The Republic of Heaven

I'd have to say TSK. It definitely wouldn't be TAS, since TSK introduces far more mysteries than it resolves. I also wouldn't choose TGC/NL, because it's important for the reader to understand certain things about Lyra's world for TAS to make sense -- like who Mrs. Coulter and Lord Asriel are, not to mention what dæmons are.

Although you really would need all three to get a full perspective I would have to say TGC/NL just because people have read the last two books before reading the first one, and it seems to have made sense to them. Though, I'm not sure it's the same sort of sense as with reading TGC/NL first, so you can understand what's going on in TAS better and relate it back to the events and messages that are presented more fantastically (literal sense of the word) in TGC instead of simply attributing everything to an anti-religous theme. Besides, I'd hate to see Lyra's book go...

Getting rid of any of them would detract from the series a lot...

i used to not like tsk as much as the others, but i'd have to say i wouldn't be able to banish just one of them if i had to at all. they're all essential. plus i've grown to like tsk more, 'cause there are a lot of really vivid scenes, just like in the other books.

I would have to say TAS, although it is my favorite book, PP could have pulled a The Giver on us and made TSK end in a way that leaves you to imagine what happened at the end.

O.O That's a scary question.

well, i have to agree with the guy of the random persuasion. although i love the amber spygalss sooooo much, i think if we had to lose one, it has to be that. we can make our own ending.

-- darren

I'm not sure I'm following the logic here, you'd like to banish your favourite book?

Blighty wrote:I'm not sure I'm following the logic here, you'd like to banish your favourite book?

i didn't say it was my favourite book.

Sorry, to clarify:

random guy wrote:I would have to say TAS, although it is my favorite book, PP could have pulled a The Giver on us and made TSK end in a way that leaves you to imagine what happened at the end.

So....which one is your favourite book then?

Blighty wrote:Sorry, to clarify:

random guy wrote:I would have to say TAS, although it is my favorite book, PP could have pulled a The Giver on us and made TSK end in a way that leaves you to imagine what happened at the end.

So....which one is your favourite book then?

heehee, sorry! urm, probably the subtle knife. because it continues the story, whilst upping the stakes and keeping the pace and excitement. and because, after the brilliance of northern lights, it could have been poo, but managed to impress me more than i thought possible. and because it has the most beautiful scene where will, thinking lyra is asleep, tells pan that lyra is the best friend he's ever had, and pan replies that lyra feels the same... and lyra smiles... and that almost made me cry in itself coz it's just so sweet! oh, and because its got moxie the cat in it. who plays the most important part of all the books.

so there. that's my favourite book. but only just.

-- darren

Lyra is Will's best friend ever, but that's hardly saying a lot, is it? You could count the number of friend's he's got on the fingers of his left hand, and still have some left over.

well, i thought it was very effective and emotional. will thinks lyra is asleep. he doesn't tell lyra of his feelings of friendship openly until the end of the amber spyglass. therefore i got the impression that he felt insecure in admitting his like of lyra to her face. which is kinda cute, and something i can relate to. and then the fact that lyra obviously hears, but says nothing, not wanting to embarress him, only serves to strengthen the scene.

-- darren

Yeah I really liked that scene as well. It was one of the first and largest of many hints as to what would eventually happen between them.

I would die first!

Yeah, I would have to say NL...I read TSK and TAS before it anyway, and I didn't have many problems figuring it out. Besides the fact that I didn't understand some of the weird stuff with daemons, and stuff, at first was one of the reasons I kept reading TSK!

NL is my favorite book
but i would die first