Photo of Philip Pullman
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Philip Pullman

3 series 13 books in order 1985–2025

Philip Pullman CBE, FRSL is an English writer from Norwich. He is a best-selling author known for his fantasy novels, particularly his trilogy His Dark Materials, and for his fictional biography of Jesus, The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ. The first book in His Dark Materials was adapted into the film The Golden Compass, and the first two books of his Sally Lockhart series were adapted for television. In 2008, The Times named him in their list of "The 50 greatest British writers since 1945."

Born
1946
Active years
1985–2025
Known for
His Dark Materials, The Book of Dust, Sally Lockhart

Series by Philip Pullman

His Dark Materials

6 books in order · 1995–2020 · Publication order

  1. Cover of Northern Lights

    Northern Lights

    1995 · Philip Pullman

    Northern Lights is a young-adult fantasy novel by Philip Pullman, published in 1995 by Scholastic UK. The story takes place in a parallel universe…

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  2. Cover of The Subtle Knife

    The Subtle Knife

    2002 · Philip Pullman

    As the boundaries between worlds begin to dissolve, Lyra and her daemon help Will Parry search for his father and for a powerful, magical knife. Lyra…

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  3. Cover of The Amber Spyglass

    The Amber Spyglass

    2001 · Philip Pullman

    In the finale to the His Dark Materials trilogy, Lyra and Will face grave danger and journey with Iorek Byrnison and two Gallivespian spies to a…

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The Book of Dust

3 books in order · 2017–2025

  1. Cover of La Belle Sauvage

    La Belle Sauvage

    2017 · Philip Pullman

    Malcolm Polstead is a keen observer who often goes unnoticed. He lives with his father at the Trout, an inn on the river Thames, where many people…

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  2. Cover of The Secret Commonwealth

    The Secret Commonwealth

    2019 · Philip Pullman

    Lyra Silvertongue believed her adventures had ended when she became a twenty-year-old student at St. Sophia's College. However, her life is disrupted…

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Sally Lockhart

4 books in order · 1985–1994

  1. Cover of The tin princess (Sally Lockhart #4)

    The tin princess (Sally Lockhart #4)

    1994 · Philip Pullman

    In this 1994 novel by Philip Pullman, sixteen-year-old Becky applies for a tutoring job in London in 1882 and becomes embroiled in assassination,…

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Frequently asked questions

How many books has Philip Pullman written?

We list 13 books by Philip Pullman across 3 series, published between 1985–2025 — each shown in full reading order.

What order should I read Philip Pullman's books?

Read each series in publication order. A good place to start is “Northern Lights.” Open any series above for its complete numbered reading order.

Where can I buy Philip Pullman's books?

Every title links to Amazon from its series page. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

Bibliography and reading orders compiled from verified bibliographic data. Spotted an error? We continuously correct the catalog.