Lyra’s Oxford

This magical short story from the series of „His dark materials“ by Philip Pullman is a suitable reading before the upcoming Walpurgis Night.

The book tells about Lyra and her demon Pantalaimon. They live in Oxford city. One day Lyra notices a flock of birds attacking a bird-like creature, a witch’s demon. His name is Ragi. Lyra saves him. Ragi wants Lyra to help him to find an old alchemist whose name is Sebastian Makepeace. Lyra and Pantalaimon decide to help Ragi and his witch Yelena Pazhets who is lying sick beyond the Urals. Thanks to Pantalaimon Lyra realizes basically at the eleventh hour, that they are walking straight into a trap set by the witch Yelena…

Different birds like starlings, pigeons, swans, nightingales play an important role in this book. They are like guardian angels who protect Lyra and Pantalaimon throughout the story.

Illustrations are the big plus of the book. Impressive engravings by John Lawrence tone in with the text by Philip Pullman and turn the book into an real artwork.