‘His Dark Materials’ Author Philip Pullman To Release Unseen Lyra Novella In October
WhenThe Amber SpyglassbroughtPhilip Pullman’sHis Dark Materialstrilogy to an end in 2000, that seemed like the end of the story of its protagonist. But 20 years later, and we’re still following the bullish heroine on adventures in her parallel-world Oxford — both on screen in the excellent HBO/BBC TV series adaptation, and in new books published by Pullman.
While Pullman’s latest novelThe Secret Commonwealth, the second in a new trilogy of books set in the world ofHis Dark Materials, picks up with Lyra as an adult, Pullman had been keeping an unseenHis Dark Materialsnovella about teenage Lyra in his pocket since 2004. Finally, Pullman will be releasing that novella, titledSerpentine, this October.
In 2004, Pullman secretly penned a sequel story to his belovedHis Dark Materialstrilogy, picking up with his plucky protagonist Lyra Silvertongue as a teenager. No one would ever read it, except for two winners of a charity auction. Until now.Entertainment Weeklyrevealed thatSerpentineis being published as a novella this October to mark the 25th anniversary of the publication ofThe Golden Compass.
“Why are we publishing this story now?” Pullman began in a statement. “Because with the development ofThe Book of Dust, especially after the events described inThe Secret Commonwealth, we can see a change in the way Lyra understands herself, and her relationship with Pantalaimon, which is prefigured in this little Arctic episode.”
The Book of Dustis Pullman’s ongoing companion trilogy, beginning with 2017’sLa Belle Sauvage,which takes place 12 years before the events ofHis Dark Materials, and continuing with the most recent book,The Secret Commonwealth, published in 2019.The Secret Commonwealthis a dense, ambitious saga that picks up with Lyra as an adult, now estranged with her daemon, Pantalaimon. It’s a shocking development for the reader at the beginning of the book, which drives the conflict of the story (which, in myreviewofThe Secret Commonwealth, I was mixed on, due to its overwhelming ambition but clunky execution). A few of Lyra’s previous adventures were referenced inThe Secret Commonwealth, some of which had already been expanded on in shorter companion novels like 2003’sLyra’s Oxford. But it seems likeSerpentinewill fill in a valuable piece of the puzzle ofThe Secret Commonwealth. Pullman added in his statement:
According to the official description ofSerpentine: “Lyra and Pan are older and a little wiser, and in search of an answer to a shocking, secret condition—their ability to separate—from the witch-consul, Dr. Lanselius. What unfolds is a tender, revelatory scene that foreshadows Lyra’s future struggles as a young woman, and provides insight into Pullman’s own early exploration of a previously unthinkable plot development that would emerge in hisThe Book of Dustsequence: the idea that a human’s bond with their daemon can be irreparably broken.”
Oscar winnerOlivia Colman(The Favourite) will narrate the audiobook version ofSerpentine, which will drop in hardcover and eBook onOctober 15, 2020. The second season ofHis Dark Materials, based on the second book,The Subtle Knife, is also set to premiere sometime later this year.
