'Compass' book enjoys new popularity

NEW YORK, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- Copies of Philip Pullman's 10-year-old novel, "The Golden Compass," have been flying off shelves in the run-up to the U.S. debut of the "Compass" film.

More than a decade after the book was first published, it made USA Today's "Top 50 Best Sellers" list, having seen a 500 percent increase in sales during the last three months, New Line Cinema said in a statement.

The compilation edition of Pullman's complete "His Dark Materials" trilogy -- of which "The Golden Compass" is the first novel -- has moved onto the list, as well.

"The Golden Compass" has sold more than 3.5 million copies in the United States to date, while the trilogy has moved more than 7 million copies.

Nearly 10 million unique visitors have also checked out the Web site for the movie, which is slated to hit U.S. theaters on Dec. 7 and stars Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig.