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The Subtle Knife is the second book in Philip Pullman’s series His Dark Materials. The story begins
with 12-year-old Will Parry, who stumbles upon a window to another world while trying to escape sinister men who have been hunting him. Will stumbles into a parallel universe called Cittagazze where he meets Lyra (the brave child protagonist from the first book > who has followed Lord Asriel through a similar window and ends up in Cittagazze.
Together, the children return to Will’s world, where Lyra seeks a scholar/physicist (Dr. Malone) who is able to program a computer to verbalize what Dust is saying. The Dust tells her that it was first associated with humans 35,000 years ago, after the Angels rebelled against God, and that the tale is going to repeat itself. This time, Dr. Malone is to play the role of the serpent.
Back in the world of the Cittagazze, Will retrieves the Subtle Knife and becomes the knife’s bearer. With the knife, Will cuts windows into other worlds.
As the story concludes, it is revealed that Lyra is prophesized to be the next Eve, and Will is supposed to find Lord Asriel to help him use knife against God in order to reverse battle’s outcome when the Angels rebel.
Though I share some of the same opinions as Pullman regarding criticisms of the Catholic Church, each book wreaks of an agenda, which detracts from what might otherwise be a decent children’s book.
Published: January 11, 2008