The golden clock face has sparked intense speculation among fans of Philip Pullman’s book series, with some believing it may be a teaser for a new book. A close-up of the projection near the Radcliffe Camera in Oxford’s city centre.
The mysterious image appeared in various locations on Monday evening, including near the iconic landmark and close to Waterstones Oxford’s X account, where fans had shared a video of the projection. The post’s caption read: “Just a bookseller, walking home, wondering what this projection means.”
Fans of Philip Pullman’s books, particularly those who are fans of the His Dark Materials series, have been quick to speculate about the meaning behind the golden clock face. Some fans have suggested that the projection could be a reference to the popular book series.
Philip Pullman himself has added fuel to the fire by sharing photographs of the projection on his official Instagram account, along with a cryptic message:
“About last night…
The speculation has been rampant, with some fans suggesting that the projection may be a teaser for a brand new book from the author. One fan even joked that they would “just cry” if it wasn’t a Book of Dust 3 announcement teaser.
The news was confirmed this afternoon when it was revealed that the projection was indeed advertising the new book, The Rose Field: The Book of Dust Volume Three, which will be published on October 23, 2025. The Rose Field is the culmination of the cultural phenomenon of The Book of Dust and His Dark Materials, and is expected to be a thrilling conclusion to the series. Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials and the first two volumes of The Book of Dust have sold over 49 million copies in over 35 territories and have inspired adaptations across stage and screen.
In an interview, Pullman described The Rose Field as a “thriller and partly a bildungsroman”, and a “vision” of a world changing, where the power over people’s lives is seeping away and reappearing in a new form. Pullman explained that The Rose Field is a story of psychological, moral and emotional growth, and a journey of self-discovery, where Lyra comes to understand the world in a new way.
