Christmas in Lyra’s Oxford

I was sitting in the Retiring Room with a warming glass of Tokay in my hand. Lord Asriel had disappeared, again, so there was nobody to stop me drinking his favourite vintage. My dæmon was perched on the mantlepiece cleaning her feathers above the crackling fire. To my left, Lyra had fallen asleep in her armchair with Pan nestled quite snugly in her lap. On the wooden table in front of us sat the compass; its golden surface burned with the flames and seemed to become its own source of light. Earlier that day, Lyra had used it to predict the contents of each and every one of my carefully wrapped presents, to my extreme annoyance.

Dust particles blew overhead. We were in Jordan College, Oxford – though perhaps not the one you know…

There are few works of literature that have captured the minds of so many people – young and old – as Philip Pullman’s Northern Lights trilogy, or His Dark Materials. Set in a fantastical world where our souls walk beside us in animal form, panserbjørne armoured bears roam the North Pole and witches patrol the skies. A world of alethiometers and dust.

The Northern Lights trilogy is packed with magical people, spectacular locations and inter-dimensional worlds…

As we approach the magical time of year around Christmas, I can think of no better place in which to let my imagination wander, staying away from the theocratic Magisterium, and Mrs Coulter and her dastardly monkey.

You could expect a royal welcome from Iorek Brynison, King of Svalbad and the armoured bears. I’m sure that after much feasting and revelry he would give you permission to ski or sledge down the snowy mountains that make up his kingdom – he might even give you a ride himself. Just remember that bears consider their armour, which is made of sky-iron, to be their souls, so it would probably not be a good idea to steal it as a festive joke. If travel is an issue, the aeronaut Lee Scoresby would be happy to take you to the North Pole in his balloon – just try not to fall out after one too many mulled wines! If you’re not one for the ice and snow, the forest witch clans might be the perfect destination for you. Serafina Pekkala could show you the stars, reveal the trick behind a witch’s invisibility and the secrets of her cloud-pine branch. The Northern Lights trilogy is packed with magical people, spectacular locations and inter-dimensional worlds, so please join me and dive straight through the Aurora Borealis this Christmas!

You can enjoy the books as a child, but you can also enjoy them as an adult on a completely different, philosophical level

There is also the big question of what kind of dæmon you would have. A pine marten? A dolphin? A songbird? After completing several online quizzes, I discovered that my dæmon would be an osprey, which would come in handy when it comes to stealing the last pig in a blanket from John Faa’s banquet with the gyptians! This particular aspect of Pullman’s world I find to be the most beautiful, and it is probably what attracts so many children to his work. Who wouldn’t want a spiritually connected animal that could walk or fly beside you and talk to you? You can enjoy the books as a child, but you can also enjoy them as an adult on a completely different, philosophical level.

If you have never read the Northern Lights trilogy, I cannot recommend it enough as a fireside read and an introduction to Lyra’s world this Christmas. If you have, why not continue the adventure by reading the recently released and hotly anticipated, La Belle Sauvage, the first book of Philip Pullman’s new Book of Dust trilogy. I predict with absolute certainty that you will love it…

but then, I have just acquired a strange device – from a girl with a strange name – that tells the truth…