Set in a universe very similar to ours, but with some key differences, this
fantasy world is as familiar as it is worth exploring;
a world where every person is accompanied by an animal spirit that is a reflection of their soul.The protagonist, a young girl by the name of Lyra Belacqua, knows nothing of the grand schemes that are shaping the world. She just cares about stealing a ride on the gyptian''s boats, picking fights with other
children and getting into as much trouble as she can lie her way out of.But adults and their concerns, such as the mysterious "Dust", vanishing children and wars in distant lands eventually catch up to Lyra and her constant companion, the daemon Pantalaimon (Pan for short).She encounters such wonders as the northern lights, long lived witches, warrior ice bears, an organization that severs people from their daemons, and behind it all a woman as dangerous as she is alluring.And waiting at the end, there is her courageous and fierce uncle, with his snow leopard daemon, who is bent upon crossing the veil between their world and ours.Lyra, depending upon her wits and the strange altheometer - also known as the Golden Compass - to get by, is moving closer to a destiny where no one else can help, and the multiverse, heaven included, depends upon her choice.