Sorry if theres already a topic. I looked around and didn't see it but maybe I just didn't see it. ^^;


by: Philip Pullman
Includes: The Golden Compass, The subtle knife, and the amber spyglass (not technically part of the trilogy but its in the same world (pun defiantly intended), Lyra's Oxford. Put that here since a good deal of people might not know about it)

(Though I mostly touch on the religion points in my first post, this thread is about the books as a whole so PLEASE dont think its just about one aspect of the books. As long as its about these 4 books you can post whatever you want)
Everyone knows about the Golden Compass. Its just been made into a movie, its been all over the news, its the big topic of last year.

Well, why? Philip Pullman is an atheist. And his book demonizes the catholic church. The man was noted saying he did this based on the fact when people make a book like this, everyone gets upset (at least Christians do). But when Narnia was written, noone batted an eye. When it became a movie, everyone loved it. (just so everyone knows, Narnia is a reserection story. Aslan is a Christ figure. go watch it again. you'll see it)


So, the point of the thread, what do you guys think? Do you think he went too far? Did you like the book and look past the Christian stuff? Did you hate the book for some other reason? Were you offended by the book?




Personally, I'm in love with the trilogy (havn't read Lyra's Oxford yet but if it follows the rest then I'll love it too). To point out, yes, I can consider myself a Christian. But did the book offend me? No. In fact, it turned me back to my religion with a new view of things. But mostly, I saw it as a story. A very very very well written story. Its not necessarily the truth and I'm secure in my faith enough to not be shaken by it.

Lyra was a wonderful character. I loved her tomboyish attitude and her ability to draw people to her by just being herself. Its an ideal we can all look up to, being liked for who we are.

The concept of demons (can make the funny little ae thing on my keyboard) is something that many people have put into stories before but not as blatantly or as well as Pullman was able to pull off. The idea of "I am like a -blank-" and that others can see you for who you are simply by looking. Being layed open like that might be kind of scary but at the same time it would make everything so much easier in life.

As a writer myself, I give this trilogy a 9/10. Only a 9 mostly for a few grammar things and editor mistakes. (this is why we have more then one person check it Phil! XD)

The most important thing to remember is that any educated reader can enjoy a book... and its not like its some kind of magic brainwashing device. Just because you read a book and like a book and enjoy the story behind the book doesnt mean its going to convert you to its viewpoint.

The biggest problem is the church loved publicity so they point out things like this so they can be on CNN and other news media to promote their views by challenging a work of fiction openly. Which typically winds up backfiring... But enough about the problems smart people have with dumb people

I've been trying to find time to finish the golden compass, i stared reading it last week and the only time i've been putting it down is at work, at meal times and when i'm in the bathroom. Great stuff and honestly i dont see what all the fuss is about, its very well written and completly enjoyable.

I read this Trilogy a long time ago. When the movie came out, I reread the Golden Compass because I had the motivation I needed if I was going to see the movie.

I found the reaction to the books and the movie quite hilarious. The mighty church feels threatened so easily these days. First the DaVinci Code, now the Golden Compass.

Honestly, wouldn't you think they would be secure enough in their faith that this small book trilogy would only be seen as a testament of aethist views.

I am not a Christian, so it did not affect me much, only that its views on the church, the Christan philosophy was very interesting and unique, in my opinion. The daemons were another interesting factor, an outward manifestation of the human soul. They made my imagination very happy.

I first read this book in 8th grade (before the last volume was even out..) and loved it to pieces. I waited for years for the last installment.

I think the strangest part for me was that when I first read it, I didn't even notice the religious aspect. I was a very naive child and didn't even see it. But by the time the last book came out, I was more aware of the message behind his writing.

I loved the movie as well and it merely amused me to watch all the fuss people were putting up about it.

I have read all of these books about 7 years ago or so and as I am reading them again I can't remember anything of what they are about nothing is coming back to me. When the Golden Compass came out as a movie I wanted to reread if before seeing the movie. Now I am on the last book about a fifth of the way threw (please don't spoil the end for me!)

I wondered for the longest time why their deamons where named that. We all know what a deamon is to us and deamons in the book are nothing like what we think of deamons.
It took me to the part of the book where there is an angel pretending to be a deamon that it struck me. This entire book is about weither or not our contiousness is good or bad. And in the book the church things that it's bad and the couse of sin and they want to get rid of it. So Deamons in the book sort of are like like our deamons they are a couse of evil (so its though in the book).

OK that made ALOT more sence in my head!

My favorite part of the book is when Will meets the Bear King and slices up his helmet with his knife.

My favorite character would be Will because he is like me. I also have the magic to make myself invisible.
Least favorite character is Mrs.Colter hate her and her monkey!

I just finished the trilogy and, well. I love the first book, liked the second alright, but I didn't like the third one at all.

When I was reading, I didn't get any anti-religion vibes. To me, it seemed to be more about corruption than anything else.

I read the trilogy a few years ago, and I loved it. Even though the atheistic message does make me smile, I didn't even pick that up the first time I read it. I just loved the story (still do)...

I picked up a copy of The Golden Compass awhile back at a thrift store, so I've read that a few times, but I haven't read either of the second two books in years. I really want to, but I haven't been able to find them. That's what happens when they make a movie out of the books. Ugh.

