# The Subtle Knife > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/The_Subtle_Knife > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/The_Subtle_Knife.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Subtle_Knife > Source revision: 1354738976 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) 1997 fantasy novel by Philip Pullman The Subtle Knife First edition Author Philip Pullman Cover artist Philip Pullman & David Scutt Series His Dark Materials Release number 2 Genre Fantasy novel Publisher Scholastic Point Publication date 22 July 1997 Publication place United Kingdom Media type Print (hardback and paperback) Pages 341 ISBN 0-590-54243-5 OCLC 44058512 Preceded by Northern Lights (The Golden Compass) Followed by The Amber Spyglass ***The Subtle Knife*** is a [young-adult](/source/YA_novel) [fantasy novel](/source/Fantasy_novel) published in 1997 and the second book in [Philip Pullman](/source/Philip_Pullman)'s *[His Dark Materials](/source/His_Dark_Materials)* trilogy. The novel continues the adventures of [Lyra Belacqua](/source/Lyra_Belacqua) (now known as Lyra Silvertongue) recounted in the first novel, [*Northern Lights*](/source/Northern_Lights_(Pullman_novel)), as she investigates the mysterious phenomenon of [Dust](/source/Dust_(His_Dark_Materials)). [Will Parry](/source/Will_Parry_(His_Dark_Materials)) is introduced as a companion to Lyra, and together they explore new worlds in the search for Will's father. In 2020, the novel formed the main part of the second series of the joint [BBC](/source/BBC)-[HBO](/source/HBO) television adaptation *[His Dark Materials](/source/His_Dark_Materials_(TV_series))*. Parts of the novel had already been included in the first series in 2019. ## Setting The main [setting](/source/Setting_(narrative)) is a [universe](/source/Parallel_universes_in_fiction) dominated by the Magisterium, an international [theocracy](/source/Theocracy) which actively suppresses [heresy](/source/Heresy). In Lyra's world, humans' souls naturally exist outside of their bodies in the form of [sentient](/source/Sentience) "[dæmons](/source/D%C3%A6mon_(His_Dark_Materials))" in animal form which accompany, aid, and comfort their humans. An important plot device is the [alethiometer](/source/Dust_(His_Dark_Materials)#Alethiometers), a truth-telling symbol reader. By setting the alethiometer's hands to point to symbols around a dial a skilled practitioner can pose questions, which are answered by the movement round the dial of a further hand. The Subtle Knife of the book's title is a knife called Æsahættr, which can cut windows between worlds. ## Plot Twelve-year-old Will Parry lives in [Oxford](/source/Oxford), where he cares for his mother who has mental health problems. After accidentally killing an intruder, Will flees and stumbles on a window to another world. Seeking refuge from his pursuers, he enters and finds himself in the city of [Cittàgazze](/source/Locations_in_His_Dark_Materials#Cittàgazze) where he meets Lyra and her dæmon [Pantalaimon](/source/Pantalaimon), who have arrived from her world via the opening in the sky created by her father, [Lord Asriel](/source/Lord_Asriel) (in [*Northern Lights*](/source/Northern_Lights_(Pullman_novel))). Mrs Coulter, Lyra's mother, tortures a witch for a prophecy said to concern her daughter. Before the victim can reveal the details she is killed by the witch [Serafina Pekkala](/source/Serafina_Pekkala). Realising Lyra's importance, Serafina Pekkala sets off in search of her. Meanwhile the aeronaut [Lee Scoresby](/source/Lee_Scoresby) searches for [Stanislaus Grumman](/source/Stanislaus_Grumman), previously believed dead, who is rumoured to have knowledge of a powerful object that could protect Lyra. Will returns to his world to seek information about his father, who went missing years earlier on an expedition. Lyra, who has come with him, wants to learn about [Dust](/source/Dust_(His_Dark_Materials))—mysterious particles connected to [consciousness](/source/Consciousness). On the advice of her alethiometer Lyra visits the physicist Dr Mary Malone, who has a computer that can communicate with [dark matter](/source/Dark_matter). Lyra realises that dark matter seems to correspond with what she knows as Dust. After accepting a lift from an elderly man introducing himself as [Sir Charles Latrom](/source/Characters_of_His_Dark_Materials#Lord_Boreal), Lyra realises he has stolen her alethiometer. Sir Charles promises to return the instrument in return for a powerful knife that he covets, now in Cittàgazze. Will defeats a youth who has taken the knife from its holder, Giacomo Paradisi, but loses two