The Republic of Heaven

MAJOR NEWS:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0, ... 25,00.html

--
Philip Pullman, often described as the most dangerous author in Britain, has set the publishing world alight by announcing a surprise addition to his bestselling His Dark Materials trilogy.

Lyra's Oxford will take readers back to Pullman's fantasy world, which focuses on two children in a parallel universe populated by shape-shifting creatures and armoured polar bears.

The fourth book stands alone from Pullman's trilogy and can be read as such or as a companion to the other titles. The trilogy provoked religious outrage when it reversed Milton’s tale of the war in Heaven. In Pullman's version, God loses as the children from the parallel universe, Lyra and Will, help to lead a rebellion against a senile deity encased in a bejewelled life-support machine.

Pullman's books

In Lyra’s Oxford the reader will share the excitement of discovering a small bundle of material that has somehow slipped between Lyra’s universe and our own. It will be illustrated with specially printed three-colour pull-out maps of Lyra’s Oxford.

Hmm...I'm not sure...it sounds strange. The reporter's descriptions are very bad for the already-published HDM, though.

C: I am not just a "shape-shifting creature"!

I agree abou the low quality of the other descriptions.

It sounds something like BoD from the article -- the name might have been changed.

wait, where'd you get that quote?

EDIT: Could be just a renamed BoD, description is a bit vague... hmm

it's in the article. seventh paragraph.

can't get in... don't have trillian.. grr...

Just wanted to point out that the article mentions Sam Mendes as another director interested in HDM- http://us.imdb.com/Name?Mendes,+Sam

Appears he directed :

Road to Perdition (2002)
American Beauty (1999)
Company (1996) (TV)

...seems to be a bit more credible director for a serious film than Ratner.. and American Beauty won him an oscar for best director... don't know about road to perdition...

Road to Perdition was GOOD! I think he'd be better than Ratner.

there, the site's finally up again...BTTS first to announce

What a splendid surprise!

aw phooey- somebody posted it on the darkmaterials.com forum before me. oh well... hey, we're the first SITE to announce it.

UPDATE: theBookseller.com reports: "Philip Pullman has written a new story, Lyra's Oxford, in his bestselling His Dark Materials sequence, and will publish it with David Fickling Books in October. The book will include black and white illustrations as well..." (http://216.239.37.100/search?q=cache:DO ... n&ie=UTF-8 ) Sadly I can only see the preview of the article (above text), since it requires a paid subscription for the full article. grr... at least we know LO will be released in October!

That's so cool! And it's coming out in October! That's not too long...then I can ask for it for my birthday.
Also, Sam Mendes seems like he would do a good job directing, if he ends up doing it.

Does anyone have any theories about this material slippage? I don't know if I dare say, but it sounds like the makings of new and interesting character (possibly)

Here is something ijust in ten minutes ago (might be old news, I dunno)-

http://books.guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,6109,929735,00.html

Here is the quote

· As a stopgap before the next full-length His Dark Materials novel appears, Philip Pullman has written a story called Lyra's Oxford, which David Fickling will publish in October in an edition with black and white illustrations and maps. Pullman has also written an introduction to The Science of His Dark Materials, out in November and written by the science writers John and Mary Gribbin. Books on the science of Harry Potter, Terry Pratchett's Discworld and other fictional universes are already available.

Thanks a bunch for the link, will post it!

EDIT- It's up now on the main page... if anyone sees any more news on this, PLEASE POST IT HERE! I'll add it to the main page with a credit to your name... all help in getting the most up to date news out quickly is much appreciated.

As a stopgap before the next full-length His Dark Materials novel appears

When they say "the next full-length HDM novel" does that mean the Book of Dust? Or has he changed his mind and suddenly decided to write some kind of sequel?

I don't know but either way its all good news! ... and with an October release its in time for my birthday!

I was thinking the same thing - my birthday's in October. I know what I'll be asking for.

Whoa, I'm trying to keep track of all these new happenings...Jedi Academy, new HDM book... *sudden realization that "Orthand" might be behind on development schedule* ...oh no. *panic*

Anyway, this is great news!