05-05-2003 10:13									#1
	Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials Suffering from ads?

Anybody read these books?

The reviews sound very interesting, and I was just curious if anyone here had any first hand knowledge of them. They look pretty dark.



Amazon Link

quote: In an epic trilogy, Philip Pullman unlocks the door to a world parallel to our own, but with a mysterious slant all its own. Dæmons and winged creatures live side by side with humans, and a mysterious entity called Dust just might have the power to unite the universes--if it isn't destroyed first. Here, the three paperback titles in Pullman's heroic fantasy series are united in one dazzling boxed set. Join Lyra, Pantalaimon, Will, and the rest as they embark on the most breathtaking, heartbreaking adventures of their lives. The fate of the universe is in their hands. The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass pit good against evil in a way no reader will ever forget. (Ages 13 and older) --Emilie Coulter

	05-05-2003 10:14									#2
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Yup, they're good books. I love the premise hehe

	05-05-2003 10:16									#3
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quote: Originally posted by skywalker Yup, they're good books. I love the premise hehe

I read a couple of reviews from Christian websites and they really rail on this book. Is it really what they say it's about?

It sounds great.

	05-05-2003 10:17									#4
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Probably. Unless you're a fundamentalist, read it. Even if you're a fundamentalist, read it

	05-05-2003 10:19									#5
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quote: Originally posted by skywalker Probably. Unless you're a fundamentalist, read it. Even if you're a fundamentalist, read it

Thanks! I'll pick it up tomorrow.

	05-05-2003 10:20									#6
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I'm going to borrow them from my little sister next time I'm home.

	05-05-2003 15:16									#7
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I found the anti-christian propaganda in the later books to be rather disturbing - and I'm atheist!

I expect the Christian reviews of it make a bit too big of a deal about it. However, I think that Pullman using children's literature as a platform for pushing his anti-christian propaganda is a bit contemptable.

Religious commentary has no place in children's books IMHO.

Last edited by FrustratedPoet on 05-05-2003 at 15:53

	05-05-2003 15:45									#8
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wonderful books

	05-05-2003 20:18									#9
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"Religious commentary has no place in children's books IMHO."

Chronicles of Narnia???
I read the Innocents Abroad when I was a tot and that definitely has some commentary in it... Never did me any harm.

	05-05-2003 20:26									#10
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Narnia sucks.

	05-05-2003 20:30									#11
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Some of them do. The Magician's Nephew and the Horse and His Boy are brilliant, while I could do without Prince Caspian.

	05-05-2003 20:32									#12
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I've never read the books themselves...I have, however, read an article, w/interview, in the Washington Post. I got the strong impression that the guy was condemning ideas he didn't even properly understand. The article quoted Pullman as making all sorts of ridiculous remarks; he completely misread certain sections of the chronicles of narnia, and seeing as the CoN are children's books that's pretty frigging sad. I'll try and check out the books the next time I go to the library, maybe see if they're as half-assed as they sound.
I particularly liked Pullman's comment about how fantasy books shouldn't emphasize the otherworldliness of their settings. Of course, that's the whole point of fantasy as a genre; otherwise it's realistic fiction. Is the guy missing some marbles or what?

	05-05-2003 20:36									#13
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The first one one's of the best young adult fantasy books out there, it definately blows Harry Potter away...
As long as you don't mind all the main characters being kids, go for it.

	05-05-2003 21:58									#14
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Just fantastic. The fact that they piss off fundies is a terrific bonus, but they're wonderful books in their own right. If you've read Paradise Lost, you'll probably get even more pleasure out of them -- but it's not necessary.

	05-05-2003 22:27									#15
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quote: Originally posted by Rufus T. Firefly Just fantastic. The fact that they piss off fundies is a terrific bonus,

Let's not forget the atheists.

	05-05-2003 23:36									#16
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quote: Originally posted by DinoDoc Let's not forget the atheists.

	05-05-2003 23:44									#17
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Very good. I'd like to disagree with everyone who said the first one was the best and say that I liked the last two better, especially the final one, which made me cry at the end. I thought the religious themes were done well - integrated in so that it's not blatant propaganda but then at the end it makes you think a little. On the other hand, it's not like it's going to convince anyone to change religions - it seems to be presented as an interesting "what if" sort of thing, and it's a darned good one.

Azrael is one of my favorite characters in all of fiction, and the whole premise with the daemons is kind of interesting.

	05-05-2003 23:49									#18
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quote: Originally posted by Giant_Squid the whole premise with the daemons is kind of interesting.

I'll certainly agree with that one. I was impressed with the concept of the daemons - I'd never read anything similar to that and it was very interesting.

	05-05-2003 23:49									#19
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quote: Originally posted by Elok I particularly liked Pullman's comment about how fantasy books shouldn't emphasize the otherworldliness of their settings. Of course, that's the whole point of fantasy as a genre; otherwise it's realistic fiction.

Not sure I agree with that, because Tolkien made similar comments regarding The Hobbit vs LoTR, in which he said he wished he had written the Hobbit in the more realistic style of the Lord of the Rings, since he felt he was really talking down to children, and even his own children prefered the more realistic style.

RUN-ON SENTENCE!

	06-05-2003 00:21									#20
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I like them, the first one the best. As for the anti-religious views, I figured the writer to be trolling - I mean, angry fundies bring attention bring sales. If he had just sold somewhat more, the mechanic would have probably kicked in and Philip Pullman could be a J. K. Rowling-level household name these days.

However, as a Finn, I can't be but amused about the male goose named Kaisa.