His Dark Materials: Lyra's Oxford

Yes the story is a short read, but it's just as much about the book itself, which is beautiful and charming and contains miscellaneous items such as a map and a postcard that tie into the series. Well worth it if you're a fan.

Although there is a wonderful companion story throughout Lyras oxford comma the truly miraculous addition to the collection would be the map of Lyras Oxford. It may be used to follow along any book in this series at points taking place in Lyra’s Oxfords. This is made possible by the beautifully detailed and descriptive manor in which Sir Philip Pullman brings us into his stories and world.

Well yes, this book may be expensive, but if you are a fan of the series, I would reccommend it to you. The story, 'Lyra and the Birds', is quite short and will only take about 15 minutes to read, but it is the curious little extras that will grab your attention if you are familiar with the books. There are clues leading to the next book in the series, The Book Of Dust, such as a strange postcard from Dr Mary Malone. I do advise, though, that you read this book VERY carefully, otherwise you will miss the clues I was talking about. For example, look at the dates on the SS. Zenobia schedule. You may notice something odd about the dates for Famagusta and Latakia. But that's all I'll say! All in all, quite a good book, and worth the price if you use it properly. Happy Reading!

I have read Philip Pullman's HDM trilogy, and they are the most gorgeous books I have ever come across. Lyra's oxford I love too, but for a whole different reason. It's not so much the story I cherish, but the actual book. I brought it to school with me for the first day of high school, clutching it protectively to me. It was like having every single page of HDM with me. And that was the most enormous comfort I could ever ask for. Even though I'm not superstitious in the least, I must say, it's grown to be my talisman. I refuse to sleep without it in my room.

First and foremost, I recommend this book strongly to fans of the His Dark Materials trilogy. Not only is it an excellent collectible, but it also brings the reader back to the thought-provoking, imaginative world Pullman crafted in the trilogy.To those readers unfamiliar with the trilogy, I suggest you read the trilogy before attempting this short story. You won't regret reading Pullman's work, and it will make this little volume much more enjoyable. Besides, this book may spoil the ending to the trilogy for some. If you feel incredibly compelled to tackle "Lyra's Oxford" first, however, I imagine you would find it both an interesting and intriguing read.Indeed, it is a short story. I was disappointed to see it come so swiftly to a conclusion, as are most readers, I'm sure. However, we must not forget that it is just that--a short story. And as such, it does an excellent job. Typical of Pullman, the story can be read on several levels. First and foremost, it's a good story and a quick read. Deeper than that, however, is Pullman's flair for sparking thought in the reader. Between the story itself, the added artifacts, and Pullman's introduction, one could spend days dissecting the full meaning of this tiny book (a task that I fully intend to undertake). It especially feels like this episode is merely an opening chapter to a greater epic, which for now must be imagined by the reader. A quick reader can digest the story in under an hour. A creative romantic could draw it out and savor the full story and beyond through several reads. A dedicated scholar could conceivably turn it into a lecture circuit. So to those who feel it's too short, or that the artifacts are irrelevant, perhaps you need to try reading it more closely. A hint to ponder: try to find some time paradoxes between the present and history given in the book. That's where I'm starting my investigation.To conclude, this is a juicy little red book. With a tantalizing story, scratching the surface of a much larger meaning, peppered with intriguing artifacts and wonderful artistry, it is a necessary companion to past, present, and future His Dark Materials fans.

As much as I knew from my obsessive searching on the internet that this would be a short story, I was initially disappointed in the actual size and length of Lyra's Oxford. First, the story:I enjoyed this short story about one incident in Lyra's life. I have been curious to see how Lyra adjusts to life after the BIG EVENT at the end of the first trilogy. It was nice to have a little story instead of an entire novel in which to do this. My burning question was how Lyra adjusted to the loss of her relationship with Will and it was answered quietly and succinctly in just a few sentences. Will is only mentioned a few times in this short story, which is perhaps as it should be. How would Lyra get any work done or really live at all if he was more often foremost in her thoughts?I know from some of the things I've read elsewhere that the materials in this piece of work are supposed to connect to others to be published later on. I am eager to see how they do connect. We now have artifacts such as a map of Oxford and a postcard from Mary Malone to add to this new installment in Lyra's life, in a way that reminded me a bit of Nick Bantok's Griffin and Sabine series. If you are going to put out short little books with interconnected clues, however, they need to have publishing dates close together. I gave up on the Griffin and Sabine books when too much time between them made me loose momentum. I doubt this would happen with Pullman's work as I am more dedicated as a fan to this material, but I could see too little published too far apart turning off potential new fans.

Three kinds of people will enjoy this book. First, those who after the three-course feast of HDM are anxious for any crumbs (or should one say coffee & liqueurs) that Pullman has to offer. They will find a precious glimpse of Lyra and Pan at 14, and feel encouraged that their story is far from over.Second, the book will delight anyone who knows, loves, or has visited Oxford. With its absence of cars and urban sprawl, Lyra's city has much to recommend it over ours. It is what the imaginative may still sense on a Sunday morning in the Botanic Garden.Third, the book will charm the bibliophile and connoisseur of literary curiosities. Beside the story, there are wonderful pages from a Baedeker's Guide, and advertisements in the quaint style of Lyra's world. The wood engravings by John Lawrence are in the best early 20th-century tradition. He and Pullman must have had fun putting this together.