fingers in the fight. Paradisi explains that this is a sign that Will is the knife's new bearer, and he explains its power: the ability to cut through any material, even the fabric between worlds. Will and Lyra learn that Cittàgazze is haunted by soul-eating spectres, which prey on adolescents and adults but ignore children. Will uses the knife to cut a window into Sir Charles's home where he overhears a conversation with Mrs Coulter. Lyra realises that Sir Charles is [Lord Boreal](/source/Lord_Boreal), originally from her own world, and Will hears news of his father, who had disappeared after discovering a window between the worlds. Will and Lyra escape back to Cittàgazze with the alethiometer and are rescued from marauding children by Serafina Pekkala. She attempts unsuccessfully to heal Will's injured hand. Sir Charles visits Dr Malone and offers to fund her research if she will follow his directions. She refuses. At Lyra's suggestion, she uses her computer to communicate with the consciousness of dark matter. It instructs her to destroy the computer and to travel through the same window between worlds used by Will and Lyra, explaining that her role is to "play the [serpent](/source/Serpent_(Bible))". Lee Scoresby finds Grumman living as a [shaman](/source/Shamanism) known to the people of that world as Jopari (a modified form of his English name John Parry): Will's father. Grumman has summoned Scoresby to take him to the bearer of the knife and to assist Lord Asriel, who is assembling an army to rebel against an ancient angel called [the Authority](/source/Authority_(His_Dark_Materials)). They set off in Scoresby's hot air balloon but are forced to land by soldiers of the Church. The soldiers attack, and Scoresby calls Serafina for help. She leaves Lyra to follow his call, but arrives too late. Scoresby has died holding off the soldiers so that Grumman can complete his task. Mrs Coulter tricks Sir Charles into revealing the secret of the knife, and poisons him. She uses the spectres, which she has learned to control, to torture a witch into revealing the prophecy: that Lyra is the second [Eve](/source/Eve). Mrs Coulter plans to destroy her daughter rather than risk a second [Fall](/source/Fall_of_Man). Leaving Lyra asleep at their overnight camp, Will walks on alone and finds his father, who staunches his bleeding and tells him to join Lord Asriel's forces. Grumman is killed by a vengeful witch whose love he had once spurned. Will returns to find a pair of angels waiting to guide him to Asriel. He goes to awaken Lyra, but finds that she is missing and that her guardian witches' souls have been drained by spectres. ## Critical reception *The Subtle Knife* won Parents' Choice Gold Book Award; American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults; Booklist Editors' Choice; Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year; *Horn Book* Fanfare Honor Book; *Bulletin* Blue Ribbon Book; *Book Links* Best Book of the Year; and *American Bookseller* Pick of the Lists. ## Adaptations Before the release of *[The Golden Compass](/source/The_Golden_Compass_(film))* (a film adaptation of the first book in the series) on 7 December 2007, [New Line Cinema](/source/New_Line_Cinema) said that an adaptation of *The Subtle Knife* would go into production only if the first film was a success.[1] *The Golden Compass* made over twice its budget worldwide but was a disappointment in the United States; this left the fate of its sequel unclear. The international rights were also originally sold to provide financing for the first film, thus amounting to a significant disappointment for New Line Cinema. Producer Deborah Forte, however, was adamant that she would finish the trilogy, saying, "I believe there are enough people who see what a viable and successful franchise we have."[2] However, Philip Pullman later remarked at the [British Humanist Association](/source/Humanists_UK) annual conference in 2011 that due to the first film's disappointing sales in the United States, there would not be any sequels made.[3] An audiobook adaptation, featuring a full cast and narration by the author, was released in 2000.