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Amazing fantasy stories
Philip Pullman wrote "The Golden Compass" in 1997, and it is the first in a trilogy for young readers. It will be in theaters before the end of this year. I enjoyed Lyra's adventures along with her daemon, Pantalaimon, who can change into different creatures at whim and talks with her incessantly, sometimes advising, sometimes scolding, but always looking out for her best interests. They share a bond which cannot be broken; or can it? All humans have daemons, but only children's daemons can change into different creatures. Once adulthood is reached, a human's daemon can no longer change. Lyra is an adolescent girl who is growing up at Jordan College in Oxford, surrounded by Scholars who often dine with The Master, in whose mansion she is being raised. Of her parents, she knows nothing. Her uncle, Lord Asriel, is an occasional visitor who has great influence on her upbringing. The period appears to be in the past on occasion, maybe during the time of King Arthur, and sometimes in the future, where politics shift countries and allegiances. Lyra has been allowed to run freely about, mixing with the local children of the town, the street kids. But soon the children begin disappearing, the gyptian children, who lived with their families on boats, then the kitchen boy, Roger, Lyra's best friend. The children blame their disappearances on the Gobblers, who take them and, according to rumors, eat them. During all this, a strangely beautiful woman appears at the Master's dinner table, Mrs. Coulter. Lyra is invited to go and live with Mrs. Coulter as a kind of assistant. The very same evening, she is given a small package by the Master, a sort of watch or small clock, made of gold an crystal, called an alethiometer. It tells the truth, but one must learn how to use it. Thus begins Lyra's adventure, which will take her to the Great North, with its wondrous Aurora, or Northern Lights; to great Armored Bears, who converse with humans and to witches, who have different allegiances. Many great battles ensue. But can she solve the puzzle of where the children have gone? And why? And what of her true parents? You will have to read to the end, which will come entirely too soon. David McCullough has won two Pulitzer Prizes for "Truman" and for "John Adams," which is also coming to theaters soon. My introduction to this writer was with "1776," written in 2005. I usually do not enjoy reading history books, but McCullough has a writing style that is so grand that you feel as if you are trudging along with Washington and his ragged militia troops from one campaign to another. Intriguing to his account are the many, many battles which were lost. The tale begins with King George of England going before Parliament to accuse America of being rebellious. We quickly move into the siege of Boston, then onward to the Battle of Brooklyn. How did these brave men continue to rail against the British? All the characters come alive in a way so very few historians can manage. McCullough's Source Notes run over ninety pages alone. He researched both American and British Archives. Washington, of course, is the central character in the story. With him are two main Loyalists, Nathan Greene, a Quaker, and Henry Knox, a bookseller. Also along for the ride are mercenaries, politicians, traders, spies, and the British redcoats. This is a remarkable account of the birth of our nation and some of its darkest hours. I highly recommend this to all Americans. "1776" made me realize how these brave men struggled and how close we came to losing our struggle for independence. I certainly will celebrate our Independence Day very differently from now on, with so much more appreciation for our Founding Fathers and our brave soldiers today who continue to serve our great country and preserve our way of life, liberty, and our pursuit of happiness.--Barb Moore works at Franklin Memorial Library.
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