Pullman Phillip 01

Reviews & Overviews by Rod Cameron

The Subtle Knife by Phillip Pullman

The story-line in The Subtle Knife moves between three universes - Ours, Lyra's and one in-between. The hero is 12 year old Will who is on his own, and on the run from the police in our universe. He is trying to find his father who has disappeared off the face of the Earth. Will blunders into the strange world of Cittagazze and meets up with Lyra. In the mysterious Torre degli Angeli Will acquires an important artifact the Subtle Knife. This knife is so sharp that it can cut windows between the different universes. And with this knife, Lyra and Will pursue their quests.
Although a second book in a trilogy, this is more the middle section of a much longer story. It is most definitely NOT a filler. There is much that is new from Northern Lights. Be prepared for as many surprises as with the first book. In fact there is one unbelievable scene towards the end of the book that left me in shock for a few moments - no one dies, but the effect on me was similar to Gandalf's 'death' in The Fellowship of the Ring. Apologies if that needed a spoiler, but surely everyone has read Lord of the Rings?

Publisher: Point - Scholastic Children's Books
Date: 1997
Pages: 341 pages
Price: £5.99
Format: Trade paperback
Reviewed by: Rod Cameron
Review Date: December 2001