Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials -- an Interim Review
Philip Pullman, The Golden Compass, His Dark Materials Book 1, New York: Yearling, 1995.
Philip Pullman, The Subtle Knife, His Dark Materials Book 2, New York: Yearling, 1997.
I have completed the first two books in Philip Pullman’s celebrated trilogy – His Dark Materials. I will give a fuller report once I’ve completed the third book—The Amber Spyglass, but here is an interim report.
I began to read these books, which are supposedly written for children, but which have a complex and conflicted storyline that must be difficult for children to comprehend. As my 17 year old son said after reading them, they’re a bit wordy. They are also rather controversial, or at least they’ve become so since the release of the movie version of the first book – The Golden Compass.
Although these books were first published years ago, they’ve now been discovered by a larger audience – due to the movie. When I first heard of the books, I thought they were recently published, but to my surprise, I learned that the first volume came out in 1995 – that was when my son was 5 and before Harry Potter came out. All of a sudden they’re the rage and religious groups the Vatican on down have condemned them for their soulless, cold, anti-Christian message.
Indeed, on the surface these books seem to have an anti-Christian message. The enemy in this story, so far is the “Church.” But this Church is not something most of us would recognize. It is a rather conflated picture – there is a Church led by a Pope named John Calvin who is quartered in Geneva. Now that’s some picture John Calvin as pope in Geneva, but at least through the first two books there is little of “God” in the books – pro or con. However, we do get hints at times of a God figure – the Authority, who seems to be the enemy. The church is run by figures who are fearful and seek to control that which it doesn’t understand. There is a particular focus on the attempted corruption of children who live in a state of innocence.
There is this stuff called “Dust” in one world, but apparently in our world it is called “Dark matter.” Now that should be a clue – the books presuppose the existence of multiple universes – parallel universes that have similarities and yet differences. We learn in time that there are ways of connecting with these parallel universes and that the “Church” fears this possibility. It also fears “Dust,” which apparently is the cause of sin.
There are a number of characters to consider. There is Lyra, a unique figure who at the end of Book 2 is revealed to be a new Eve. In these first two volumes we learn that she is a very special young girl, with a destiny to fulfill that will lead to a new world (or so it seems). She is also able to discern the movements of this dust -- reading an alethiometer (truth reader) that depends on this "Dust." The ultimate question is will she fall? And by fall it appears rebel against the Authority. There is her father, whom she thought was her Uncle, Lord Asriel, who it seems will lead the rebellion against the Authority and there is Mrs. Coulter who is the evil representative of the Church. She seeks to deprive people of their soul so they might be controlled – and not be affected by this Dust – which seems to be the foundation of maturity (knowledge).
In Book 2 we encounter Will Parry, a boy about Lyra’s age, who is on a quest of his own. He would appear to be the Adam figure, but as yet we’re not informed of that. He is on a quest to find his father who had disappeared – we learn that he had disappeared into Lyra’s world thorough a window. In time he becomes the bearer of the Subtle Knife, a knife that can open windows into other worlds. He is on his way, with Lyra to find Lord Asriel, but before that happens he not only encounters his father who dies at the moment of recognition, but Mrs. Coulter has once again captured Lyra.
As the 3rd book begins – The Amber Spyglass – Will is seeking out Lyra, to rescue her, before continuing on to join up with Lord Asriel.
That is what I know so far. But what of its reputation? It is a rather odd set of books. I don’t think that most younger children will understand its complexities – and so it’s unlikely that the movie version will lead them into an encounter with the books that will lead to atheism. Indeed, while there is a call to rebellion against an overly controlling religious institution that ultimately destroys the soul, one must ask if this corresponds to anything we know and if it does then such a religion should die.
I will speak of more when I complete the final book.
Philip Pullman, The Subtle Knife, His Dark Materials Book 2, New York: Yearling, 1997.
I have completed the first two books in Philip Pullman’s celebrated trilogy – His Dark Materials. I will give a fuller report once I’ve completed the third book—The Amber Spyglass, but here is an interim report.
I began to read these books, which are supposedly written for children, but which have a complex and conflicted storyline that must be difficult for children to comprehend. As my 17 year old son said after reading them, they’re a bit wordy. They are also rather controversial, or at least they’ve become so since the release of the movie version of the first book – The Golden Compass.
Although these books were first published years ago, they’ve now been discovered by a larger audience – due to the movie. When I first heard of the books, I thought they were recently published, but to my surprise, I learned that the first volume came out in 1995 – that was when my son was 5 and before Harry Potter came out. All of a sudden they’re the rage and religious groups the Vatican on down have condemned them for their soulless, cold, anti-Christian message.
Indeed, on the surface these books seem to have an anti-Christian message. The enemy in this story, so far is the “Church.” But this Church is not something most of us would recognize. It is a rather conflated picture – there is a Church led by a Pope named John Calvin who is quartered in Geneva. Now that’s some picture John Calvin as pope in Geneva, but at least through the first two books there is little of “God” in the books – pro or con. However, we do get hints at times of a God figure – the Authority, who seems to be the enemy. The church is run by figures who are fearful and seek to control that which it doesn’t understand. There is a particular focus on the attempted corruption of children who live in a state of innocence.
There is this stuff called “Dust” in one world, but apparently in our world it is called “Dark matter.” Now that should be a clue – the books presuppose the existence of multiple universes – parallel universes that have similarities and yet differences. We learn in time that there are ways of connecting with these parallel universes and that the “Church” fears this possibility. It also fears “Dust,” which apparently is the cause of sin.
There are a number of characters to consider. There is Lyra, a unique figure who at the end of Book 2 is revealed to be a new Eve. In these first two volumes we learn that she is a very special young girl, with a destiny to fulfill that will lead to a new world (or so it seems). She is also able to discern the movements of this dust -- reading an alethiometer (truth reader) that depends on this "Dust." The ultimate question is will she fall? And by fall it appears rebel against the Authority. There is her father, whom she thought was her Uncle, Lord Asriel, who it seems will lead the rebellion against the Authority and there is Mrs. Coulter who is the evil representative of the Church. She seeks to deprive people of their soul so they might be controlled – and not be affected by this Dust – which seems to be the foundation of maturity (knowledge).
In Book 2 we encounter Will Parry, a boy about Lyra’s age, who is on a quest of his own. He would appear to be the Adam figure, but as yet we’re not informed of that. He is on a quest to find his father who had disappeared – we learn that he had disappeared into Lyra’s world thorough a window. In time he becomes the bearer of the Subtle Knife, a knife that can open windows into other worlds. He is on his way, with Lyra to find Lord Asriel, but before that happens he not only encounters his father who dies at the moment of recognition, but Mrs. Coulter has once again captured Lyra.
As the 3rd book begins – The Amber Spyglass – Will is seeking out Lyra, to rescue her, before continuing on to join up with Lord Asriel.
That is what I know so far. But what of its reputation? It is a rather odd set of books. I don’t think that most younger children will understand its complexities – and so it’s unlikely that the movie version will lead them into an encounter with the books that will lead to atheism. Indeed, while there is a call to rebellion against an overly controlling religious institution that ultimately destroys the soul, one must ask if this corresponds to anything we know and if it does then such a religion should die.
I will speak of more when I complete the final book.
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