I was slightly scared when I realised that my dad's reading that at the moment

At least I'll have a good source for reviews (and the books themselves )

"The Northern Lights" sounds like it would be some reference book about the aurora borealis. Anyways, the series is called "His Dark Materials" and the lights aren't exactly something very material anyways. "The Golden Compass" says things like exploration, adventure, and fun in general, not the literal meaning.

Silly American..

*duck*

I forgot to mention David and Lee Eddings. Not the most supurb writing, but I like their stories.

It's just called "Northern Lights". No The.

There is a possible argument there, in that "His Dark Materials" could be considered to be the alethiometer, the knife and the spyglass. The reason that "Northern Lights" conjures up images of the mysterious is because they're something that only really happens far away - they're an adventure to reach, and amazing to see. Not to mention that, for the longest time, nobody knew what caused them (don't people still disagree?).

I fail to see how a golden compass has connotations of "fun in general". Unless you're a magpie, anyway.

EDIT: Removed a line due to my inability to read. Aren't I crap?

By reference, I mean a non-fiction book explaining the aurora borealis, not a fantasy book based on the lights. They lights didn't really play that large of a role in my opinion. It's been a while since I read the books, but unless I'm mistaken, the lights refer to Dust. Now, Dust may have been the key point in all three books, but the first book was about the alethiometer.

It wasn't a misnaming, it was a correction.

And the fact that the Northern Lights were where the atmosphere was thinnest between Lyra's and... Will's worlds. It's where the bridge was built through which Lord Asriel goes through, so yes, it plays a very large part in the first book. It's where the book leads, and finishes. Important.

Plus it maintains the continuity of the naming scheme. Assuming that you odd people have the same names for the second and third books that we do (although I could be mistaken about this) the it just makes sense to have The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass. The scheme is definite article, adjective, followed by a physical utility noun.

Yes, I agree that there's an argument bringing it into line with the other books. I just don't think that's enough of an excuse to use a title that's so crap.

I also removed the borealis remark from the above post, I misread what you'd posted (terrible, I know )

And Soll, you really are bad at this expert stuff. He's Lord Asriel.

EDIT: And Soll ninja-edits it out before I manage to comment on it. Damnit.

They did something right here, anyway. It was the name 'Northern Lights' that brought me to check out the book(As well as the illustration on the front). Seemed intruiging, and mysterious, so I read on.

Exactly my point, Soll. "Northen Lights" is an interesting title - "The Golden Compass", less so. I don't think that retitiling, if I can borrow the term, like that is justified just for continuity. I'd rather it was a good title than a more seriesy title.

It's true that the alethiometer could have a better name than the Golden Compass, but people wouldn't know what an alethiometer is and it's similar enough to a compass in that it points out directions and information (especially since it takes Lyra to the North).

But uh, let's get back on topic. *cough*

I'm probably going to get stoned for this, but the Redwall series is good in my opinion.

I specifically didn't suggest "The Alethiometer" as a title for the book, because it'd suck. Like you say, nobody would know what one is - the explanation is even a key point in the book, when the Master of Jordan gives it to her. I just think that "The Golden Compass" is worse than "Northern Lights".

I've not read Redwall, so I'll refrain from comment. Instinct makes me want to skewer you for it, though.

They're good books, honest! Just skip over the stupid songs and the cuddly animal parts.

Never read the Cleric Quintet. Weren't they just about Cadderly?

I read all the Redwall books in elementary/middle school, and in the last few years, when I tried to pick up the new ones, I decided I had grown out of them.

However, they were probably my first fantasy books ever, and the reason I'm interested in things like Lusternia. *chin*

His Dark Materials was amazing when I read them (its been a few years).

And yes, I think there are four dragons books in the Chronicles trilogy, making it a quadrilogy, but the Dragons of summer flame isn't right after the first three, I think. The order these amazing books went in was:

Dragons of Autumn Twilight
Dragons of Winter Night
Dragons of Spring Dawning

Time of the twins
War of the twins
Test of the twins

If you like Raistlin after those, read The Soulforge, which is a him as a kid/young adult.

"A Mage's soul is forged in the crucible of magic."

Soulforge

Well I'm assuming the good sci-fi books have all been mentioned already, so... if you want a light, easy series to read while you use the washroom (I don't mean that in a bad way, I like his books!), try Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. Has some laughs, sad moments, adventure. Very fun! And no I am not 9 years old.

I really disliked those. I read the first four and realized they were not getting any better, so I stopped reading them.

The movie was decent, but it took the first three books, slapped them together with some tape, mixed some things around, and pooped on it.

Cleric Quintet is read so when you see Drizzt talk to Cadderly in "Silent Blade" you're not like "Who the bloody hell is Cadderly? Why is he old? WHY IS HIS WIFE HOT AND IN HER 20'S!?!?!?"

Oooh... well, it gave a few details. Might have to read those then.