[QuickTidal]

So, since I happily suffer from the affliction that creates in me the want, nay, the need to have the best, and most limited edition of things (mainly books, but other things have fallen into this category from time to time), I was at the bookstore yesterday, and thought (as I considered finally picking up and reading "Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End Of The World" by Haruki Murakami) I have only ever read all of THE GOLDEN COMPASS by Phillip Pullman, and not the rest of the HIS DARK MATERIALS series (THE SUBTLE KNIFE, and THE AMBER SPYGLASS), so I stood in the kids section, contemplating either the kids version (which would match my Golden Compass cover-wise and was $9.99), or the teen version (which is nicer, but is also $17.99), and as I had the version I was buying in my hands, I passed the new releases table where they had all the covers laid out nicely to peruse, and lo and behold there is a HIS DARK MATERIALS Omnibus Edition (all three books in one big 6"x9" volume), the cover of which is bloody gorgeous!! I stood there a little stunned, and this girl working there stands alongside me and says "Beautiful isn't it?", and I look to her and say "Yeah, I can't believe how gorgeous it is really". The two of us just stood there in silence for about 30 seconds admiring it.

Long story short, I bought it. I can always sell my copy of THE GOLDEN COMPASS. The funny thing is that if you buy the trilogy as small mass market paperbacks, the set is $35.00, and this omnibus edition which is a nice trade paperback size, was only $27.00. So needless to say....

I reccomend it to anyone who likes the series, or who are thinking of reading the series. Well worth the money!

Anyways, I figured that with all the build-up explanation-wise, I'd post pics of my new aquisition.

Purty, ain't it?

[caladanbrood]

Urg. If only it didn't have the film advert on the front, that would be good. As well as using the proper name for Northen Lights, not this "Golden Compass" crap...

I was thinking the other day about re-reading these. Maybe I should try and get an omnibus edition too... it's certainly easier than three seperate books.

[Wiggles]

yea. gotta go with the caladanbrood here, even if golden compass is a better name than northern lights, the film advert is horrific and all 'pottery'.

[Binder of Demons]

It is a lovely cover, and well in keeping with the first book. I agree with Caladanbrood though about he film advert. Please say that it's just a sticker.

I loved this series, but did get annoyed with the name changes for the different markets. Preferred "Northern Lights" as the title for the first one too, since it's what i knew it as first.

Am curious as to what the film will be like, considering the religious overtones. But apparently there was a stage production that was very good, so it should be possible to do it justice on the big screen.

Will definitely go back and read it again soon.

[QuickTidal]

name change for Americans ala Potter.....ugg. I think it should have been named Northern Lights here in Canada too, I mean OUR HP is Philosophers Stone, so why can't we have the Northern lights as well? At least they kept the proper titles of the other two books, and thank god the second one ain't called "Will Parry & The Knife that finds other dimensions!" or something.

LOL

Unfortunately the movie blurb is NOT a sticker. I wish it was. I do feel however that it is a SMALL price to pay to have a really nicely designed omnibus.

[paladin]

what type of book series is this? seems to be more young adult fantasy according to the comments?

[stone monkey]

It is, and it's also considerably more subtle, thoughtful and better written than is usually the case for books of that ilk. I have a rather nice Omnibus Edition myself, which cost me 25 quid, a few years back. I did have the three as separate volumes, and then I lent them to a friend who gave them to her son to read...three years later I was still waiting to get them back and when I saw the new collected edition I couldn't help myself...

[caladanbrood]

pal, it's one of those series you can read on a whole load of different levels - it is YA fantasy in theory, but it does contain a whole load of much deeper stuff.

They changed the name, I believe, because they already knew what the other two were called, and wanted something in the same template. Stupid publishers:mad:

[QuickTidal]

caladanbrood;175850 said:

pal, it's one of those series you can read on a whole load of different levels - it is YA fantasy in theory, but it does contain a whole load of much deeper stuff.

Yeah, this is very true. Very good series, and I rather like then idea of reading it all as one volume....which I am currently doing.

[paladin]

sounds good.. ive read the first 3 of the tales of the otori, and that was mostly older teenager level stuff, but still fun.. so dont think i dont enjoy a nice uncomplicated read every now and then

[sadface]

The Amber Spyglass actually contains an attempt at a brief explanation of quantum entanglement. How's that for a children's book?

[councilor]

I've actually got that as well. ecxept it's got a different cover and the first part si called northern lihts, i'll see if i can dig up time to take a photo...

[Glass]

Great trilogy. One of the best for its literary merit. I'm happy it is compiled. I already own it.

[Werthead]

Actually, the title change is much more complicated than Harry Potter. Basically, the American Harry Potter publishers said to Rowling that American kids are too dumb to know what a 'philosopher' is, so it got changed to 'sorcerer' (Rowling - now a quarter-billion quid richer - got her revenge by giving the last book a weird title that probably most non-US kids won't get either and obviously not having to change it if she doesn't want to).

With Pullman it's more complex. The full story here. But basically the working title for the entire series was The Golden Compasses (in reference to Paradise Lost) and under this title both the UK and US publishers discussed the books. For some reason the US publishers fell in love with Golden Compass 1 as the title for Book 1, so when Pullman finally settled on His Dark Materials for the trilogy and Northern Lights for Book 1, they wouldn't shift on it, and showered Pullman with cash until he shut up about it. Thus the first book in the USA became The Golden Compass.

The American title sounds a bit better since it gives all three books a 'The' title and also means all three books are named after an item in the story, which links them better. However, the 'Golden Compasses' in Milton are actually compasses for drawing circles, not finding directions, and despite vague similarities Pullman never intended for the alethiometer to be a compass in the first place. So the accuracy of the title is up for debate.

[Varunwe]

Quote

Someone decided (mistakenly, but firmly) that the title referred to Lyra's alethiometer, which could be regarded as a sort of golden compass, but of the direction-finding and not circle-drawing sort.

I also thought the title referred to the alethiometer. Not so strange considering I've never read Paradise Lost and have only the faintest inkling what it's about.

I like the title Northern Lights better than The Golden Compass. IMO, it's more mysterious.

[QuickTidal]

I agree about the Northern Lights title...and I have been very tempted to order the trilogy in their UK form so I have it as such...but then I realize that by August of this year they will have 3 Spec Ed. Hardcovers that I think I'll buy as my collector items to keep and not open (and read my omnibus when I want to read the story), and so...I must pick my battles....unless there is a UK Spec Ed. hardcover ed being made..in which case I'm fucked! LOL