[4] As the second novel of the *His Dark Materials* trilogy, the book has also formed part of a [radio drama](/source/Radio_drama) on [BBC Radio 4](/source/BBC_Radio_4), starring [Terence Stamp](/source/Terence_Stamp) as [Lord Asriel](/source/Lord_Asriel) and [Lulu Popplewell](/source/Lulu_Popplewell) as Lyra,[5] and as a [two-part, six-hour](/source/His_Dark_Materials_(play)) performance for London's [Royal National Theatre](/source/Royal_National_Theatre) in December 2003, running until March 2004, and starring [Anna Maxwell Martin](/source/Anna_Maxwell_Martin) as Lyra, [Dominic Cooper](/source/Dominic_Cooper) as Will, [Timothy Dalton](/source/Timothy_Dalton) as Lord Asriel and [Patricia Hodge](/source/Patricia_Hodge) as Mrs Coulter, and a second run between November 2004 and April 2005. The second series of the joint [BBC](/source/BBC)-[HBO](/source/HBO) television adaptation of *[His Dark Materials](/source/His_Dark_Materials_(TV_series))*, approved in September 2018, covers *The Subtle Knife*, with introductions to the book's central characters beginning in the first season.[6] ## Further reading - Lenz, Millicent (2005). *His Dark Materials Illuminated: Critical Essays on Phillip Pullman's Trilogy*. Wayne State University Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-8143-3207-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-8143-3207-2). - Frost, Laurie (2006). *The Elements of His Dark Materials*. The Fell Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0975943014](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0975943014). ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** McNary, Dave (4 January 2007). ["New Line pulls in pic scribe: Amini to pen second part of Pullman trilogy"](https://variety.com/2007/scene/markets-festivals/new-line-pulls-in-pic-scribe-1117956728/). *[Variety](/source/Variety_(magazine))*. Retrieved 13 December 2007. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Dawtrey, Adam (13 March 2008). ["'Compass' spins foreign frenzy"](https://www.variety.com/article/VR1117982066.html?categoryid=1246&cs=1). *[Variety](/source/Variety_(magazine))*. Retrieved 13 March 2008. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [*Philip Pullman receiving the award for services to Humanism, at the BHA Conference 2011*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZKjd05_Jns). [YouTube](/source/YouTube). 25 July 2011. [Archived](https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/iZKjd05_Jns) from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2019. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman"](https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/reviews/read/6511/the-subtle-knife-by-philip-pullman-read-by-full-cast/). [AudioFile](/source/AudioFile_(magazine)). 2000. Retrieved 2 December 2019. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["His Dark Materials cast their magic on BBC Radio 4"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2002/12_december/02/dark_materials.shtml). [BBC](/source/BBC). 2 December 2002. Retrieved 2 December 2019. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Thomas, Leah (29 November 2019). ["What HBO's His Dark Materials Is Doing Is a Book Reader's Dream"](https://www.themarysue.com/hbo-his-dark-materials-book-reader-dream/). *[The Mary Sue](/source/Dan_Abrams#The_Mary_Sue)*. Retrieved 3 December 2019. v t e Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials and The Book of Dust His Dark Materials Northern Lights The Subtle Knife The Amber Spyglass The Book of Dust La Belle Sauvage The Secret Commonwealth The Rose Field Companion books Lyra's Oxford Once Upon a Time in the North The Collectors Serpentine The Imagination Chamber Characters Lyra Belacqua Will Parry Lord Asriel Mrs. Coulter Adaptations His Dark Materials (stage play) The Golden Compass (film) soundtrack "Lyra" The Golden Compass (video game) His Dark Materials (television series) La Belle Sauvage (stage play) Other Locations Races Dust Dæmons Category v t e Works by Philip Pullman Sally Lockhart The Ruby in the Smoke (1985) The Shadow in the North (1986) The Tiger in the Well (1990) The Tin Princess (1994) His Dark Materials Original novels Northern Lights (1995) The Subtle Knife (1997) The Amber Spyglass (2000) Companion books Lyra's Oxford (2003) Once Upon a Time in the North (2008) Serpentine (2020) The Book of Dust La Belle Sauvage (2017) The Secret Commonwealth (2019) The Rose Field (2025) Other The Haunted Storm (1972) Galatea (1978) Count Karlstein (1982) How to be Cool (1987) The Broken Bridge (1990) The Butterfly Tattoo (1992) The Firework-Maker's Daughter (1995) Clockwork (1996) I Was a Rat! or, The Scarlet Slippers (1999) The Scarecrow and his Servant (2004) The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ (2010) Authority control databases MusicBrainz work Open Library --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [The Subtle Knife](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Subtle_Knife) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Subtle_Knife?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.