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Original poster

PHILIP__PULLMAN_________HIS DARK MATERIALS_________PLEASE HELP ME

33 replies

RTKangaMummy · 27/03/2006 22:55

Please has anybody read any of these books?

Please tell me the story

DS has an audition for a part in the film on friday SmileSmileSmile

His Dark Materials

Part One, Northern Lights

Part Two, The Subtle Knife

Part Three, The Amber Spyglass

Please could anybody help

TIA

Smile
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hunkermunker · 27/03/2006 22:56

Can't help, but good luck Kangaboy! Grin Grin

Original poster
RTKangaMummy · 27/03/2006 22:58

Thanks HM Smile

He is a bit young they want 11 - 13 year olds and he is still 10 but they have agreed to see him anyway SmileSmileSmile

I think it is just to hear him speak/read and take a photo ~~ at this stage and for casting director to see him

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stitch · 27/03/2006 23:03

its science fiction fantasy. about two kids, from parallel ish worlds. the boy comes from our world. he gets to be the keeper of the subtle knife which can cut windows between worlds, so the girl and th e boy can travel between different worlds. the boy doesnt have a dad, he got sucked into a world when the window was left open, and so was brought up without his dad. it has affected his childhood.
or it could be for the part of the girls friend in the first, where the child has suffered humongous loss.
good luck. hope he enjoys himself.

Original poster
RTKangaMummy · 27/03/2006 23:14

DEFFO BRILL

Thanks Smile

Are there other children in the stories?

OP posts:
snailspace · 27/03/2006 23:15

stich has the story right - another aspect is that most of the characters have as a part of themselves a daemon that has the form of an animal. The daemon's are as I recall attached to their owners by a thread, so they are always around somewhere (but may hide). Children's daemons can change form according to the mood of the owner, adult's daemons take a permanent form reflecting the character of the adult. The lead boy character doesn't have a daemon, in his world (like ours) people don't. One of the plots is an evil woman separating deamons from their child owners (with bad consequences), so a lot of children in that bit.

snailspace · 27/03/2006 23:17

I think the thread is invisible (except when you are severing it). Can't remember what happens when it's cut - but it's bad.

sharklet · 27/03/2006 23:18

Hi Kanga,

I'll keep my fingers crossed for him. What part is he up for?

The books centre around Lyra, a girl who lives in a parallel world to our own. In her world many places have the saem or similar names, but have evolved differently. in some ways this other world is behind ours in others ahead. The main difference is that in this world you effectively wear your soul on your sleeve. Everyone has a daemon which is effectively your soul in creature form.

Lyra is a ward of a college in Oxford. Her freind is kidnapped by some evil types and she goes off in search of him. Its a kind of conspiracy / science fiction / fantasy thing.

Its far too difficult to try to summarise as so much happens. Its a fantastic book so do read it if you can you'd really enjoy it!

sharklet · 27/03/2006 23:19

There are lots of children in different capacities Kanga, mostly in the different worlds.

Original poster
RTKangaMummy · 27/03/2006 23:21

WOW deffo brill Smile

Thank you so much

Will try to get to library tomorrow to see if I can get the books

Have no idea which part he is up for but would just like to be a bit prepared beforehand

This is the 1st audition he has been to for a film

Smile
OP posts:
sharklet · 27/03/2006 23:21

This might help \link{http://www.hisdarkmaterials.org/\www.hisdarkmaterials.org/}

Pruni · 27/03/2006 23:22

Children plus shape-shifting daemons (at puberty the form of the daemon becomes permanent).
Lyra is the main character of the first book.
It's really v complex.
Books set in Oxford but it is a fantasy version of the university/city.
Lots of v satisfying intelligent blasphemy.

I highly recommend reading the first one at least before the audition!! (They are great)

stitch · 27/03/2006 23:26

there are also lots of childrn in the world where the spectres attack all the grownups.

Original poster
RTKangaMummy · 27/03/2006 23:32

WOW what a complicated story

I don't think I will be able to speed read it

At least I can tell him the outline tomorrow

I had the idea it was about supernatural or witches

Are they adult books or for teenagers ?

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Pruni · 27/03/2006 23:35

For young teens I think
But exceptionally well-written and v imaginative
Not perfect but definitely intellectually challenging
there is a website, hold on

Sparklemagic · 27/03/2006 23:37

Hi RT, they are children's books - for older children and teenagers I think, though they are so well written that they are read by everyone really.

I am waiting to read first one when DH finishes it!

I am SOOO not an expert on child acting but I wonder if he'd be better to not even try to assume a knowledge of the books, just to be himself - because he is on the lower age of the spectrum they want so they won't expect of him what they would of a 13 year old, would they? If it were me I'd be in there blathering on about how I couldn't wait to read the books, and how I love sci fi and reading, can't get my head out of a book, etc etc....so they know they can assume he WOULD be interested if he does go further! what do you think?

Pruni · 27/03/2006 23:38

\link{http://www.randomhouse.com/features/pullman/goldencompass/index.html\Here's a synopsis of the first book} - which was renamed THe Golden Compass for Americans because Northern Lights was....too hard? Don't know...
Scroll down and there are links to the next two.

PP says one more to come, I think.

Flamesparrow · 27/03/2006 23:47

I think Sparklemagic has got a good point - just being himself rather than knowing lots sounds best.

HDM are probably my favourite books - there is sooo much in them, and I am always amazed that they are placed as children's books.

It really is hard to get any idea of the books from the brief summaries etc because they are just so complex... there are huge issues in them, smaller childhood relationship issues, and in amongst it all, just a good ole fashioned love story. Regardless of if he gets a part - read em Grin

Oh, and there are lots of children in the film - the main ones that stand out in my memory are the boy with the knife (although are they doing one film or 3? If 3, then he won't be in the first one), Roger - Lyra's best friend, and Tony - A daemonless boy :(

Flamesparrow · 27/03/2006 23:49

Oh, and always Angry about bloody american's and "Golden Compass" - just because the alethiometer looks compassed shaped doesn't mean it is the teeniest bit like one!!! Stupid people.

Flamesparrow · 27/03/2006 23:49

Oh, and always Angry about bloody american's and "Golden Compass" - just because the alethiometer looks compassed shaped doesn't mean it is the teeniest bit like one!!! Stupid people.

Flamesparrow · 27/03/2006 23:50

Oh, and always Angry about bloody american's and "Golden Compass" - just because the alethiometer looks compassed shaped doesn't mean it is the teeniest bit like one!!! Stupid people.

Flamesparrow · 27/03/2006 23:51

Blush Apparantly it upsets me even more than I knew!!

Good luck RTKM's DS

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RTKangaMummy · 28/03/2006 00:04

I don't know -- we have just been told HIS DARK MATERIALS

but from the link below they are doing open auditions for lyra for general public for 1st book

But it sounds too much of a story for putting in one film

I agree about him not pretending to have read the story beforehand, but will let him know rough outline iyswim

It does sound like his type of book anyway

I don't know why we haven't been sent them by his Grandpa he buys him loads of books

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Original poster
RTKangaMummy · 28/03/2006 00:07

Thanks for all your good wishes SmileSmileSmile

He is being seen at 1.15pm this Friday Smile

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snailspace · 28/03/2006 00:17

Does he read moderately fast? He could at least be a fair way into Northern Lights if you bought it for him tomorrow (or today, looking at time). I expect he'd enjoy it in any case. We'll send good vibes his way on Friday.

Pruni · 28/03/2006 00:23

Good luck to him KM, I think it would be a wonderful thing to be part of. The stage production was supposed to be excellent and v inventive, given the natire of half the characters (shape-shifting daemons).

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