His Dark Materials

His Dark Materials is a trilogy of novels by the fantasy fiction author Philip Pullman, comprising Northern Lights (released as The Golden Compass in the United States), The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass. The trilogy has also been published as a single-volume omnibus in the UK, titled simply "His Dark Materials".

Characters

Related Topics:
The Authority - Will Parry

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In Lyra's alternate universe, and many other universes not including our own, the human soul is manifested through life as a small animal that is always near to you. When young, this animal can change forms at will, but after adolescence and the coming of a kind of life-wisdom, the animal takes a final form, symbolising how the person has progressed from childish haphazardness to the stability of an adult.

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Because dæmons are often used to represent a character's conscience or 'inner voice', and have their own sentience and character seperately from their human counterparts, the following section is divided into People (a term specifically used in the book, to encompass non-human sentience), and Dæmons.

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All characters are listed in order of importance (ie protagonists first) rather than alphabetically.

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People

Lyra Belacqua is a savage 12-year-old girl who was brought up in the fictional Jordan College, Oxford. She prides herself on her own mischief, especially her ability to lie and invent complex stories with "bare faced conviction."

Related Topics:
Lyra Belacqua - Jordan College, Oxford

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Will Parry is a sensible, morally conscious, highly assertive 12-year-old boy. He is very independant, having looked after his mentally ill mother for many years. He is strong for his age, and knows how to remain inconspicuous.

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