Z/Web

Author: Philip Pullman

This is the third and final book in the “His Dark Materials” triology. The first half of the book is excellent — creative and interesting, with imaginative new worlds, unusual species, and wonderful characters — but unfortunately the novel peters out in the final third, rambling on and on with nothing much happening. Most of the resolution of the plot happens earlier, and most of that is foreshadowed in the earlier books, so there’s very little surprise. I’d been hoping for an overall resolution to the plot, something that would summarize everything and explain, but there was nothing like that. While I don’t want to spoil things for you — stop reading here if you don’t want to know what happens — I must elaborate in order to explain. For instance, in all three books there’s the concept of Dust. Dust is dark matter, something that holds the fabric of the universe together but is very difficult to see. Pullman goes so far as to suggest that Dust is Sin, and that sin is what gave humans consciousness and is what makes us alive and different from animals. Pullman is obviously anti-god and anti-religion, but though I’m not I found this concept intriguing and I wanted to hear more about it. Unfortunately, the novel does not elaborate or take the idea any further. It just ends. We’re left scratching our heads as what this all means. I’m not sure Pullman himself knows. It’s like he ran out of ideas, or his original idea just ran out of steam. Very strange, as his earlier stuff is so well-done I was certain he had an overall strategy in mind, but sadly I was mistaken. It’s all smoke and mirrors and no substance. It’s a disappointing ending to such a promising series.