His Dark Materials is a trilogy of young adult fantasy novels by Philip Pullman, often compared to works like Chronicles of Narnia. The novels tackle complex themes such as theology, physics, and philosophy, and follow the coming of age of two children in parallel universes. The books have attracted controversy for their anti-church stance, but also contain valuable criticisms and explorations of the soul and sacrifice. Pullman has spoken negatively about beloved authors like CS Lewis and The Lord of the Rings, which has not made him popular with some fantasy fans.
His Dark Materials is a trilogy of young adult fantasy novels written by Philip Pullman. The novels have received numerous awards in their native England and abroad, and are often compared to works such as the Chronicles of Narnia or A Wrinkle in Time. The themes of His Dark Materials are quite complex and as a result, the novels have attracted a great deal of scrutiny, attention and controversy. Numerous bookstores sell the novels and are also happy to order them for customers.
The trilogy consists of Northern Lights (1995), The Subtle Knife (1997) and The Amber Spyglass (2001). In the US, Northern Lights was released as The Golden Compass. Pullman says they were heavily influenced by Paradise Lost, a work referenced frequently in the novels, and clearly they were also influenced by the fantasy genre in general, but His Dark Materials is about much more than just fantasy, tackling topics like theology , physics and philosophy.
The plot of the novels centers on the coming of age of two children, Lyra Belaqua and Will Parry. Children live in parallel universes; Will lives in a world that seems identical to ours, while Lyra lives in very different circumstances, in a world dominated by the Magisterium, a deeply conservative Christian church that seems to have a stranglehold on its society. The role of the Magisterium in the novels is a common topic of discussion and controversy, as Pullman’s painting of the Church is less than favorable and the novels assault such ideas as God and the Christian heaven.
Christians have expressed understandable discomfort with its dark subjects, as the books are intensely anti-church. Pullman himself suggests that the books are a “moral reversal” of traditional Christian beliefs, calling them “anti-Narnia”. While these qualms are certainly valid, many people also feel that books have a valuable place on any modern literature shelf, and some Christians actually highly value them, along with the criticisms they contain. His Dark Materials also contains an interesting exploration of the nature of the soul and sacrifice that he resonates with in the hearts of some readers.
Pullman also attracted a great deal of public attention, speaking scathingly about beloved authors such as CS Lewis; Pullman is quite forthright about the “evil” of the Chronicles of Narnia, arguing that the books send a negative message to children. He has also negatively commented on classics like The Lord of the Rings. The author’s stance on the classics of the fantasy genre has not made him popular with many fantasy fans, including those who love his books.
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