The Amber Spyglass facts for kids
First edition
|
|
| Author | Philip Pullman |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Philip Pullman & David Scutt |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Series | His Dark Materials |
| Genre | Fantasy |
| Publisher | Scholastic/David Fickling Books |
|
Publication date
|
10 October 2000 |
| Media type | Print (hardback and paperback) |
| Pages | 518 |
| ISBN | 0-590-54244-3 |
| OCLC | 55870599 |
| Preceded by | The Subtle Knife |
| Followed by | Lyra's Oxford |
The Amber Spyglass is the exciting third book in the His Dark Materials series by Philip Pullman. It came out in 2000. This book made history by winning the 2001 Whitbread Book of the Year award. It was the first children's book ever to win this big prize! It was also named Children's Book of the Year at the 2001 British Book Awards. Plus, it was the first children's book to be considered for the famous Man Booker Prize.
Contents
Exploring the Worlds of The Amber Spyglass
This story takes place in many different worlds. These worlds are mostly controlled by a powerful group called the Magisterium. The Magisterium is a religious government that tries to stop new ideas.
In some of these worlds, human souls live outside their bodies. They appear as animal companions called "dæmons". These dæmons are smart and can talk.
Important tools in the story include the alethiometer. This is a special device that tells the truth. There is also the subtle knife, which can cut openings between different worlds. Finally, the amber spyglass helps people see a special kind of energy called Dust.
Unraveling the Plot: Lyra's Journey
The Magisterium learns about a prophecy involving Lyra. They believe she must be killed to stop a new "fall" from happening. Lyra's mother, Mrs Coulter, hides her in a faraway cave.
While sleeping, Lyra dreams of her friend Roger. He is in the land of the dead. Lyra promises to help him.
Will's Quest and Angelic Encounters
In the world of Cittàgazze, two angels, Balthamos and Baruch, try to convince Lyra's friend Will to take the subtle knife to Lord Asriel. Lord Asriel's army is getting ready to fight the Magisterium. But Will wants to find Lyra first.
The archangel List of His Dark Materials characters#Metatron attacks them. Will uses the subtle knife to escape to another world just in time. The angels explain that they, like all angels, were formed from Dust. The very first angel claimed to be the creator. He became very powerful and was known as the Authority. Now, he is old and weak. He has given most of his power to his main helper, Metatron.
Mary Malone and the Mulefa World
Meanwhile, a scientist named Mary Malone finds herself in a world with smart creatures called mulefa. She learns that the trees they depend on are dying. Mary uses sap from the trees to build a spyglass. This spyglass lets her see Dust. She discovers that Dust is quickly flowing away. This means it can no longer help the trees grow.
Reunion and the Land of the Dead
Will meets Iorek Byrnison, a powerful armored bear. Together, they find Lyra's cave. The Magisterium's forces arrive at the same time. Will wakes Lyra and uses the knife to escape to another world. But he loses focus, and the knife breaks. Iorek, who is skilled with metal, fixes the knife for them.
Lyra and Will then travel to the world of the dead. Visitors must leave their dæmons behind. This causes Lyra and her dæmon, Pantalaimon, great pain. Will's dæmon, which was always inside him, now becomes visible. After finding Roger, they convince the harpies who guard the world to let them open a window. This window allows the dead to leave. The dead step through and happily disappear, becoming part of the universe.
The Final Battle and New Beginnings
Lord Asriel's army and the Magisterium's forces begin their big battle. Mrs Coulter decides to join forces with Asriel. She enters the Authority's fortress and tricks Metatron. Then, she betrays him. All three fall into a deep hole and are destroyed. Lyra and Will free the Authority. They find him confused and without power. He is so weak that he simply dissolves when exposed to the wind.
Lyra and Will find their dæmons and escape to the mulefa world. There, they meet Mary Malone. Mary tells them about her past. She used to be a nun. But she fell in love and felt that her previous beliefs no longer made sense. Hearing her story, Lyra feels new and strange emotions. The next day, Lyra and Will go for a picnic in the woods. They kiss and tell each other they are in love. As they do, the flow of Dust slows down and surrounds them.
The witch Serafina Pekkala explains that every open window between worlds creates a new spectre. These spectres are why Dust has been escaping. All existing windows must be closed, except for the one leading from the world of the dead. Lyra and Will are very sad to learn this. They must return to their own worlds because they cannot live long in any other. But, finally accepting their fate, they promise each other something. They will go to a bench in their own Oxford Botanic Gardens every midsummer's day to remember each other.
They return to their worlds, and the witches begin closing the windows. Will purposely breaks the subtle knife. In her own world, Lyra goes back to Jordan College. She finds that she can no longer read her alethiometer by instinct. She decides to study alethiometry in a formal way. With Pantalaimon, who has now become a permanent pine marten, she decides to build the Republic of Heaven.
See also
In Spanish: El catalejo lacado para niños
