Lyras Oxford (His Dark Materials, #3.5)

by Philip Pullman

John Lawrence (Illustrator) and Christopher Wormell (Illustrator)

A BEGUILING NEW EPISODE FROM THE UNIVERSE OF HIS DARK MATERIALS Lyra's Oxford opens two years after the conclusion of Philip Pullman's The Amber Spyglass in the comfort and familiarity of Jordan College, where Lyra and her daemon, Pantalaimon, sit on the sun-drenched roof looking out over all of Oxford. But their peace is shattered when a strange bird - a witch's daemon, on it's own - tumbles out of the sky, in search of a healing elixer to cure his witch of a strange new disease. Lyra and Pan decided to help - witches are friends, of course - but the closer their winding walk leads them towards the infamous Oxford alchemist, the stronger Lyra's sense that something is amiss. INCLUDES FOLDOUT MAP AND OTHER MATTER NEVER BEFORE SEEN IN THIS WORLD

• ISBN13: 9780552557511
• Publish Date: 1 November 2007 (first published 28 October 2003)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 31 July 2015
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Penguin Random House Children's UK
• Imprint: Corgi Childrens
• Format: Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
• Pages: 64
• Language: English

Reviews

[Quirky Cat]

Lyra’s Oxford takes place after the events at the end of the His Dark Materials Trilogy (AKA The Golden Compass series). I’ll admit I felt a little heartsick when I realized where this fit in the timeline (I found the ending to be more bitter than sweet, personally).
This short story reads a bit more like a child’s book than I remember the series being (though admittedly it has been awhile), and didn’t quite suck me in like The Collectors did. On the bright side it comes with a wonderful map that can be pulled out. I’m sure this is something that collectors would like (my reference to the other short story being completely unintentional here).
I think the most quotable line in the story will give any potential readers a good feel for what they’re in for: “Everything means something,” Lyra said severely, “We just have to find out how to read it.”

For more reviews, check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks