A rich imaginative vividly characterised rite-of-passage tale - Nicolette Jones The Sunday Times WINNER- AUTHOR OF THE YEAR BRITISH BOOK AWARDS A coming of age story like no other . . . Philip Pullmans magnificent bestseller is now in paperback with new additional illustrations. Malcolm Polsteads Oxford life has been one of routine ordinary even. He is happiest playing with his daemon Asta in their canoe La Belle Sauvage. But now as the rain builds the world around Malcolm and Asta it seems is set to become increasingly far from ordinary. Finding himself linked to a baby by the name of Lyra Belacqua Malcolm is forced to undertake the challenge of his life and to make a dangerous journey that will change him and Lyra for ever . . .