For seventeen years fans have (sort of) patiently awaited this day. Philip Pullman’s ‘His Dark Materials’ series is set for an expansion!
So there's some incredibly exciting news this morning about a new book on the way from a certain Mr Pullman… @PhilipPullman #BookofDust
— David Fickling Books (@DFB_storyhouse) February 15, 2017
The original bestselling fantasy series provided the readers with a plucky heroine, cunning villains and a unique magic system. And the new instalments are set to deliver more of the same. The new trilogy will once again follow former protagonist Lyra Belacqua on a series of exhilarating adventures. The focus will return and expand on the concept of dust, that so intrigued both Lyra and the reader more than a decade ago.
The as-yet-untitled first volume of The Book of Dust series is due for publication on 19th October, this year. Set in Oxford, and with the action running parallel to the His Dark Materials trilogy, this is less of a sequel or a prequel and more of an “equal”, as Pullman himself terms it:
“It’s a different story which begins roughly 10 years before His Dark Materials and ends roughly 10 years after.”
Whilst he is keeping particulars of the plot under wraps, Pullman has revealed some information about the new books:
“At the centre of The Book Of Dust is the struggle between a despotic and totalitarian organisation, which wants to stifle speculation and inquiry, and those who believe thought and speech should be free.”
It seems that much of the book’s focus bears a similarity to our current political climate. It is fitting that as Lyra continues to age throughout the course of the trilogy, the themes will continue to mature to parallel that.
We know which book has jumped to the top of our ‘to buy’ list!
