The Guardian posts an exclusive extract (and quite a lenghty one, as well) from the upcoming Pullman book Once Upon A Time In The North, a story about Texan aeronaut Lee Scoresby and his companion Iorek Byrnison.
Once Upon A Time In The North is set to appear in UK bookstores 3 April, 2008 and in USA bookstores 8 April, 2008.
The battered cargo balloon came in out of a rainstorm over the White Sea, losing height rapidly and swaying in the strong north-west wind as the pilot trimmed the vanes and tried to adjust the gas-valve. The pilot was a lean young man with a large hat, a laconic disposition and a thin moustache,and at present he was making for the Barents Sea Company Depot, whose location was marked on a torn scrap of paper pinned to the binnacle of the gondola. He could see the depot spread out around the little harbour ahead - a cluster of administrative buildings, a hangar, a warehouse, workshops, gas storage tanks and the associated machinery; it was all approaching fast, and he had to make quick adjustments to everything he could control in order to avoid the hangar roof and make for the open space beyond the warehouse.
Continue to the Guardian website to read the full extract
9 comments - Add yours
#1
Aw! It’s young Lee Scoresby, how wonderful! Anyone thing “The Elements of Aerial Navigation” is a nod to Laurie Frost’s book?
And hey he’s got a Ragnar as king of Svalbard!
# March 22, 2008 05:35 by Phit
#2
“uh, what is it - revolvolator or something ... “
Love it. =)
# March 22, 2008 14:36 by seyla
#3
I’m really excited!
# March 22, 2008 15:41 by Frits
#4
Brilliant...cant wait
# March 23, 2008 00:29 by theaurora
#5
Whoa, brilliant! I hope I can get it on time, when it releasese. :/
# March 23, 2008 05:12 by Lyra-asia
#6
Wow this is brilliant news. A friend was telling me about this last night
# March 23, 2008 14:40 by Eulaca
#7
Can’t wait to have it!Sounds pure Pullman...Wonderful!
# March 26, 2008 10:48 by Lyrael
#8 Yay!
I like it… sorta
# March 31, 2008 21:10 by chevaliertialys
#9
Thats good stuff!
# April 14, 2008 05:42 by http://www.hisdarkmaterials.org/profile