Philip Pullman fans across Oxfordshire are counting the days until the publication of his new book, Once Upon a Time in the North.

Mr Pullman, the award-winning author of the His Dark Materials trilogy, was thrilled to see Northern Lights, the first book in the trilogy, transfer to the big screen last year.

He loved rubbing shoulders with Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig at the premiere, but after the fuss died down he got back to doing what he likes best - writing his latest story.

He is working on The Book of Dust, a His Dark Materials sequel, and that remains his major project.

But he has taken time out from The Book of Dust to pen a rip-roaring boy's own adventure, based on two of his favourite characters from the trilogy.

They are Lee Scoresby, the balloonist, and Iorek Byrnison, the armoured bear, and Once Upon a Time in the North reveals how they first meet, in Novy Odense, a bleak town in the far Arctic North (think South Shields on a wet Wednesday).

Scoresby and his daemon Hester crash-land their trading balloon in the town and the tension mounts as the the young balloonist sticks his nose into the local politics.

The other night I devoured a manuscript copy of the fast-paced tale and I can't say too much, because publishers Random House have placed an embargo on the top-secret document.

What I can say is that I thoroughly enjoyed the ripping yarn, which even features a tense gunfight, and I know young readers will appreciate it.

Speaking from his home outside Oxford, Mr Pullman told me: "The publishers have done a lovely job. I have always liked these characters and I think people who know my books and The Golden Compass will enjoy it."

Mr Pullman said he was looking forward to launching Once Upon a Time in the North at Oxford Town Hall, on Monday, March 31, at 7pm at the Oxford Literary Festival.

The Sunday Times, which sponsors the festival, looks set to run an interview with Mr Pullman this weekend, and look out for another interview in The Oxford Times next Friday.

The new book is being published by Beaumont Street-based David Fickling, and will be produced in the same pocket-sized format as Mr Pullman's short story, Lyra's Oxford.

Once again, wood engravings by John Lawrence are used for illustrations, and Mr Lawrence will be demonstrating his technique at Waterstone's in Oxford on Saturday, April 12, from noon to 4pm.

Now that I have read the manuscript, I can't wait to get my hands on an actual copy of the book, but I gather thousands are on a container ship in the mid-Atlantic.

I have no doubt that Lee Scoresby and Iorek Byrnison will make sure the precious treasure arrives safely.

4:32pm Thursday 13th March 2008

Print

Email this