Once Upon a Time in the North by Philip PullmanMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Another excellent insight into the events in the Dark Materials universe, this time looking into Lee Scoresby's past and how he first met the mighty Iorek Byrnison.
6 months ago, Lee won his balloon in a game of cards. A man with no direction, he's quite happy going where the wind takes him and his Daemon Hester (Jackrabbit or Alpine Hare...?) searching for work when he can get it.
This time, he floats (or rather, plummets) into the harbour town of Novy Odense. During his search for work he learns of an upcoming political election, and the favourite to win becomes an instant dislike to Lee. His normal curious and kind nature come through, and events unfold that see Lee trying his best to help out a fellow human being, whilst laying one on an old rival. The help of a polar bear in a helmet can't be a bad thing to have?
I found this short story much meatier than the last. There are less extra bits included, but what is included (a torn page to a Aeronauts handbook; a bill of trade from the harbour etc) is definitely welcome.
It's typically absorbing as I've expected from Pullman, but the pace soon vamps up and is edge of your seat stuff for a large portion. Again the presentation is beautiful, but my physical copy lacked some finesse and actually malted pages whilst I was reading (I'm awaiting a replacement from Amazon, so fingers crossed mine was a unique occurance. I'll bump the star count if the new one is better!) The book, writing and story are all excellent. A great look into the origins of two superb characters from His Dark Materials.
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