Not what I hoped - Rated 
It's too short.
It doesn't tell you much more about the dark materials universe.
It's just a straight forward story the two main characters meet and sort out a problem and that's it.
You get a bit more of an insight into Lee Scoresby the aeronaut but nothing of Iorek Byrnison which would have made the book far more interesting.
If you want a really good Pullman adventure story read the Sally Lockhart books first.
The game at the back is good fun but I didn't get the book for that.
Beautiful and disappointing - Rated 
Let's get this straight. The His Dark Materials trilogy is one of the best things in literature and wipes the floor with Harry Potter (much as I enjoy them). This is the second in a series of spin off books which are short stories using the original characters. The first, Lyra's Oxford deals with the heroine, Lyra Silvertongue. The second, this book, deals with a prequel in which we find out how the aeronaut Lee Scoresby and the bear king, Iorek Byrnison first meet each other.
The writing is crisp, dark and funny/sad, just as in the original books and the woodcuts, the game and all the additional letters etc, make this cloth bound, pocket sized book a thing of great beauty and a needful addition to any bookshelf. The characterisation is excellent, and these are two of the best characters in the trilogy to meet again.
So, why disappointing? Because it is too short. Because there has been nothing in the way of a real meaty adventure issuing forth from Pullman's pen for too long, and because I'm greedy and I want more. Pull your finger out Philip, there's a dear.
A great little adventure, for fans and newcomers alike. - Rated
After the slightly disappointing Lyra's Oxford, Once Upon A Time In The North came as a great relief to me. It was as if Philip Pullman had learned from his last short story from the His Dark Materials universe all the lessons he needed to in order to make this second spin-off the perfect gift for any fan of the trilogy, people who have only seen the film, and even any adult or child who has never even heard of Lee Scoresby or Iorek Byrnison before.
Serving as a companion or even introduction piece to His Dark Materials, the short story part of the book (there are other surprises, though if you have read the product description you probably know what they are by now) is a genuinely exciting account of Lee's (and, of course, Hester's) first meeting with sentient and honourable Polar Bear Iorek Byrnison. What makes this exciting is that both were already fully fleshed out characters, and firm friends, in the novels, yet the details of their first meeting were never revelled - until, of course, now.
I honestly have never read a short story I enjoyed more than this one. Whether that was influenced by my already existing love of the characters, I don't know - but the story was gripping from start to finish.
As for length - I felt it was exactly the right length for a good short story. As someone who has written a number of short stories as a hobby, I know that that is something it is very difficult to get right.
If you are a fan of the series, there's also a nice twist waiting for you in the supplementary material at the end.
What might have been.... - Rated
This is the second spin-off from His Dark Materials, and follows the hugely underwhelming Lyra's Oxford.
First, the good news. This is longer than Lyra's Oxford and is a cracking good prequel about the first time Lee Scoresby and Iorek Byrnison met. The story hits the ground running with action from the start, a tale of corruption, and a shady character from Scoresby's past.
Now, the bad news. The book does not even reach 100 pages, and includes a free game. As with the previous shorter than short story, it's as if Pullman is compensating the reader for lack of content, a carrot that will not please his older readers.
I have given this one more star than Lyra's Oxford, because there is a very good story in here. Trouble is, it could have been so much more.
Can we have more please? - Rated 
As far as I'm concerned 'His Dark Materials' is the greatest work in children's literature - full stop. Therefore I'm pleased by any additions that Pullman wants to publish. In 'One Upon In the North' we are told the arly stroy of Lee and Iorek which, I must say, is a vast improvement on 'Lyra's Oxford', which, though enjoyable, was a little limp. "north' has an edgy side that the previous one lacks, it has action and suspense in spade. Again, this is arguably lacking in 'Oxford'.
I particuarly enjoyed the whole Western thing that was going on. I added a new dimension to the saga and freshened things up. Though, like a stuck record I'm going to echo the sentiments of everyone else. It is too short. From a personal point of view I really want Materials 4...this of course is rumoured to be in the pipeline...and am left disappointed whne I don't getit. But this isn't really fair. This is a one off, seperate from the trilogy and perhaps should be viewed as such.
All in all this is a solid book. It's engaging and well worth a read.
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