A companion volume to Lyra’s Oxford, Once Upon A Time in the North takes the reader to the ice bound lands of the North. As well as the new story, the book contains a marvellous bundle of paraphernalia and memorabilia (including a thrilling board game – Peril of the Pole) and clues from the His Dark Materials universe. Bound with blue cloth, it is presented as a collected work by Lyra Silvertongue for her masters in History at St Sophia’s, Oxford.

When a young Texan balloonist, Lee Scoresby, comes down to earth in the harbour of an Arctic town in the North, little does he realise that he is about to be embroiled in an out-and-out political brawl. Lee and his daemon, Hester, find themselves the target of political factions trying to take over the running (and oil) of the town. And also resident in the town are huge arctic bears, ignored and patronised by the people and treated like second-class citizens.

When Lee meets one of the bears Iorek Byrnison they cement a friendship that will continue throughout their lives, as the tensions and pressure in town lead to a deadly conclusion...

This wonderful tale from the master story-teller Philip Pullman gives more extraordinary insight into the captivating world of His Dark Materials. The story is illustrated throughout by illustrator and master engraver John Lawrence, whose work also adorns Lyra’s Oxford.