Pullman vs. Lewis DEATHMATCH!!!111one!!!

[rj_anderson]

There's been a lot of Lewis links and commentary on my f-list lately (including a very nice referral to my own essay on Susan in a recommendation of Andrew Rilstone's recent blog post about the same thing, for which I thank you, kalquessa). Most recently (and thanks to kalquessa yet again) there's this kinda cool article from The Chronicle addressing Pullman's charges against Lewis's Narnia, including sexism, racism, a pernicious belief in heavenly bliss, and lack of love.*

Which reminds me, the other day I found a quite hilarious book-a-minute-style summary of the Dark Materials trilogy by Abigail Nussbaum. Thanks yet again to kalquessa for reminding me where it was.

--
* Given the actual content of both series, the only thing I can imagine Pullman means by the latter is that in Lewis's universe twelve-year-olds do not have sex. I am sorry that we are not all as cool and enlightened as you are, Mr. Pullman. Some of us still think this is a little early.

Comments

[zoepaleologa.livejournal.com]

Pullman is interesting to read, though he sometimes reminds me of certain quarters of the HP fandom in terms of strident dogmatism.

And his recent article in the UK Guardian against faith was offensive on so many levels. it was as if he misunderstood what part a believer's (in any faith)faith plays in them being who they are. He seems to ascribe it as something very superficial. He just doesn't get what faith means to the believer. That's his big problem.

He comes over as much more bigoted than Lewis ever did. I can re-read "The Last Battle" and largely take or leave the allegory (personally I enjoyed the allegory and spotting all the parrallels to Christian theology, when younger), whereas I found in the DM trilogy, the third became very tiresome and laboured as his anti-religion agenda seemed to take over the entire story. My view on his trilogy is "Loved the first, so-so with the second, was annoyed by the third."

Now, I loved the Chronicles, one through seven, and read the last chapter of seven: "Farewell to Shadowlands" with tears in my eyes.

Take that Pullman! - and that's from an agnostic.

[lydaclunas.livejournal.com]

I came to the same conclusion about the trilogy. I still haven't finished The Amber Spyglass for that very reason. Bleh.

[hedda62.livejournal.com]

My view on his trilogy is "Loved the first, so-so with the second, was annoyed by the third."

That's pretty much exactly my view, except it was more "dragged my way through the third in order to say I'd done so, and then threw it aside with relief."

Want to bet in ten years Pullman will have a religious conversion and bore us all to death with new stories about how whatever religion he chooses is the ONE WAY!!11!!!OMGAMEN!SUBTLETYSUX!?

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

Want to bet in ten years Pullman will have a religious conversion and bore us all to death with new stories about how whatever religion he chooses is the ONE WAY!!11!!!OMGAMEN!SUBTLETYSUX!?

*spits tea all over screen*

*mops up ineffectually with sleeve*

Dang, there goes another monitor.

For the record, I read the first book and was blown away by it on a number of levels -- I really do think it's well-written and full of fresh, fascinating ideas -- but still, it made me feel sort of queasy and in the end I decided not to continue. Though for a while, before the third book came out and made the full scope of Pullman's hatred of theism clear, I was tempted to read the second book because it looked so cool... I'm not at all tempted by it now, though. The reviews, even the favorable ones, were enough for me.

[pharnabazus.livejournal.com]

*Tries to picture Pullman slogging through the sands to make his pilgrimage to Mecca.*