For those Pullman fans out there who don't already know, The Golden Compass will be out in theaters December 2007.
In its honor, Borders has launched this group dedicated to His Dark Materials series. We invite you to view the trailer and join the conversation as we discuss themes found throughout the series with fellow Gather members, Borders employees, and authors and experts.
Don't forget your alethiometer!
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Comments: 29
thanks for this new group!!
Thank you! How lovely to see you here. Seems our tastes in books are a definite fit. Look forward to seeing you on here!
Kim
Thank you. Looking forward to all of this.
SHERYL: I think like you I'm extremely selective when it comes to CG; my hope is that they will come through on this one (the bear looked very good). For those of you who enjoy parsing sentences: I'll know it's good CG when I realize I've forgotten it's CG.
I'll be rereading the books, as well. I've listened to the audio book and it was first-rate (using a chorus of voices, rather than a single speaker). I highly recommend it.
Has anyone taken the "Find Your Daemon" test on the official website?
http://www.goldencompassmovie.com/?nopop=1
What type of animal best reflects you? Did you feel the deamons in the book were fitting?
It's been a few years since I've read the books. Have to go give em a re-read after I finish reading that OTHER great book that is coming out.
Now I have to take the test.
More than one tiger, with different traits? My traits were pretty accurate.
Sheryl, don't forget about the daemons. And the name of the trilogy, "His Dark Materials." The religious right will go wild.
Christine, the series is a "young adult" series in the sense that "The Chronicles of Narnia" is: heavily allegorical and completely original, dealing with some very large moral issues. And the series' title and epigraph are taken from Milton. It has a strong appeal to any age group. "The Golden Compass" is the first book in the series. It is astonishing to me that Hollywood has taken on this project. I recommend it to everyone.
I will get moving on it straightaway.
By the way, my daemon is Clymonistra, the chimp.
When you were introduced to dæmons/daemons/demons, what did you think they were?
I always thought a daemon was the magical living embodiment of a character's soul, but I have to reread the books again. It's been a long time since I read them.
Here's a question for everyone: HDM can most certainly be read and appreciated on it's own merits, but many say there are definite parallels [and important *differences*] between Pullman's trilogy and C.S. Lewis' "The Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe."
What interesting coincidences did you spot? Similarities? Are there divergent themes that you can see, even this early in the series?
As for your question:
When you were introduced to dæmons/daemons/demons, what did you think they were?
Initially, I took them at face value considering this book was originally billed as a young adult fantasy novel. Characters like that seem like a perfect fit. But, as time went on, I saw them more and more as an extension of soul and perhaps innocence and experience, especially when the characters become an adult and the daemons lose their ability to change shapes.
I figure that if they're trying to ban the books, there must be something worthwhile in it.
I really appreciate the involvement of people here who have actually read the books. There's too much nonsense out there from people who haven't even bothered to pick them up. They just take what they've been told to say, and repeat it - on faith.
I look forward to being able to knowledgeably join the conversation - after I've finished the first book.