His Dark Materials

The Gaffer · 06-30-2005, 03:35 AM

I did a search and was surprised that there is no thread already devoted to this excellent trilogy.

I read it fairly recently (nicked it off son #1), wondering what all the fuss was about, and was astonished. A really beautiful story with some great ideas and strong messages.

Anyone else read it? What were your thoughts?

cassiopeia · 06-30-2005, 07:10 AM

It's a brilliant series, quite possibly my favourite book after The Lord of the Rings. I think the love story weakened the trilogy, but overall it's a great adventure with a lot of detail and thought gone into it. Wonderful stuff.

The Gaffer · 06-30-2005, 09:14 AM

I really like the love story. I thought that it tied the whole thing together and helped to get the message across.

I thought that the parallel worlds represented each of our subjective experiences of the world.

That Lyra and Will inhabit mutually exclusive worlds was an analogy for how we can never REALLY know what it is like to be someone else. Nevertheless, we know that they're there!

The way Pullman used this in the context of two kids going through adolescence was wonderful. I howled like a baby at the end.

What made you feel it weakened it? What did you like about it?

BeardofPants · 07-01-2005, 02:09 AM

Eeet's been done beeeefore Gaffaaaaar Blind git.

The first one was amazing, the second one was pretty good, the last one was pretty disappointingly weak, IMO. The love story bugged the crap out of me... but then lotsa things bug the crap out of me.

durinsbane2244 · 07-01-2005, 07:33 PM

wow, im glad this series has a thread, i loved it, in fact, im on the amber spyglass for my second time through!

i love all books like this that take that theological twist, and the love story had to be there for adam and eve!

great books!

Lotesse · 07-01-2005, 10:58 PM

The title of this thread immediately caught my eye and pricked up my ears; however, I've no idea what books you all are talking about. Is this some hidden Tolkien material I should seek out? Whose "dark materials"? Dark material is right up my alley -

The Gaffer · 07-03-2005, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeardofPants

Eeet's been done beeeefore Gaffaaaaar Blind git.

The first one was amazing, the second one was pretty good, the last one was pretty disappointingly weak, IMO. The love story bugged the crap out of me... but then lotsa things bug the crap out of me.

* shivers *

But thanks for the link, Your Pantsness.

His Dark Materials is a trilogy by Phillip Pullman. Girl saves the universe from badness, while growing up. Too much grooviness to go into right now.

Lotesse · 07-03-2005, 09:01 PM

Thanx 4 the info, you guys!

The Gaffer · 07-04-2005, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Gaffer

But thanks for the link, Your Pantsness.

When I said thanks, I should of course have said no thanks at all for the dud link. I did do a search before starting the thread but didn't find anything.

Anyhoo, so what do you all think about Dust? Groovy concept, but what is it, what does it mean? etc.

cee2lee2 · 07-02-2005, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Gaffer

I really like the love story. I thought that it tied the whole thing together and helped to get the message across.

I thought that the parallel worlds represented each of our subjective experiences of the world.

That Lyra and Will inhabit mutually exclusive worlds was an analogy for how we can never REALLY know what it is like to be someone else. Nevertheless, we know that they're there!

The way Pullman used this in the context of two kids going through adolescence was wonderful. I howled like a baby at the end.

Well said! I don't think the books would have been so powerful without the love story. And yes, I "howled" too. But as much as I liked the story, it's not something I'm willing to plough through again. (Gave my books to sis-in-law; need to ask her what she thought of them.) Almost felt as if I were more exhausted than anything else when I finished. Tolkien doesn't do that to me.

AceKnight · 11-05-2007, 09:25 PM

oK..I think i might check it out

Acalewia · 11-08-2007, 09:15 PM

I finished GC. I loved it! I'll start the next book as soon as I have time to pick up a book

06-30-2005, 07:10 AM	#2
cassiopeia Viggoholic Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 1,749	It's a brilliant series, quite possibly my favourite book after The Lord of the Rings. I think the love story weakened the trilogy, but overall it's a great adventure with a lot of detail and thought gone into it. Wonderful stuff. __________________ Kids, you tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is, never try.

06-30-2005, 09:14 AM	#3
The Gaffer Elf Lord Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: In me taters Posts: 3,288	I really like the love story. I thought that it tied the whole thing together and helped to get the message across. I thought that the parallel worlds represented each of our subjective experiences of the world. That Lyra and Will inhabit mutually exclusive worlds was an analogy for how we can never REALLY know what it is like to be someone else. Nevertheless, we know that they're there! The way Pullman used this in the context of two kids going through adolescence was wonderful. I howled like a baby at the end. What made you feel it weakened it? What did you like about it? Last edited by The Gaffer : 06-30-2005 at 11:08 AM.

07-01-2005, 02:09 AM	#4
BeardofPants the Shrike Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA <3 Posts: 10,647	Eeet's been done beeeefore Gaffaaaaar Blind git. The first one was amazing, the second one was pretty good, the last one was pretty disappointingly weak, IMO. The love story bugged the crap out of me... but then lotsa things bug the crap out of me. __________________ "Binary solo! 0000001! 00000011! 0000001! 00000011!" ~ The Humans are Dead, Flight of the Conchords

07-01-2005, 07:33 PM	#5
durinsbane2244 Dreamweaver Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: The Misty Mountains, where the spirits go... Posts: 3,560	wow, im glad this series has a thread, i loved it, in fact, im on the amber spyglass for my second time through! i love all books like this that take that theological twist, and the love story had to be there for adam and eve! great books! __________________ Lord, what fools these mortals be! ---------------- We are the music-makers, And we are the dreamers of dreams, Wandering by lone sea-breakers, And sitting by desolate streams; World-losers and world-forsakers, On whom the pale moon gleams: Yet we are the movers and shakers Of the world for ever, it seems. ---------------- Shanti, shanti, shantih...

07-01-2005, 10:58 PM	#6
Lotesse of the House of Fëanor Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 6,150	The title of this thread immediately caught my eye and pricked up my ears; however, I've no idea what books you all are talking about. Is this some hidden Tolkien material I should seek out? Whose "dark materials"? Dark material is right up my alley - __________________ Few people have the imagination for reality. ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

06-30-2005, 03:35 AM	#1
The Gaffer Elf Lord Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: In me taters Posts: 3,288	His Dark Materials I did a search and was surprised that there is no thread already devoted to this excellent trilogy. I read it fairly recently (nicked it off son #1), wondering what all the fuss was about, and was astonished. A really beautiful story with some great ideas and strong messages. Anyone else read it? What were your thoughts?

07-03-2005, 09:01 PM	#8
Lotesse of the House of Fëanor Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 6,150	Thanx 4 the info, you guys! __________________ Few people have the imagination for reality. ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

11-05-2007, 09:25 PM	#11
AceKnight Hobbit Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 28	oK..I think i might check it out __________________ Adventures are nasty things;make you late for dinner!

11-08-2007, 09:15 PM	#12
Acalewia Halfelven Daughter of the Dunedain, President of Entmoot Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: In trouble. As usual. Posts: 4,674	I finished GC. I loved it! I'll start the next book as soon as I have time to pick up a book __________________ "Acaly und Hektor fur Presidants fur EntMut fur life!"~ inked Don't meddle in the affairs of Dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup. "Don't be such a sour wolf" Stiles ~ Heart Monitor http://www.wattpad.com/user/IceQueenofMitera

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