The prize winning trilogy originally titled "His Dark Materials" written by Philip Pullman was renamed to give it, what was obviously believed to be a more appropriate and catchy title, hard to argue with that one - If you are going to make a movie it helps to have a title that is probably going to catch the imagination and attention of your audience, particularly if they are young people.
Not an unusual fate for any Author with a successful product on his/her hands.
"Harry Potter and the Philosophers stone" was renamed in the USA as "Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone".
I am sure that there must have been a very good reason for this which escapes me - but I am sure that there is someone out there who knows the answer.
Anyway back to Mr Pullman.
The Golden Compass is the first part of this trilogy and as everyone knows, was adapted into the recent blockbuster movie starring among others James Bond himself (Daniel Craig) and Nicole Kidman.
When you come to make any comparison between a book and a movie, we always have to remember the compromise that has to be made by the film maker - after all if you are going to make a movie three hours in length from a book that takes about 11 hours to read - you are going to have to make a few sacrifices.
Which is why anyone loving the film, really should read the book.
Reading the original version of this thoroughly delightful story is the only way to absorb and appreciate it, in all its detail, in the way the author wanted you, the reader to come to his story.
Even better, what if you could get the author supported by a complete cast, to read it to you! Well you can - more of this later.
The story line, if you are not familiar with this intricate tale - tells us how the young Lyra Belacqua accompanied by her Daemon, Pan, embark upon a quest to rescue her close friend and to discover "The world without end".
A quest packed full of imagination and adventure, travels through strange lands and some more familiar.
From the quiet and refined world of academic Oxford to the far reaches of the North Pole itself.
Meeting along the way a variety of the most unusual and exotic characters - friends and enemies alike, all woven with great skill into this wonderful innovative story line.
All the time she navigates her way, not just through these geographical and physical hazards but has to weave around a tissue of lies and mistruths designed to thwart her every move.
And you've guessed it, all with the help of the magical golden compass.
Usually positioned as a book for children and young people, it attraction and sophistication makes it a story of universal appeal