First book of 2008 is the third book in Phillip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, The Amber Spyglass.

It took me a little longer to get through this one because, as I discovered reading the back of this book, Pullman took some inspiration from Milton's Paradise Lost for this puppy, so I was sort of mentally cross-referencing stuff that happened in Spyglass with stuff that happened in Paradise Lost.

A large part of Amber Spyglass takes place in the alternate world Dr. Mary Malone found her in, living with mulefa and trying to solve their world's problems, specifically the dying trees (which the mulefa depend upon) and the dwindling amount of Dust in their world. Mary has supposedly been cast as the Serpent in the Garden of Eden (the mulefa's world) who will tempt Lyra, but honestly, I didn't really see it. Oh sure I could see the Garden of Eden comparison, but Mary not so much in the role of the Serpent.

And it is not that Lyra and Will are so much cast out of Eden, but they have to leave it as they (or anyone really) cannot survive for long out of the world that they were born into. They leave due to nessecity, not out of any wrong doing or transgression. Although, in Pullman's world, as there are characters trying to 'kill' God (or the Regent in this case), there really isn't any Authority to rebel against in this Eden.

So, anyway, the overall story though? Good, but bittersweet. Pullman kills off characters left and right with an abandon I haven't seen since George R.R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire opus. And its cool. I always think characters should die during these large, fantasy epics. Its what makes them epic. And Pullman doesn't disappoint, killing off many, many characters, and always at times that make sense and are not just for shock value.

I also liked his 'redemption' of Mrs. Coulter. She's been one of the hardest characters ever to figure out, and right down to the last moment, Pullman did a really excellent job of making you wonder 'will she or won't she"? Its been difficult for two whole books to figure out whose side she was really on (other than her own), and when the answer is finally known, it doesn't feel forced either.

But its the overall ending that is the most bittersweet as Lyra and Will are not only forced to leave Eden, but they are forced to leave one another as well. Due to more circumstances beyond their control, they choose to live apart from one other, despite their great love, and live out their days in their respective home universes. It really was quite sad and I did feel myself choking up a little.

On the whole, His Dark Materials is a coming of age story. Lyra goes from child to young woman and her epic journey is vastly harrowing and difficult. I like stories like this one and the characters are all well done, as is Pullman's internal consistency. Everything is connected and tied up together very well.