I am in the middle of reading these books through a third time at the moment and of course by that alon eyou can tell how I feel about them.
I'm a Christian and I will remain that way. No fantasy novel will change that and I don't believe they were meant to. The books aren't anti Christianity anyway. They are anti-crazy religious zealot. It does not look at the religion as a whole it looks at the corrupt crazies that are in control of that governmental body.
If someone has their faith shaken by these books then they didn't have much faith to begin with. I actually really enjoy the religious undertone in the books. It gives them depth and a richness that you don't in a lot of fantasy literature that is aimed at this age group.

I'm a Christian and I never found the books the least bit upseting. Actually, His Dark Materials was my very favorite series as a kid. The third book, I think it was The Amber Spygalss is one of only two books that ever made me cry (the other was Bridge to Teribethia).
Personally, I never really saw the books as anti-religous because I was always aware that they were fantasy and veiwed them as such. I mean come on, they're a fantasy series in another reality, why get so upset?
I know Phillip Pullman is an atheist, but then again Lewis Carrol was a pedophile and nobody contest that Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Lookinglass were wonderful books.
Oh, by the way, Lyra's Oxford is alright but no where near as good as Pullman's other books. Plus, its ridiculously short. I read it in twenty minutes and finished it dissapointed.

I am in LOVE with this series. I just finished it last week, and was heartbroken when it was over. I'm scared to read Lyra's Oxford, but I really want to at the same time.

I don't know if Phillip Pullman meant to make it like this, but this was my interpretation. Forgive the wall of text.

I'm going to tell the truth about why I read them. It's because the churches made a big deal about them, burning them and stuff, you know. Because they were 'evil'
I just wanted to know what the fuss was about.
At least that was why I read book one, I actually finished the series because they were so darned good.

Book one mentioned nothing about killing God, or the "Authority."

It wasn't until book two when killing him was mentioned, and the only reason for killing him was because the man disliked the way the Church had abused power, and did all of it's horrible church sort-of-things, you know. Normal world history class stuff, burning, torturing innocent people for 'heresy', the abuse of money, and all that.

By book three you learn that the Authority they want to destroy was actually the first angel, who lied to the later angels to gain power, because they hadn't been created till after him.

And Angels were beings, structures, of Dust. Dust came around when conciousness came around, which happened, as the churches beleived, when Eve and Adam shared the forbiddden fruit, during the first sin. But without Dust, everything would be a daily pattern, with nothing changing, no imagination, and all the concious beings would be alike, and quite unconcious, working by instinct alone, instead of memories or love or anyting anyone stands for anymore.

Dust was a part of everything, everything concious. And Dust made the angels. So wouldn't Dust represent, in this situation, as I was taught, the real God?

So the church was the actual thing trying to kill God in these books, by attempting to rid the world of Dust. How Absurd?

I LOVE the afterlife in these books, too.

I am on the last book at the moment... i have found them a very strange read. From the film i had nt expected what was in the book. However when i got to sleep i can easily read for 2-3 hrs because i get totally absorbed in the bookes... now i have dark shadows lol... darn bookes :p

So far I've only read the first of the books. I liked it more then the movie.

I enjoyed it a lot. I thought it was well written. I guess I didn't see the attack on Christianity. I understand how some people may have thought it was, since the author himself has said he is an athiest. But if you read the book free of that assumption it actually is a very good book.

I was drawn to it more because of the attacks on it. I may not have read it otherwise.

The characters and desriptions throughout were thoughtfully written.

oh i loved the series when i was 11. It's very good so is the ruby in the smoke materpice theater did showing of that one i was so pleased with it i had liked that book by him as well.

I adored the series when I read it, and I still do. x)
I didn't really think all that much on religion we have now, as I'm not religious really in any sense, so I just saw it as another fiction book.
Though I have to admit the concept blew me away, and the characters were endearing as well ^^;

I've read The Golden Compass and about half of The Subtle Knife. I went to a catholic school but do not practice any religion at all or care to.

So far nothing in it has really upset me. But as I said, I'm not into religion at all. If people are going to be offended then they can just read something else. Why does everything have to be so politically correct now anyway? It's really annoying.

I love the series so far. I put down The Subtle Knife for the moment but I will be picking it back up soon.

I liked the fiorst book, that being the only one I've read. I did try to read subtle knife but it;s been a while now and i've forgotten things so i need to get round to reading the first book (northern lights again)
I was very annoyed at the movie.
Why did they have to change the name for the american market, I mean an althiometer is not a 'golden compass' Its gold but it is most certainly not a compass. Apparently it was because the american market thought the title did not match what the book was about. 'Northern lights' I don;t get this because the whole book starts about the dust that is created or summit form the northern lights [maybe slightly wrong haven;t read the book in years]

OMG SPOILER ALERT
His Dark Materials is about redeming man kind through love and selflessness.
I'm tried of people guessing about it and saying it's evil

I deeply loved the trilogy from my childhood and never had a problom with the gruesome nature of some of it. (even though I was probably too young the first time it was read to me to not be bothered by it)

I am Catholic, but I always saw the religion in this book more as something made up as an element as the story rather than bashing religion. It never bothered me and I saw it as something not real. Like he wasn't taking about my God, he just made it up.

For the longest time I wanted a deamon!!! Wait.....I still do......