Pullman's 'The Golden Compass' voted best children's book in the last 70 years

Originally published as Northern Lights, it was entitled The Golden Compass in North America. This is the first book of His Dark Materials Trilogy.

From the Guardian:

The opening book of His Dark Materials, Philip Pullman's epic trilogy of wonder and love, won the supreme accolade in its field last night. Northern Lights was declared the finest children's book of the past 70 years, handsomely topping a readers' poll as the best winner of the annual Carnegie medal published in that time.

Pullman believed the story it introduces - of a girl and boy leading the struggle of multiple universes to throw off the oppressive agents of a senile God - would have difficulty finding an audience. His influences, including Milton, William Blake and Tom Paine, are unprecedented in a children's narrative.

This is a wonderful trilogy, and I loved it.