The genius of Phillip Pullman

RELATED HISTORY

The name of the trilogy was "His dark materials" and it started in 1995. The first volume of the trilogy that would reach the status of a classic was named Northern lights. The Americans thought that the title was dull and unattractive and they chucked the title and renamed it The golden compass which, in my opinion is one classy title (One of my favorites) The golden compass or Northern lights was a immediate success. Two other books followed, the subtle knife and the amber spyglass. His dark materials sold more than fifteen million copies, received intense acclaim by both readers (Critics too, are readers of books, they just are more passionate) and the author, Phillip Pullman, probably ran out of his space in his trophy room. The trilogy was turned into a successful radio and theater versions. In Friday, the movie of the first book (They stuck to the American title) was released. I simply took the free tickets that I won in a contest and watched the movie. But before watching the movie, I found the title (and the promos) so attractive that I got the book and had the time of my life.

THE BLOGAVENTURE

His dark materials, is named after a (Very interesting) phrase in Milton's Paradise lost. I thought that the title of the trilogy was very intriguing. The reason was because of the usage of "His". "He" is a word that is often used to refer to god in the English language. I inferred that this must a series about the (supreme) authority of god.

How wrong I was.

This was anything but pro-Christianity. I was surprised that the first sentence was not, "God and his followers have ruined the universe." or "God is terrible...I will tell you a story to tell you his true self." This level of atheism was a surprise. Everybody knows that the church is a very quick tempered figure. Pullman was a very bold man to write a trilogy that challenged our religion and I admire him for that.

One by one he attacks the fundamental principles of Christianity.

First he attacks the church's mission to help our helpless world by creating magisterium. The magisterium is a more crueler version of the catholic church in a parallel universe. The Magisterium (like the Catholic church was once like) is a figure that is tyrannical and nosy in everything that the people in the other world do. Furthermore it is more strict about the idea of heresy and prevents free-thinking and liberty to do what one wants to do.

Second, he attacks the theory that god created the world (THAT IS ABSOLUTELY THE LIMIT!!!)

Third, god is like that grumpy Grandfather of yours (WHAT!!!)

Fourth, Heaven and hell do NOT exist and instead there is bleak world that always reminds you of your worst memories (Let me think)

And so the list goes and goes, each entry making Christian groups more and more mad.

But that is not all.

The intention of His dark materials is not to make you reject Christianity, but to make you think about the dangers of the extreme belief in one's religion. There was some Christian leaders who view it as a work underlining the dangers of dogmatism.

It is not a anti-christian piece of fantasy but a warning, a "Beware" sign. I could not help thinking about (and agreeing) with the genius of Pullman and the points on religion.

After reading them I was totally thinking about how religion was misunderstood and the devastation it brought. 9/11, the caste system and the inquisition are all the products of accepting religion as a master instead of a guide.

Religion is a set of ideas that guide us to do the right thing. That is what I thought after reading His dark materials.The books did not point them out. I did.

LEGACY

To frank with you, I finished reading The amber spyglass just before heading to the theaters. That was one of few endings that actually touched my heart. Only three other books (Harry Potter and the deathly hallows, Life of Pi and The kiterunner) have affected me in such a way. I was sad that the time I spent so little time (three weeks, I read fast) with those wonderful books.

And to add to the fuel, the movie was TERRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It did not follow the book and the changes in the plot were totally unnecessary. I would fallen asleep if the acting of the new child actress wasn't (really) good and the visual effect was (amazingly) good. It is worth watching but I would stick to Lord of the rings and the books. The movie is disappointing and (almost) boring.

-Charlie Green