totally agree with Professor Paradox's review, except that it took me only 15 minutes to read!
I loved the trilogy but somehow this book has altered my view of His Dark Materials. Probably because I feel like I've been ripped off - this book offers nothing to extend the trilogy, rather it annoyed me that it is clearly a quickly-written, no-depth-to-it, money-making venture. Disgraceful!
 Worth reading, very short though! April 7, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
If you've read the His Dark Materials books and enjoyed them you should read this.
There aren't very many pages but as it is set 2 years after the Amber Spyglass it will at least go some way to satisfying your curiosity as to what happened next with Lyra.
There's a map of Oxford (amongst other things) which i must say confused me as it indicated Mary Malone's house which if i remember correctly was in Will's universe rather than Lyra's, a red herring perhaps?
Anyway it's an enjoyable read though far too short, i look forward to "The Book Of Dust" and i think it won't be very long before i re-read "The Amber Spyglass" which for me was by far the highlight of the trilogy.
If you've not read the trilogy you shouldn't even attempt this book, but i suggest you should read those first three straight away!
Don't be put off by them being in the teens/childrens sections, the main characters may be in their early teens but the themes have more than enough depth for an older reader.
 Actually, more like four stars... February 15, 2008
5 out of 7 found this review helpful
...but all the same with the current rating of just one star, I had to balance it out a little bit. To be sure, I can certainyl see the other reveiwers point of veiw; there isn't really much to this book. It's short, and perhaps feels a little gimicky on times... but then so what? It's fun! For as slight as it is it's certainly a worthy addition to His Dark Materials, and for the price, well. You can't go wrong. Philip Pullman on a bad day is better then 98% of authors on a good one.
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