Once Upon a Time in the North

February 18, 2008
Fans of the His Dark Materials trilogy will get a kick from this wisp of a novel, which immediately introduces “a lean young man with a large hat, a laconic disposition, and a thin mustache”: Pullman offers up the backstory about that legendary Texan, the aeronaut Lee Scoresby, his jackrabbit daemon, Hester, and their first encounter with that other series favorite, the armored bear Iorek Byrnison. But this story reads as a stand alone, too, accessible to those unfamiliar with The Golden Compass
and the rest. Bringing in his signature talents for rich scenic description and dramatic action, the story begins as Lee arrives on the island of Novy Odense, looking for work, and instead finds adventure. Notably, Pullman tells the story from Lee's perspective, trading in trilogy heroine Lyra's point of view for that of an adult man. Lee and Iorek team up to help a sea captain save his ship's cargo—unfairly embargoed by a corrupt local politician (he harbors a deep prejudice against armored bears)—and square off against the politician's bodyguard, a hired killer. Readers will appreciate this story's larger-than-life tenor, so fitting for the heroic Lee Scoresby. Kids will enjoy the extras, such as the pull-out board game Peril of the Pole (“for four to six players and their daemons”) and “newspaper” clippings. Illustrated throughout with small engravings; final art not seen by PW
. Ages 12-up.

Starred review from September 1, 2023

Gr 5 Up-Two of the most beloved characters from Pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy, Lee Scoresby and Iorek Byrnison, get their own novella, giving readers a glimpse into their initial meeting and friendship. Set many years before the events of the original series, readers meet 24-year-old Lee, who has just won his first hot air balloon in a poker game. He and his daemon Hester have landed on an island called Novy Odense, and he's hoping to find work there. Lee quickly notices bears hanging about; some working, some sleeping, but the townspeople mostly ignore them. He's never seen such a thing, and after striking up a conversation with a stranger at lunch, learns that the town is abuzz with the impending mayoral election. The front-runner is a candidate named Poliakov who is running on an "anti-bear" platform, painting bears as a scourge on society. Poliakov sees that Lee carries a firearm, and offers him work protecting a piece of his property. But when Lee sees another of Poliakov's hired guns, he recognizes him from his past, and knows he needs to keep his guard up. A short but rip-roaring adventure follows as Lee and Iorek team up against Poliakov and lots of other bad guys. Lee's characteristic wry humor is on full display here, and Hester is as sassy and endearing as ever. Lovely, full-color artwork is interspersed every few pages of text and truly enhances the beautifully written story. VERDICT Pullman's "His Dark Materials" is a modern classic, and this is a sweet addition to that world. It's a must-have for libraries.-Mandy Laferriere

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