The Collectors by Philip Pullman, a Christmas gift from Audible

I finally got my act together and transferred my Audible.com account (and my entire audiobook library) to Audible.com.au. I really don’t know why I’d been putting it off for so long – just a couple of clicks and it was done. They also have a great ‘welcome home’ special for Aussies transferring back to their own region marketplace – half price subscription for 3 months.

While I was logged in I downloaded Audible’s free Christmas gift for members, Philip Pullman’s new short story for the ‘His Dark Materials’ trilogy universe, The Collectors.

The Collectors Synopsis:

“But the thing is,” said Horley, “they didn’t know each other at all. Never heard of each other. It wasn’t about the makers. Only about the works.”

On a dark winter’s night in 1970, Horley and Grinstead huddle for warmth in the Senior Common Room of a college in Oxford. Conversation turns to the two impressive works of art that Horley has recently added to his collection. What the two men don’t know is that these pieces are connected in mysterious and improbable ways; and they are about to be caught in the cross-fire of a story which has travelled time and worlds.

Philip Pullman is one of the most well-loved and admired British authors of the last few decades. He has written numerous novels for both adults and children, most notably the award-winning His Dark Materials trilogy. The Collectors, written exclusively for Audible, serves as a great introduction to this series, while revealing a little something extra to fans of Lyra and her world.

The Collectors is narrated by Bill Nighy, the Golden Globe and BAFTA award-winning actor whose work on stage, screen, and radio has included Love Actually, the Pirates of the Caribbean series and a multitude of TV, stage, and radio appearances.

MINI REVIEW

At only 32 minutes length, I was able to listen to Philip Pullman’s The Collectors in one sitting, and it proved to be a wonderful little escape from the hustle and bustle of Christmas preparations.

Narrator Bill Nighy’s mellow, husky tones were perfectly suited to the mysterious events that take place one evening in the dusty halls of an Oxford college. No previous knowledge of the His Dark Materials trilogy’s character set is required to enjoy this piece.  I must say though, my enjoyment of this little taster of Pullman’s work has certainly whet my appetite for more – he really knows how to set an evocative scene and build suspense.  

Northern Lights, the first book in the trilogy is going on my wishlist today!