His Dark Materials - Review

I just finished reading His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman, better known as the Golden Compass Trilogy. It wasn't too bad. The first and second books were excellent, the third was a bit of a let down. The characterisation was quite solid all throughout however the third seemed to try to bring everyone back like a rushed clip show. Also, there seemed to be these weird character traits which I didn't recognise while I was reading the book appear suddenly. For example, everyone all of a sudden started going on about how Lyra was such a virtuous and brave child when she was a little shit of a human being.

What was enjoyable was the challenge to religon, authority and the church which really developed towards the end of the first book and manifested in the third. It was some interesting reading on intelligent design and the concept of a higher power. If theology is your thing, it's well hot.

All in all it was enjoyable but I felt my interest waning during the third installment and at times I'd skim read just to get through passages. Invariably any fantasy trilogy will be compared to LotR and His Dark Materials stacks up favourably but ultimately falls short.