BookBingeHis Dark Materials Books in Order
The short answer
Philip Pullman · 3 books
- How many books?
- There are 3 books in the His Dark Materials series, published 1995–2000.
- Is it finished?
- Yes — the series is complete; it ends with The Amber Spyglass (2000).
- Where to start
- Start with The Golden Compass (1995).
About 1,300 pages — roughly 20 hours of reading
A girl with a truth-telling compass journeys between worlds in a universe where souls walk beside bodies as daemons.
Here is the complete His Dark Materials reading order — all 3 books by Philip Pullman, in the order you should read them:
Reading order
- The Golden CompassLyra travels to the arctic to save kidnapped children and discovers her world's deepest secret.1995
- The Subtle KnifeLyra meets Will in a world between worlds, and together they carry a knife that cuts through reality.1997350 pages
- The Amber SpyglassThe war against the Authority plays out across many worlds, and Lyra faces an impossible choice.2000536 pages
Good news: for this series, reading order and publication order are the same — just read straight down the list.
On our lists: Completed fantasy series · Completed YA fantasy series · Completed fantasy trilogies
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Get BookBingeFrequently asked questions
How many His Dark Materials books are there?
There are 3 books in the His Dark Materials series by Philip Pullman, from The Golden Compass (1995) to The Amber Spyglass (2000). Together they run to about 1,300 pages.
Is the His Dark Materials series finished?
Yes. Philip Pullman completed the series with The Amber Spyglass in 2000; all 3 books are out now.
What is the first His Dark Materials book?
The Golden Compass (1995) is book one. Lyra travels to the arctic to save kidnapped children and discovers her world's deepest secret.
Should I read the His Dark Materials series in publication order?
Yes. For the His Dark Materials series, reading order and publication order are the same — The Golden Compass (1995) through The Amber Spyglass (2000).
How long does it take to read all His Dark Materials books?
About 1,300 pages across 3 books — roughly 20 hours at a page a minute. The longest is The Amber Spyglass (536 pages); the shortest is The Subtle Knife (350 pages).