About the Book:

Philip Pullman, Master Storyteller informs readers about the contexts, sources and influences behind the His Dark Materials worlds of Philip Pullman, and examines the controversies and debates that have surrounded the trilogy and its creator, since its publication.

Philip Pullman is one of the most commercially and critically successful British authors of science fiction. With a writing career extending back to the early 1970s, Pullman's great achievement has been in the publication of the His Dark Materials trilogy: Northern Lights (1995; US title The Golden Compass), The Subtle Knife (1997) and The Amber Spyglass (2000). With these novels, which have appealed equally to children and to adults, Pullman has carved a space for himself as a writer of moral seriousness, imaginative depth and storytelling virtuosity.

Subtitled A Guide to the Worlds of His Dark Materials, this book by Claire Squires is the first comprehensive and authoritative study of this great writer. The focus is on Philip Pullman's central achievement with His Dark Materials, but it also considers his entire oeuvre. Importantly, the book informs readers about the contexts, sources and influences behind the trilogy, and examines the controversies and debates that have surrounded the trilogy and its creator, since its publication.

What people say:

"Claire Squires investigates and clarifies many perplexing ambiguities in Pullman's trilogies. The wealth of information makes this an important source book for Pullman's readers. Especially valuable is her incisive selection of comments from Pullman himself, drawn from interviews and other informal writings, which open exciting dimensions for interpretation of the trilogy … Highly readable, and impressive in its extensive scope and detail, this book is a 'must have' for all Pullman enthusiasts." — Dr. Carole Scott, San Diego University, editor of His Dark Materials Illuminated: Critical Essays on Philip Pullman's Trilogy

"For anyone wishing to know more about Pullman's dazzling virtuosity as a story teller, this book is an essential read … fascinating and highly readable … [Squires's] masterly treatment of the complexity, compelling narratives and energetic plots of his stories can only serve to whet his readers' appetites still further." — Diane Duncan, National Association for the Teaching of English (NATE)

About the Author:

Claire Squires is head of Publishing Studies at the University of Stirling in Scotland. Previously she worked at Oxford Brookes University, where she was Programme Director for the MAs in Publishing. Her career includes editorial and publicity roles at publishing houses, and freelance and consultancy work for a variety of trade and academic publishers. She lives in Glasgow.