Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials

[FrustratedPoet]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
Let's not forget the atheists.

[Giant_Squid]

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.

[FrustratedPoet]

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.

[Static Universe]

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!

[Stefu]

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.