Seldom is the sequel better than the original. However, in this case, I find that The Subtle Knife is infinately better than The Golden Compass. Having already introduced main characters and main ideas, Mr. Pullman can bring out ideas and philosophies that capture the imagination and spark new thoughts. The only reason I did not completely enjoy this book was because of the cliffhanger ending that left me begging for the third installment of His Dark Materials. On the whole, however, The Subtle Knife is a superbly crafted literary work suitable for almost any reader of almost any age.