Questions About His Dark Materials (His Dark Materials #1-3)

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about His Dark Materials, please sign up.

Answered Questions (6)

Is there anti catholic bias in all three of the books? If so what chapter/pages is it on? Thanks

Nick Alden Yes and no.

Christianity has an ongoing history of corruption that needs to be acknowledged and not defended. Pullman talks about a certain attitude r…moreYes and no.

Christianity has an ongoing history of corruption that needs to be acknowledged and not defended. Pullman talks about a certain attitude religious people often develop, especially when religion becomes institutional. The Magisterium has taken the world subverting beliefs at the heart of Christianity and swollen them into a world hating, sex hating, women hating ideology. What Pullman is trying to show us is how this way of thinking is destructive and how it's connected to scripture. He's not necessarily being disingenuous or bigoted. The church that he describes is very real. It was more a problem in the past than today, but his depiction of how the church has behaved throughout history is very spot on.

Pullman wants us to conclude some very profound ideas.
1.) The only world is the material one. All supernatural or spiritual realms do not exist.
2.) Humans are at the center of their own moral struggles. Anything which might limit human nature, or any god or angel that might claim authority over our lives is evil.
3.) The church is wrong to suppress desire, specifically sexual desires.
4.) God is a construct invented in the minds of humans.
5.) Religion is a tool used to control people for power.

Whether or not you believe Pullman is a bigot depends on whether or not you agree with his diagnosis. I do to some extent. We know Pullman is bigoted towards the chronicles of Narnia. Many of the things he hates about them are based on a very poor reading of the texts. If you look at what Pullman has said about the books, particularly the Magician's Nephew and the Last Battle, you'll see very quickly he hasn't bothered to read these stories carefully. He does with C.S Lewis something often done to him, he twists his opponents arguments to make them easier to oppose. You'll find that most religious debates are more or less like this. Many people of faith defend some truly horrible stuff, and many anti theists untruthfully characterize their opponents to win an argument. The trick is to not fall into either trap.(less)

flag

Which editions contain the extra content of Lord Asriel, Mary and Grumman? I know the Deluxe edition does any others?

Richard Also, what's the ISBN for them?…moreAlso, what's the ISBN for them?(less)

flag

Is there a sequel to Dark Materials?

Ana Yes, Pullman in the process of writing The Book of Dust, a series taking place both when Lyra is a baby in the first book, and then when she is older …moreYes, Pullman in the process of writing The Book of Dust, a series taking place both when Lyra is a baby in the first book, and then when she is older in the second two books. The first two books have been published (La Belle Sauvage and The Secret Commonwealth).

Personally, I thought that La Belle Sauvage was good, but didn't have the same tone as His Dark Materials, but The Secret Commonwealth rivals the original series- the themes are the same, but they are further developed and become much more adult and complex.

There are also 'Lyra's Oxford', and 'Once Upon a Time in the North', but as of yet I haven't read them so I can't tell you what I think of them!(less)

flag

I'm having issues with the 3rd book. It seems so disconnected from the first 2 and even reads differently. I breezed through the first 2 and the 3rd feels like a chore. Anyone else feel this way? Does the ending redeem it?

Ana I feel that His Dark Materials progresses from being very story-driven in Northern Lights to becoming more theme-driven in The Amber Spyglass. For me,…moreI feel that His Dark Materials progresses from being very story-driven in Northern Lights to becoming more theme-driven in The Amber Spyglass. For me, The Amber Spyglass is the best book, particularly in the second half, because of its exploration of Dust, daemons, and Pullman's consideration of human nature and consciousness. I guess it depends what you read the book for, and whether or not you agree with Pullman's worldview!

I hope you finished it and enjoyed it though? There is some really beautiful imagery and the story element does pick up once you get to around halfway through!(less)

flag

This might seem silly, but is there any form of cheating (infidelity) in these books?