The Golden Compass is based on the fantasy novel called Northern Lights written by the English author Philip Pullman. This novel is the first in the trilogy called His Dark Materials, the other two books being The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass.
Pullman wrote this book with the intention to portray a story that would be more spiritual and meaningful than the traditional adventure stories featuring children as the central characters. He wanted to create a universe that would challenge the traditional thinking of religion and philosophy and that would also explore philosophical moral ideas in a fantasy context.
Northern Lights is an epic fantasy novel set in an alternate reality populated by armoured bears and flying creatures. The story follows the adventures of 12-year-old Lyra Belacqua and her fighting daemon Pantalaimon as she attempts to rescue her kidnapped friend with the help of a mysterious golden compass. Along the way, Lyra discovers a conspiracy of great proportions and ultimately, her own destiny.
If you are looking to explore the world of Philip Pullman's fantasy novel, Northern Lights is definitely the place to start. It is a gripping adventure novel where reality and the supernatural clash to tremendous effect.
You can find the book on Amazon, Goodreads and other bookstores.
