"His Dark Materials" trilogy V.S. "Harry Potter"

[WindRavenX]

I just finished Pullman's amazing trilogy of The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass. This series was recommended to me by a friend who thought these books surpassed Harry Potter in quality and talent. I was skeptical, but after plowing through them (they were IMPOSSIBLE to put down), I have to say that not only is Pullman's series better than Potter, they have made a tremendous impact on my life. The series was one of those books that you stumble upon every few years that really makes an impact on you. Pullman did a tremendous job at making the series appealing to both children and adults, which is something that Harry Potter also succeeds at, but does a much better job at having a deeper meaning for adults and older readers. Harry Potter, IMHO, may be more imaginative and creative, but really isn't that "deep". It is tremendously entertaining though, one of the best. But I think that everything about the Dark Materials trilogy beats Potter so far.
Discuss!!

[Melsky]

1. I have never heard of them

I'll have to see if they have them at my library.

[WindRavenX]

2. Check them out, they're amazing

Have you read Harry Potter, by any chance?

[usrbs]

3. It is a great series.

I read the first one by chance, and could hardly wait for the rest to come out. However, I think the third book winds down a bit, although I find myself still thinking of the poignant end occasionally, and it's been years since I read it. That's a great endorsement in itself.

As for Harry Potter, I enjoy the books and all, but can't understand what the great fuss is about. There certainly is no take-away in ideas or concepts (and there are many in the Pullman books), and I agree with the criticism I read elsewhere- the magic is just mystical power, with no great consistency or costs in it's uses. There are many science fiction books for young adults that are better IMHO, such as Ursulla LeGuin's Earth and Sea.

[Az]

4. Pullman will never make it in the states

The fundimentalists hate his work more than Rawlings. At least Rawlings remains detached from religious considerations and is only a representitive of relativistic values. Pullman goes straight for the throat or organised religion. Its a good book but it is too much of an independent thinkers book for the fundies to let live.

[Khephra]

5. I don't know why you say that

The books have been selling rather well in the time since they've been published, and an American studio has bought the rights to the series. They're planning on making a series of films off of Pullman's books, just like the Potter ones.

[Az]

6. American studios also bought the rights to

a story called The Sky is Falling. The plot to this script starts at an achiological dig in Egypt lead by two preists. They uncover evidence that the entire basis of the church the belief in god was based on a lie. They have en emotional breakdown and come back to the states and go on a killing spree. The church not wanting this knowledge to get out because of the social chaos it will cause get a former assasin turned bornagain out of jail and send him after them (supposed to be played by Willis). Don't hold your breath for this one to make it to the screen. The religious right will go nuts.

Its the same thing with Pullman. The first book starts out safe enough for the right. But then when he shifts the story to our own world and shows the parallels it becomes too strong for the RR.

Yes its a great series of books. It is well written. Would make a great movie. And it is too dangerous for the studios to actually make. They will consider it and shelve it. Mind you I would love to be wrong on this count.

[WindRavenX]

8. Oh man, they already hate Pullman

I googled a few sites that are really scary about how much they hate the trilogy. The usualy crap; children are going to be presented that the Church is evil, that God is wrong, yada yada yada y nada y nada...
New Line Cinema owns the rights to the trilogy. Seeing what they've done to LOTR Trilogy, I have great faith in them to do the same for HDM trilogy.
And yes, the third book wasn't quite as good as t he second one, IMO.

[mvd]

7. Harry Potter is as fascinating as classics

Like A Christmas Carol and Grapes Of Wrath. Harry Potter has a brilliant sense of humanity in a magical world. I do see what the fuss is about. Haven't read the other series.

[MisterP]

9. I flip over both series;

Keyes's Age of Unreason series is excellent as well.

[WindRavenX]

10. What's that about?

And is it also at so-called "childrens" series?

[Khephra]

11. Not really

It's set in an alternate Earth in Revolutionary times, except alchemy works. IIRC, Ben Franklin is one of the major characters.

I've been trying to get the first book to that series to read it, but I haven't managed to find it locally yet, and I have to large of a "to read" list to make it worth ordering over the net.