Northern Lights cover art

Northern Lights

His Dark Materials, Book 1

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Northern Lights

By: Philip Pullman
Narrated by: Philip Pullman, full cast
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About this listen

The classic recording of Northern Lights, read by Philip Pullman and a full cast of narrators.

'Without this child, we shall all die.'

Lyra Belacqua lives half-wild and carefree among the scholars of Jordan College, with her daemon, Pantalaimon, always by her side.

But the arrival of her fearsome uncle, Lord Asriel, draws her to the heart of a terrible struggle - a struggle born of stolen children, witch clans and armoured bears.

As she hurtles towards danger in the cold far North, Lyra never suspects the shocking truth: she alone is destined to win, or to lose, the biggest battle imaginable.

The full cast of narrators includes: Philip Pullman, Joanna Wyatt, Rupert Degas, Alison Dowling, Douglas Blackwell, Jill Shilling, Stephen Thorne, Sean Barrett, Garrick Hagon, John O'Connor and Susan Sheridan.


Brought to you by Penguin.

©1995 Philip Pullman (P)2021 Penguin Audio
Fantasy Fiction Science Fiction & Fantasy

Critic Reviews

"Read by Pullman himself and a full cast including Julian Glover and Stephen Thorne, this is glorious listening." (Sunday Express)

What listeners say about Northern Lights

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Enlightened ending

Good book but I warn people to avoid the interview at the end. I stopped about 15 minutes in after hearing some major spoilers for the following books.
This was a disappointing end to a good book.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

LOVED IT!!❤️❤️❤️😍😍

This first book was amazing I’m so excited to get the next one!!! I listened to this with my daughter and she loved it!! But now she’s going to nagar me to get the next book but overall I loved it!!❤️❤️❤️❤️😍😍❤️

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

love it.

I absolutely loved having a full cast. I was abit hesitant at first as a narrator can make or break an audio book but this was fantastic.
Now the story, I decided to give this a go as I was curious upon thinking of the movie what happened after. So like any curious person I took to the books, and well I kinda knew what to expect after the movie, I did watch it 10 years or so ago but the next 2 books, I had no idea about and absolutely LOVED IT. what an enchanting world. I definitely reccomend getting lost in these worlds.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful Storytelling

Spoilers in the interview at the end! Don't listen if this is your first read.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Unique interpretation of the world

Phillip Pullman has created just a unique twist to religion and how we view reality. It’s believable fantasy!!!

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

the voice acting

the bonus interview at the end with spoilers for future books. very frustrating when it plays!!

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Not the best narration

I did not like the narration. It was too ‘pantomime’ for my liking. Also, the story…. People have raved about this book. I’m honestly not sure why.

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Narration

Sorry but the narration was awful I couldn't focus on the story, I couldn't stand anywhere past the first chapter. was really recommended this book, bit I wish I had listened to the sample before I spent money on it. Lesson learned 😔

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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Plot Spoiling Interview at end of FIRST book! Ruined it

Couldn’t have enjoyed these books more. The narration is wise and clearly as is often the case with one’s own words, told with the vigour and passion with which they were imagined.

Cannot fathom how Audible would be so stupid to place an interview with the author at the end of THE FIRST BOOK and for said author to reveal significant plot spoilers within the first 3 mins of the interview. Just move it to the last book and/or announce PLOT SPOILERS. Really disappointing.

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Why did it include spoilers for the third book in the interview

The interview at the end includes spoilers for the third book. So why they decided to include that interview in the first book bewilders me.

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