The Subtle Knife

infobox Book |
name = The Subtle Knife
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption = First edition cover
author = Philip Pullman
cover_artist = Philip Pullman & David Scutt
country = United Kingdom
language = English
series = His Dark Materials
genre = Fantasy novel
publisher = Scholastic Point
release_date = 1997
media_type = Print (Hardback & Paperback)
pages = 341 pp
isbn = ISBN 0-590-11289-9
preceded_by = Northern Lights
followed_by = The Amber Spyglass

"The Subtle Knife" is the second novel in the "His Dark Materials" series, written by English novelist Philip Pullman, and published in 1997.

Pullman alludes heavily to the study of dark matter (or "Dust") and particle physics to further establish his metaphysical saga.

In the book, Lyra Silvertongue's adventure continues as she travels from her own world similar to our own into other worlds; one which is our own, and another which is very different. Will Parry, a boy from our world, meets Lyra and together they search for the boy's lost father.

The book focuses more on the characters and their own individual plots, rather than just on Lyra's father, Lord Asriel, and his war against the Magisterium. It describes not only Lyra and Will's journey, but also the journeys of Lee Scoresby and Serafina Pekkala.

Plot summary

In "The Subtle Knife", protagonist Lyra Belacqua journeys through the Aurora to Cittàgazze, an otherworldly city whose denizens have discovered a clean path between worlds at a far earlier point in time than others in the storyline. Cittàgazze's reckless use of the technology has released soul-eating Spectres, rendering much of the world incapable of transit by post-adolescents. Here Lyra meets Will Parry, a twelve-year-old boy originating from the readers' world. Will, who recently killed a man to protect his ailing mother, has stumbled into Cittàgazze in an effort to locate his long-lost father, the explorer John Parry.

The pair become friends, travelling back and forth between the two worlds as Lyra tries to uncover more about the nature of Dust in Oxford University from Dr. Mary Malone. Meanwhile Will unravels the mystery of what happened to his father, who he discovers was also looking for a gateway between worlds in Alaska. When Lyra and Will are spotted, Lyra is questioned about her companion by the Police. While trying to deny all knowledge of Will, she unwittingly reveals that she knows him and the Police attempt to detain her. However, the quick thinking of Dr. Malone allows her to escape.

Lyra is rescued by Sir Charles Latrom, who escorts her to the portal to Cittàgazze. While appearing sincere, Lyra soon discovers that Latrom stole her alethiometer and she pleads to Will to help her retrieve it.

When Lyra and Will confront Sir Charles Latrom, he admits that he has stolen the alethiometer and is intrigued by it, but makes an agreement with the pair; if they will retrieve a knife from Cittàgazze, where Latrom cannot go because of the Spectres, then he will return the alethiometer to Lyra. Will, in the performance of this errand, becomes the bearer of the eponymous Subtle Knife, a tool forged 300 years ago by Cittàgazze's scientists, of which one edge can create portals between worlds and the other easily cuts through any form of matter.

Will uses the Subtle Knife to enter Latrom's house. There, he overhears a conversation between him and Lyra's mother, Mrs. Coulter, who has also come through the Aurora to Will's world. There, he is identified as Lord Boreal, a nobleman from Lyra's world, who came to Will's world long ago and established himself in a wealthy position of power. Lyra and Will steal the alethiometer back and return to Cittàgazze.

The thief who stole the Subtle Knife and died at the hands of the Spectre was related to some of the children who inhabit Cittàgazze. Now the children are bloodthirsty and ready to kill Lyra and Will who they have identified as not of their world. They flee across the city and are rescued by Serafina Pekkala and her clan of witches. They fly the two to their camp and attempt to heal Will's wound, but fail because the wound was made by the Subtle Knife. Will continues to weaken due to blood loss. Joined by witches from Lyra's world, they journey on.

Meanwhile, Lee Scoresby has been on a quest to locate Stanislaus Grumman, whom he believes may help him uncover Asriel's plans and help Lyra. Through a long process, Scoresby finally finds him. Grumman asks the aeronaut to take him through the aurora into the world of Cittàgazze, so that Grumman can guide the bearer of the Subtle Knife. Scoresby agrees and guides Grumman to Cittàgazze, where he (Scoresby) ultimately dies at the hand of the Magisterium army while defending Grumman. Before he dies, Scoresby attempts to call Serafina Pekkala by way of a flower she had given him, and she flies to his aid.

Will meets Stanislaus Grumman, who heals his fingers and instructs him to take the Subtle Knife to Lyra's father, Lord Asriel. They suddenly realise that they are father and son; but in that instant, a vengeful witch murders Will’s father, as he had not returned her love, and she ultimately kills herself. Lyra is kidnapped by her mother, Mrs. Coulter, an agent of the Magisterium who has learned of the prophecy that Lyra is to be the next Eve. Will returns to camp to find that Lyra has been captured and the witches defeated by the Spectres, whom Marisa has commanded. However, the alethiometer has not been taken. Will is then instructed by a pair of angels, Balthamos and Baruch, that he must travel with them to give the Subtle Knife to Lyra's father, Lord Asriel, as a weapon against The Authority.

Film, TV or theatrical adaptations

Prior to the release of the "The Golden Compass" on December 7, 2007, New Line said that an adaptation of "The Subtle Knife" would go into production only if the first film was a success. [cite web | title=New Line pulls in pic scribe: Amini to pen second part of Pullman trilogy | last=Mcnary | first=Dave | work=Variety, Los Angeles | url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117956728.html?categoryid=1236&cs=1 | date=4 January 2007 | accessdate=2007-12-13 ] The Golden Compass made over twice its budget worldwide, but flopped in the United States, leaving the fate of its sequel unclear. Producer Deborah Forte is adamant that she will finish the trilogy, saying, "I believe there are enough people who see what a viable and successful franchise we have." [cite web | url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117982066.html?categoryid=1246&cs=1 | title='Compass' spins foreign frenzy | date= March 13 2008 | accessdate=2008-03-13 | publisher=http://www.variety.com/ ]

As the second novel of the "His Dark Materials" trilogy, the book has also formed part of a radio drama on BBC Radio 4 starring Terence Stamp as Lord Asriel and Lulu Popplewell as Lyra, and as a two-part, six-hour performance for London's Royal National Theatre in December 2003, running until March 2004, and a second run between November 2004 and April 2005.

ee also

*1997 in literature
*His Dark Materials
*Northern Lights
*The Amber Spyglass
*Characters of His Dark Materials

Footnotes

References

*cite book | last=Lenz | first=Millicent | year=2005 | title=His Dark Materials Illuminated: Critical Essays on Phillip Pullman's Trilogy | publisher=Wayne State University Press | id=ISBN 0-8143-3207-2
*cite book | last=Frost | first=Laurie | year=2006 | title=The Elements of His Dark Materials | publisher=The Fell Press

External links

* [http://www.bridgetothestars.net His Dark Materials | BridgeToTheStars.Net]
* [http://www.hisdarkmaterials.org HisDarkMaterials.org]
* [http://homepage.mac.com/mhcole/misc/SK_timeline.jpgGraphical timeline (unofficial)]
*ISBN 0-440-41833-X (American paperback edition)