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| Author: Philip Pullman
Publisher: David Fickling Books
Category: Book
List Price: £9.99
Buy New: £6.26
You Save: £3.73 (37%)
New (28) Used (10) Collectible (10) from £4.19
Avg. Customer Rating:  17 reviews
Sales Rank: 591
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 112
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 6.8 x 4.6 x 0.8
ISBN: 0385614322
EAN: 9780385615235
ASIN: 0385614322
Publication Date: April 4, 2008
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
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| Customer Reviews:
Can we have more please? May 21, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
As far as I'm concerned 'His Dark Materials' is the greatest work in children's literature - full stop. Therefore I'm pleased by any additions that Pullman wants to publish. In 'One Upon In the North' we are told the arly stroy of Lee and Iorek which, I must say, is a vast improvement on 'Lyra's Oxford', which, though enjoyable, was a little limp. "north' has an edgy side that the previous one lacks, it has action and suspense in spade. Again, this is arguably lacking in 'Oxford'.
I particuarly enjoyed the whole Western thing that was going on. I added a new dimension to the saga and freshened things up. Though, like a stuck record I'm going to echo the sentiments of everyone else. It is too short. From a personal point of view I really want Materials 4...this of course is rumoured to be in the pipeline...and am left disappointed whne I don't getit. But this isn't really fair. This is a one off, seperate from the trilogy and perhaps should be viewed as such.
All in all this is a solid book. It's engaging and well worth a read.
 Sad May 9, 2008
7 out of 58 found this review helpful
He's really milking this scrawny old cash cow for all its worth, isn't he. The original books are dull and derivitive. And this is in the same league as Rowling and her 'handwritten' books.
Don't waste your time on this or put money in this man's pocket. There are actually well-written and original books out there that are far more interesting and - ooh - controversial.
 The greatest storyteller of our time! April 30, 2008
9 out of 10 found this review helpful
If you ever doubted that Philip Pullman is the greatest storyteller of our time, here's the book to assuage those doubts. This tale of the first meeting of Lee Scoresby between Iorek Byrnison combines adventure, mystery, excitement and humour in one delicious package. Like the other reviewers my only complaint is that I was left wanting much, much more. Having said that, it is the brevity of the story that proves to my mind why Pullman is such a great teller of tales. This is a book for children and adults alike, and while you could read it to your children in the course of a rainy afternoon, you will return to it again and again when your children are in bed to enjoy time and again the richness of the descriptions and the humour of the dialogue and to delight in Lee's relationship with his daemon Hester.
The board game that is included with the book is another treasure which subverts traditional board games in that it is the "loser" of the balloon race (i.e the last player to reach the centre) who actually wins!
Size Isn't Everything April 22, 2008
14 out of 15 found this review helpful
Those that have read Pullman's trilogy will find this book an interesting expansion upon the character of Lee Scoresby; how he became an aeronaut and how he met Iorek Byrinson. It is the size of a child's storybook, perhaps two chapters' worth of a normal novel - so you will finish this within a couple of hours. As a stand-alone novel I wasn't left satisfied: it would be better included as an appendix text or supplement to a reprint of the trilogy. It's also very expensive in the shops for what you're getting - the price here is more realistic. Nevertheless, a nice supplement for collectors and fans.
Wonderful Short Story April 17, 2008
23 out of 28 found this review helpful
This book is set around 35 years before the events depicted in His Dark Materials. It gives us a wonderful background of Lee Scoresby, the aeronaut Lyra meets in Northern Lights. In this new story a young Lee sets out to find adventure after a fortuitous win at poker finds him the proud owner of a balloon.
The fact that Lee is greatly under-prepared for flying a balloon adds to the excitement and amusement of how the tale unfolds. It also is the predominant reason for his crash landing into the middle of a confrontation between a Dutch sea-captain and a mining company! Never one to easily be distressed, Lee leaps into the thick of things. The story has all the essential elements of 'good' versus 'evil', as do all of the Pullman books, but it is far from repetitive.
For those who enjoyed the trilogy that this prequels I think you will be very interested in this short story. The echoes that resound between this and some of the events in His Dark Materials merely add to the charm of it. The good thing is that there is plenty of scope for other tales to be woven, as Pullman has many other characters that could be explored equally well.
My only criticism is that it is too short! Other than that it is a fantastic prequel to the trilogy of His Dark Materials, and this edition is beautifully decorated. The fold-out board game is a nice extra, as are the elegant illustrations. A truly adorable little book! If you are a fan of His Dark Materials, I highly recommend adding this to your collection.
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