His Dark Materials

[vampiricduck]

"In an interview with the Oxford Mail at the premiere of The Golden Compass movie, Pullman suggested The Book of Dust could be released in 2009. The same article describes the book as a 'full-length novel' which contradicts earlier claims that it would be a collection of short stories."- taken from the wiki page on The Book of Dust, and the direct article from the Oxford Mail.

Oh wow, it's set to be a full length novel! And it's set to be big!! !!

[Voldemorts8thHorcrux]

Very descriptive Phil, a big big book . But I can't wait, its 2009

[vampiricduck]

Well, we can always hope... I suppose for me it's like the Wheel of Time. I've been waiting to see the end of that series since 1999. *despair*

There's no release date for The Book of Dust yet, but neither have we been told it's to be pushed back. I'm electing to see that as a good thing, though it could just as well go either way.

You know, I hate to be so picky.. but I want Pullman's publishers to give us a special edition.. I think we've waited long enough to merit us getting some special packaging... when I think of all the things he could involve...

I already had a big hardback omnibus of the books, and then I decided that I would get the special edition hardback of each of the three, and it really paid off. They're really beautiful and take pride of place on my shelf because they were the first books that ever challenged me to think things through more. The extras in the back are really clever- little snippets from Grumann's diary and pieces of maps, etc- it added something small but significant to the story, without a doubt. I would love to see that in the Book of Dust.

[Voldemorts8thHorcrux]

I think the first thing I'm doing when I get my own income is buy all my favorite books special edition books. I definitely hope we see things like that in the book of dust

[Emmie]

Originally Posted by vampiricduck

I already had a big hardback omnibus of the books, and then I decided that I would get the special edition hardback of each of the three, and it really paid off.

I managed to get a signed copy of the hardback omnibus a few years ago. But I'm sort of afraid to actually, you know, use the thing, so I have a paperback copy that I pick up whenever I want to look at something in the books.

And I personally don't think we'll see The Book of Dust until 2010 - it can take a while to edit and produce a book, even if it is done now. I am enormously excited though! Particularly now that it's being described as a novel (I hadn't heard that before).

I don't know exactly when I read the HDM for the first time, but I think it must have been when I was 13 or so and I'm 20 now. And shortly after finishing them I remember hearing about The Book of Dust and looking forward to it in the same way I looked forward to the next Harry Potter novel. That was an entirely different part of my life, so it seems pretty unreal that the wait is finally, finally almost over.

[Voldemorts8thHorcrux]

im glad i've only known about Book of Dust now then

I think I started reading HDM only last year actually, but it's one of the more amazing series i've read. I only wish i started them earlier

I'm wondering whether i should buy these for my trip to my great uncle's to read for 2 days or books i actually haven't read yet, but these are more special

[Mad_Druid]

Originally Posted by vampiricduck

"In an interview with the Oxford Mail at the premiere of The Golden Compass movie, Pullman suggested The Book of Dust could be released in 2009. The same article describes the book as a 'full-length novel' which contradicts earlier claims that it would be a collection of short stories."- taken from the wiki page on The Book of Dust, and the direct article from the Oxford Mail.

Oh wow, it's set to be a full length novel! And it's set to be big!! !!

I'm so excited about this

[Emmie]

Originally Posted by Voldemorts8thHorcrux

I'm wondering whether i should buy these for my trip to my great uncle's to read for 2 days or books i actually haven't read yet, but these are more special

Well, personally I don't buy many books that I haven't read before from the library. If I haven't read it how do I know if it's something I want to own?

The exception being if my local bookstore has a signed copy of something (they usually have a lot of author events, actually) and I am fairly certain I'm going to like it, whether because I've read good reviews of it or just think it sounds really interesting from the jacket text.

Originally Posted by Mad_Druid

I'm so excited about this

I know! Especially the "big" part.

[Voldemorts8thHorcrux]

well, they're books that are part of a series i like . But His Dark Materials have waited longer to be bought

I'm too excited about Dresden Files at the moment but after rereading the series again i'll be super excited

[BubblyShell22]

Ooohh, I can't wait for The Book of Dust. It sounds like it'll be cool.

[Voldemorts8thHorcrux]

My mom bought the entire series for me today ::clap

[Emmie]

Originally Posted by Voldemorts8thHorcrux

well, they're books that are part of a series i like . But His Dark Materials have waited longer to be bought

I'm too excited about Dresden Files at the moment but after rereading the series again i'll be super excited

Oh, gotcha. Come to think of it, I'll sometimes buy books without knowing much about them if I like the author... it's just that there are only a few authors I like well enough to read anything they write, and they are generally slow with putting out new books, so it doesn't happen very frequently. Philip Pullman is one of those authors though.

BTW, I think I said this in the Dresden Files thread but seeing you (and everyone else) write about it so much has inspired me to order the first one from the library. Looking forward to reading it.

Originally Posted by Voldemorts8thHorcrux

My mom bought the entire series for me today ::clap

Yay! I love flipping through new books and admiring the font and all those beautifully written words and everything...

[BubblyShell22]

That's awesome that you got the entire series. It's an awesome fantasy series.

[Voldemorts8thHorcrux]

im like halfway through "The Amber Spyglass" now . I can see why it can get boring for some kids. The first books were mostly about adventure but all the sort of "politics" and prewar stuff can get kind of boring for a kid.I remember this series was the first series that i could read while taking breaks in between even if now i find it like ten times more exciting

[BubblyShell22]

Yeah, I agree that young kids may not be able to grasp the books, but older readers may want to read them. I'm glad you like them.

[Voldemorts8thHorcrux]

i think if there's someone explaining, it can be a children's book. kids are much smarter than people give them credit for when they really want to be. but overall it's more of a YA book because it is rather complex. I found it more enjoyable this time round, but i understood it well enough a few years ago too

[BubblyShell22]

I agree that some of the subject matter is complex and that older readers may understand it better than younger readers. However, I enjoyed it and can't wait for The Book of Dust.

[Voldemorts8thHorcrux]

i really want to read Lyra's Oxford too, cuz i haven't yet.

[Morning_Star]

Originally Posted by Voldemorts8thHorcrux

i really want to read Lyra's Oxford too, cuz i haven't yet.

It's a cute book, but it wasn't really that good. Though, I suppose it could be just me thinking that, I've never talked to anyone else having read it.

[Voldemorts8thHorcrux]

i didn't really like Pullman's book "Clockwork" that we read in English class. His other books don't seem to be as complex and that's what i really like about his books. overall, his books are too "cute" in a way