What was your reaction to the ending?

[Philharmonic]

I was saddened by the ending. It was such a joy to see after all that Lyra, and Will went through, all their challenges, the sorrow and pain they had to deal with, that they could find something so precious as love. Only to have to make the choice they did to go their separate ways. It's sad they had to lose each other but the love they had would never extinguish. I think by the choice they made it shows great strength of character, to put the betterment of others by deciding to build the Republic of Heaven, over their own desires to stay with each other shows that they are strong.

If anyone else can put it any better than that, I will give them my Playstation. That has made me feel a lot better about the ending - my initial reaction was an hour of crying. It still brings the tears up three years on. Still, it was a break from the usual "happy ending" so that was original. I like sad endings. Or endings where everyone dies.

Not that I don't like nice endings but still. It was a perfect end to what was a good piece of literature.

[Iofur]

Quite depressing at first and made me unable to concentrate on other books... not many authors can do that...

p.s why is it called the amber spyglass? I can't remember it appearing in the book. (Sorry if I missed some key part in the plot by accident)

[bee]

p.s why is it called the amber spyglass? I can't remember it appearing in the book. (Sorry if I missed some key part in the plot by accident)

...It may be worth it to reread the entire book. The whole plot with Mary Malone and Dust are key, and the Amber Spyglass is how she views Dust.

In other news, hop over to the newbie welcome board and introduce yourself!

[Iofur]

Ah, I remember.
I always figured it as larger, though, like two large transparent panes instead of the small object on the cover. Then again, I am only a deceased former king of the bears, tricked by an exiled rebel.

[cjp]

Silly bear.

As I seem to be on a run of resurrecting comatose threads, I'll add my thoughts in here too.

When I finished TAS (6 years ago now) I felt heartbroken, and extremely moved by the whole thing.

I have no problems admitting that, as a 20 year old man at the time (I'm still a man), I cried at the end of the book. The more unexpected bit was feeling like crap, like I'd been kicked in the gut, for the next week or so. That originally brought me here; almost as a support group, because I assumed I was the only person affected in such a way.

I realise now looking back that without the ending being the way it was, the whole series wouldn't have stuck with me as one of my favourites all these years. The very fact that I, and evidently many others on here, were so moved by the ending of a book is of great credit to Philip Pullman. Yes, the ending is sad; heartbreaking; cruel; depressing... but it's also a fittingly wonderful conclusion.

And there are plenty of hints/hopes/loopholes/messages/points to take away. I'm eagerly awaiting The Book of Dust; I'm sure to be hinted at further.

[Night-san]

I found it quite sad. :c

However, I thought that Lyra leaving Pan was the most emotional part of the book.

[Dustyfed]

I have finished the book one week ago..And my heart is still bleeding!! It was the saddest end I have ever read!! I place my hopes in The book of dust!! I hope Will and Lyra get back together even if only for a moment!!!!

[tellthemstories]

Can you imagine how cruel it would be to meet again for a moment only to part? Next time they truly meet, they'll never part, and yet I don't think they truly ever did.

I've shared my experience of this ending so many times that I don't know how to put it anymore, you all know how I feel. Phillip Pullman, you are a credit to us all.