Books by Philip Pullman
Philip Pullman is a British author. On Five Books, his book The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ has come in for special attention, but he is the best known for His Dark Materials trilogy, an epic written for young adults. It is also highly recommended on our site. In 2018, Pullman published the first book in another trilogy, a prequel (and sequel) to His Dark Materials, called The Book of Dust. So far two books in that trilogy have been published, La Belle Sauvage, which takes place when Lyra, the heroine, is a baby, and The Secret Commonwealth, which is set during Lyra’s student days at Oxford.
His Dark Materials III: The Amber Spyglass (full-colour illustrated edition)
by Philip Pullman and illustrated by Chris Wormell
His Dark Materials II: The Subtle Knife (full-colour illustrated edition)
by Philip Pullman and illustrated by Chris Wormell
His Dark Materials I: Northern Lights (full-colour illustrated edition)
by Philip Pullman and illustrated by Chris Wormell
“There is a scientific aesthetic to the existence and discovery of multiple worlds in this series – researchers are investigating the phenomenon, and we meet scientists and philosophers and would-be exploiters. All those folks can only learn about the worlds laboriously and slowly. But Will, one of the two leads, has a pure fantasy-object, and it’s perfect – an iconically desirable magical item. His ‘subtle knife’ can slice through the air into another world, creating a temporary portal. When he uses it, you can almost feel it slipping through the secret stuff that keeps us separated from those just-out-there realities…” Read more...
Northern Lights - The Graphic Novel: Volume One
Philip Pullman, adapted by Stéphane Melchior, illustrated by Clément Oubrerie, translated by Annie Eaton
“It’s very original and very well written. You really get into the world of those characters, and there is lots of adventure… The novel is not necessarily a children’s book although the main character is a child. Having it as a graphic novel really helps to make it an easier read, so you can give the story to younger children… This graphic novel is a great alternative to reading the book, especially for 10-13 year olds.” Read more...
The Best Graphic Novels for 10-12 Year Olds
Harald, Children
The Secret Commonwealth: The Book of Dust Volume 2
by Philip Pullman
The Secret Commonwealth is the second book in the long-awaited Book of Dust trilogy, written by Philip Pullman for children but in reality appealing to children and adults alike. It follows the spectacular success of His Dark Materials, the fantasy trilogy about Lyra Belacqua, a young girl from Oxford (where Pullman himself lives) and recommended multiple times on Five Books. The Book of Dust goes back in time to when Lyra is a baby. In the first book of the Book of Dust trilogy, La Belle Sauvage, we followed hero Malcolm and baby Lyra as they escape Oxford by canoe and we left them in London. What will happen next? We eagerly await the next installment.
This is a great series to read out loud at bedtime with children of 'tween' age. But like Harry Potter, there is no real age limit to enjoying them. If you haven't read any of these Philip Pullman books yet, get ordering and get reading.
“This is one of my favourite books. Lyra feels like a natural successor to Matilda. She is a character of action. She isn’t sitting in a corner reading. She is out there and she is having a real effect on her story. She isn’t being buffeted by forces and having to rebel against them, she is out there actively seeking an adventure. I read this when I was eleven and starting secondary school. I remember her really sticking with me not least because she lies so much.” Read more...
Kiran Millwood Hargrave, Children's Author
“Jesus is the good man who believes in the non-institutionalism of religion, who says that my religion is a religion of love, there will be no institutions, no insiders and no outsiders, no money, no authority. His brother is the scoundrel Christ who, to me, is modeled very much on St Paul. He is not a bad man” Read more...
The best books on The Role of Religion
Selina O'Grady, Journalist
Interviews with Philip Pullman
Favourite Books, recommended by Philip Pullman
The author Philip Pullman—creator of the beloved His Dark Materials trilogy, and one of the world’s great storytellers—recommends five of his favourite books: from a fragmentary masterpiece by Fernando Pessoa to P. G. Wodehouse’s comic triumphs.
Interviews where books by Philip Pullman were recommended
The best books on The Role of Religion, recommended by Selina O'Grady
Religion has an ability to create groups and communities that has yet to be surpassed, argues Selina O’Grady, author of And Man Created God: A History of the World at the Time of Jesus.
The best books on Morality Without God, recommended by Mary Warnock
Which comes first, morality or religion? And what happens when religious dogma clashes with the morality it purports to uphold? British philosopher Mary Warnock recommends the best books on morality without God.
Books With Strong Female Leads
In recent years, there has been a slew of novels retelling old myths and epics from the perspective of a female character, but books with strong female leads are nothing new. From classic fiction to memoirs, from fantasy to thrillers, literature is populated with female leads — both fictional and real — who are strong in different ways.
Fierce Girls in Tween Fiction, recommended by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
Books like Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls popularise the many different ways women and girls can be strong, and as strong as they need to be. Award-winning children’s author, Kiran Millwood Hargrave, talks us through some of her favourite strong female characters in children’s fiction.
The best books on Humanism, recommended by Andrew Copson
Humanist ideas are not a recent phenomenon, but have been around for millennia, says Andrew Copson, chief executive of Humanists UK. He explains why it’s worth making a positive choice to be a humanist and recommends a great humanist reading list.
The Best Portal Fantasy Books, recommended by Sylvia Bishop
In portal fantasy, characters leave one world for another – satisfying a yearning we all share, says fantasy novelist and Five Books fantasy editor Sylvia Bishop. She introduces us to five unforgettable doorways – through attics and out of dreams, via the liminal spaces between worlds, into the endless possibilities beyond.
Editors’ Picks: Children’s Books, recommended by Sophie Roell
Five Books editor Sophie Roell selects the best children’s books of 2019, after intense discussions with her family about which books should make the list.
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1
Persepolis
by Marjane Satrapi -
2
The Legend of Sally Jones
Jakob Wegelius, translated by Peter Graves -
3
Mysteries of the Quantum Universe
Thibault Damour, Mathieu Burniat, translated by Sarah-Louise Raillard -
4
Kariba
by Daniel Clarke, Daniel Snaddon & James Clarke -
5
Northern Lights - The Graphic Novel: Volume One
Philip Pullman, adapted by Stéphane Melchior, illustrated by Clément Oubrerie, translated by Annie Eaton
The Best Graphic Novels for 10-12 Year Olds, recommended by Harald
The Best Graphic Novels for 10-12 Year Olds, recommended by Harald
Even as kids become old enough to read books without pictures, reading a graphic novel is a great way to relax or get a grasp of a complex subject (like quantum physics). 11 year old Harald, an avid reader, recommends some of the best ones he’s read that other kids his age might also enjoy.
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1
The Books of Earthsea: The Complete Illustrated Edition
by Ursula Le Guin and illustrated by Charles Vess -
2
The Hobbit & The Lord of the Rings Boxed Set: Illustrated Edition
by JRR Tolkien and illustrated by Alan Lee -
3
His Dark Materials I: Northern Lights (full-colour illustrated edition)
by Philip Pullman and illustrated by Chris Wormell -
4
The Last Hero
by Terry Pratchett and illustrated by Paul Kidby -
5
The Complete Chronicles of Narnia
by C.S. Lewis and illustrated by Pauline Baynes
The Most Beautifully Illustrated Fantasy Novels, recommended by Sylvia Bishop
The Most Beautifully Illustrated Fantasy Novels, recommended by Sylvia Bishop
Fantasy classics often have a myth-like quality that lends itself to beautiful, carefully crafted editions, explains our fantasy editor Sylvia Bishop. She introduces five key examples – from hand-produced wood-engravings to the re-colouring of a lifetime’s work, these books are labours of love.
