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Once Upon a Time in the North

Author: Philip Pullman
Publisher: David Fickling Books
Category: Book

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Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars

7 reviews
Sales Rank: 17

Media: Hardcover
Pages: 112
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 6.8 x 4.4 x 0.8

ISBN: 0385614322
EAN: 9780385615235
ASIN: 0385614322

Publication Date: April 3, 2008
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Condition: IN STOCK - BRAND NEW - SENT FIRST CLASS - IMMEDIATE DISPATCH

Also Available In:

•	Hardcover - Once Upon a Time in the North
•	Audio CD - Once Upon a Time in the North

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Editorial Reviews:

Amazon.co.uk

Bonus content inside the book

Customer Reviews: Read 2 more reviews...

1 out of 5 stars

Sad May 9, 2008
1 out of 11 found this review helpful

He's really milking this scrawny old cash cow for all its worth, isn't he. The original books are dull and derivitive. And this is in the same league as Rowling and her 'handwritten' books.

Don't waste your time on this or put money in this man's pocket. There are actually well-written and original books out there that are far more interesting and - ooh - controversial.

5 out of 5 stars

The greatest storyteller of our time! April 30, 2008
6 out of 7 found this review helpful

If you ever doubted that Philip Pullman is the greatest storyteller of our time, here's the book to assuage those doubts. This tale of the first meeting of Lee Scoresby between Iorek Byrnison combines adventure, mystery, excitement and humour in one delicious package. Like the other reviewers my only complaint is that I was left wanting much, much more. Having said that, it is the brevity of the story that proves to my mind why Pullman is such a great teller of tales. This is a book for children and adults alike, and while you could read it to your children in the course of a rainy afternoon, you will return to it again and again when your children are in bed to enjoy time and again the richness of the descriptions and the humour of the dialogue and to delight in Lee's relationship with his daemon Hester.
The board game that is included with the book is another treasure which subverts traditional board games in that it is the "loser" of the balloon race (i.e the last player to reach the centre) who actually wins!

3 out of 5 stars

Its grim up north April 22, 2008
2 out of 20 found this review helpful

Don't bother with this purchase Small Mercy by Tom Dawes instead, its the future of trashy literature.

4 out of 5 stars

Size Isn't Everything April 22, 2008
5 out of 6 found this review helpful

Those that have read Pullman's trilogy will find this book an interesting expansion upon the character of Lee Scoresby; how he became an aeronaut and how he met Iorek Byrinson. It is the size of a child's storybook, perhaps two chapters' worth of a normal novel - so you will finish this within a couple of hours. As a stand-alone novel I wasn't left satisfied: it would be better included as an appendix text or supplement to a reprint of the trilogy. It's also very expensive in the shops for what you're getting - the price here is more realistic. Nevertheless, a nice supplement for collectors and fans.

5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful Short Story April 17, 2008
17 out of 21 found this review helpful

This book is set around 35 years before the events depicted in His Dark Materials. It gives us a wonderful background of Lee Scoresby, the aeronaut Lyra meets in Northern Lights. In this new story a young Lee sets out to find adventure after a fortuitous win at poker finds him the proud owner of a balloon.

The fact that Lee is greatly under-prepared for flying a balloon adds to the excitement and amusement of how the tale unfolds. It also is the predominant reason for his crash landing into the middle of a confrontation between a Dutch sea-captain and a mining company! Never one to easily be distressed, Lee leaps into the thick of things. The story has all the essential elements of 'good' versus 'evil', as do all of the Pullman books, but it is far from repetitive.

For those who enjoyed the trilogy that this prequels I think you will be very interested in this short story. The echoes that resound between this and some of the events in His Dark Materials merely add to the charm of it. The good thing is that there is plenty of scope for other tales to be woven, as Pullman has many other characters that could be explored equally well.

My only criticism is that it is too short! Other than that it is a fantastic prequel to the trilogy of His Dark Materials, and this edition is beautifully decorated. The fold-out board game is a nice extra, as are the elegant illustrations. A truly adorable little book! If you are a fan of His Dark Materials, I highly recommend adding this to your collection.