Phillip Pullman

[Godless]

Has anyone else read his trilogy 'His Dark Materials?'
I must admit I began by enjoying these books but discovered later on that he decided to place his hatred for Christianity above writing an enjoyable novel. I was deeply dissapointed when I finally finished the series as it was as if he created the books simply to try to make children belive many Christians are evil.
Sorry if this has been discussed previously but I feel so strongly that someone could write such a thing knowing the effect it would have on young children.

 

[Mr.Cheese]

I just read those in recent months and the trilogy is some of the best storytelling I've seen.
I do believe that Pullman:
1. Enjoys taking stabs at particularly Catholic Christianity
2. Has no understanding of what I believe Christianity to be.
3. His worldview presented in the book is closer to what I believe Christianity to be.

If he is anti anything I believe he is, for whatever reason, extremely anti-Catholic rather than anti-christian. When I read about Pope John Calvin moving the Papacy to Geneva I almost wet myself.

 

[SeRapH&CheRi]

I'm actually reading the first book in the series - The Golden Compass. It's quite fascinating and I can already tell that I'm going to be hooked. It will be interesting to see how "anti-Christian" the other two books are as others have described them to be.

 

[adams apple]

I think Pullman is one of the best children's writer around, he seriously knows how to write a good story. Obviously the anti-religion thing didn't bother me at all, infact, i quite enjoyed it.
Try his Sally Lockhart books, they're pretty good, and not anti-god in any way.

 

[Godless]

Oh, dont get me wrong. I enjoyed the books and thought the idea's and plot involved was truly amazing. I just felt rather hurt in the way religion was portraid and how I felt it was more of a personnel dig than part of the plot. but that could just be me....

 

[MadeInOz]

I didn't enjoy HDM, mainly because he spent most of the time bashing the church, and the whole thing turned into just nasty, well-written, attacks on the church. I dunno where he gets off, but I found the whole thing a bit obsequieous. I know it is meant to be a children's book, but I am really sick of fantasy books which have children as the heroes of the story. eesh! why does every fantasy world have to rely on children to save the world for it?

 

[Ithilwyn]

I only got through The Golden Compass, and I only read that one because it was an assignment. Pullman's anti-Catholicism isn't quite as obvious in that book (I've heard it gets worse as the trilogy progresses), but I disliked the book for other reasons. While I was fairly entertained by the plot, I was seriously disappointed at the end, and not just because it was the first of a trilogy and as such leaves the reader hanging. What I didn't like was the abrupt change in genre--it goes from sophisticated childrens' fantasy to trashy romance novel in a matter of seconds.

 

[Mr.Cheese]

Trashy Romance novel?

 

[Ainuhina]

I´ve read the first two books and really liked them. Pullmann is a very good writer but I also think that his books are somewhat against christianity. I don´t know more about his background and all that stuff so it´s hard to judge but I think that you should read his books critically and not believe in all that stuff about the church and so on. As I don´t know whats happening in book three I tend to think that you shouldn´t take it too serious-it´s just a book- like Harry Potter. There are lots of church critical books or books that contain ideas that are not cristian but you don´t have to adoped the authors point of view and can use this books to tell people about the true story.

 

[Unity of the brethren]

I really enjoyied all three of the DM series, i thought they were well crafted and that as a writer he excels. I also do think that the church can seem like that to some people and sometime the church can sometimes act like that. Just to point out that in no way am I condoning his visous assult on the faith, or his exxaggerated stance, but i do honestly like that fact he portrayed the hearts and minds of some Christians.
I have also read his Sally Lockheart series those are really good.

 

[GodICallToYou]

When I read what the first post said, I was like, 'wow, somebody should do something about this guys books.' then I saw what the name of one of his books was. I couldn't believe it! It was at my school library, even worse it was a part of some book challenge, so tons of kids up and down the west cost were reading these for school. I flipped out. and I thought 'Well I had better go talk to my librarian about this.' but two thoughts have come to me. The first being; Well some people act as if it isn't a very obvious attack on Christianity. The second is; I enjoy Harry Potter very much, I'm a freak for it, I don't perceive it to be insulting to the church or Christianity, it's make believe, J.K. herself is Christian. One more thought, while I don't think we need to be mean or insulting to them...I'm not a big fan of the Catholic idea's. Don't get mad about that however, I'm just one 14 year old girl, my opinions are often a little ignorent.

 

[Ainuhina]

I liked the books (you can´t buy part 3 here ) I so wanted to read the last part to really know what the books are all about. it´s horrible to know part of a fascinating (not christian) story and having no possibility to get to know the end..

 

[Guinevere]

Has anyone else read his trilogy 'His Dark Materials?'
I must admit I began by enjoying these books but discovered later on that he decided to place his hatred for Christianity above writing an enjoyable novel. I was deeply dissapointed when I finally finished the series as it was as if he created the books simply to try to make children belive many Christians are evil.
Sorry if this has been discussed previously but I feel so strongly that someone could write such a thing knowing the effect it would have on young children.

I agree! Pullman is such an excellent author and I was really disappointedto find, as you said, a hatred of Chirstians and God expresses throughout the books and being the main thememof them too.

However, there are some amazing points covered, which actually only sever to make it more disappointing. I'm worried about the effect it'll have on my friend...

 

[HeatherJay]

...I am really sick of fantasy books which have children as the heroes of the story. eesh! why does every fantasy world have to rely on children to save the world for it?

"And a little child shall lead them." Sound familiar?

I'm sure that authors do it because readers (especially young readers) like to put themselves in the story as they read and it makes children feel empowered when the hero is someone so like themselves. It sends a positive message to kids...even you can be a hero.

Anyway, I'm sure your question was rhetorical, but I thought I'd throw in my 2 cents anyway.

I haven't read the books and I don't know if I will. But, I would not stop my children from reading them, though, if they wanted to when they're older. One of the other posters here used to have a sig that said something like "Any book worth burning is worth reading." I believe that.

 

[Woody]

I've read the first twoa nd recently bought the whoel trilogly....and not till i did that did i relise that they were called 'his dark materials' trilogly....then i started to wonder how good for christians to read they really were...its quiet sad and un-nerving to find out that he hates christians......but desite that they are still quiet good books, i dont think i will buy anymore tho....

 

[Bargainfluger]

Maybe I'm just really thick-skinned, but I read the books about 3-4 years ago (I was Christian then), and loved them all. I love new perspectives on perennial issues. I found his writing sublime, and they turned out to be great reads.

 

[The-Doctor]

Isnt it interesting that the books get called different things for the uk and ameriocan market...why is that?....in the UK its Northern lights that is the first book.

 

[Guinevere]

UK is Nothern Lights, Subtle Knife and Amber Spyglass, what's it in USA?

Pullman is an excellent author, (I may have already said that) and the anti-christianity thing.....

 

[The Paradox Theory]

In America Subtle Knife and Amber Spyglass are still the titles of the second and third books; but the first book's title is Golden Compass.

It's been a few years since I've read His Dark Materials, but I remember it to be a pretty good series. The anti-Christian bashings don't really bother me because I like to read different perspectives and also because not reading it isn't going to make it go away. And it's a shame to not read it even if one part about it is disturbing when it's very good in its own right.

Besides, you really should read different perspectives; it helps to ground your opinions in reality a lot and understand why some people don't like your views. We're way past the Dark Ages and burning heretics, after all.

 

[faller_g]

i swear i have posted here: oh well
the books in AUstralia are called the same thing as the UK
I love them.... other then the anti-christian bit, but i think that they are so well writen!