HisDarkMaterials.org
HisDarkMaterials.org is one of the leading His Dark Materials websites, including information about The Golden Compass movie, the book trilogy, extensive fan art galleries, photographs of Philip Pullman, and related visual resources. It also contains a dæmon name generator, an active chatroom, a His Dark Materials role playing game, and an interactive encyclopedia. News is updated daily, with members being able to discuss news items. The website is also home to Cittàgazze.net, the world's largest His Dark Materials forum.
Movies
The Golden Compass
Books
Overview
The Golden Compass / Northern Lights
The Subtle Knife
The Amber Spyglass
Lyra’s Oxford
The Book of Dust
Features
The Golden Compass World Premiere
Cannes Filmfestival 2007
Alethiometer
Cartography
Last updated on 8 October 2006
What is the Alethiometer?
In the beginning of The Golden Compass / Northern Lights, Lyra receives an "alethiometer," or "golden compass". Now this alethiometer isn't really a compass. It doesn't point to the North. Instead, it has symbols all over its face, and when Lyra asks it a question, the needle points to symbols that answer her question.
Although there has been a lot of discussion about this topic, Philip Pullman has confirmed that the alethiometer is indeed made of gold, and not of brass, as is mentioned in the books at one point.