The Golden Compass (Uziel Beltrán)

Title: The Golden Compass (1995).

Author: Philip Pullman

Genre: Fantasy

Reasons for choosing this particular book:

I have chosen The Golden Compass because I find it particularly interesting the concept of parallel worlds this book offers. Furthermore, I have binged half the first season of the TV series called “His Dark Materials”, which is based on the trilogy with the same name. In this way, I will learn a lot more of the story and its characters while I improve my reading skills.

Place and time the story develops:

The story starts developing in Jordan College, Oxford in an unspecified period of time because it is situated in a parallel world. However, there are some references that suggest that the events are happening in our present.

Brief description of the main characters:

The story is starred by Lyra Belacqua, a brave and wild twelve-year-old girl who tries to find her place in the world. She has a “daemon” called Pantalaimon. These “daemons” are a part of people’s souls in the form of animals, which always accompany them.

Another important character is Lord Asriel, Lyra’s uncle. He is described as a tall and tenacious man. As he is a very busy man, he does not visit her niece very often.

There is also Roger, Lyra’s best friend. He is an easy-going little kid who works in the kitchen.

Summary of the chapters I have read so far:

The story starts with Lyra and her “daemon” Pantalaimon playing around Jordan College. She ends up in the Retiring Room, a place where very important people of the Institute have meetings. When she and Pantalaimon hear someone coming, they decide to hide in a closet. They see the Master pouring a white powder into a bottle of wine which is supposed to be given to Lord Asriel, Lyra’s uncle. Nevertheless, as she is not allowed to be there, she does not know what to do. Fortunately, she warns him about the drink in time.

Anyway, Lord Asriel is about to give a lecture regarding the expedition he has made and something called “Dust”, so he tells Lyra to hide again and spy on the Master who was going to sit near the wardrobe in which she was going to be.

A few days later, Lyra decides to go play with her best friend, Roger. While playing in some catacombs, they talk about a rumor that has circulated across the community that children have started disappearing due to “the Gobblers”.

One day, the young girl tries to reach Roger to go play again, but she cannot find him. It is believed that he has been kidnapped, but she knows it is the Gobblers.