I finished Pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy last night. I really liked it.

[sinkingfeeling]

His ideas about 'Dust' and that the real battle is not between good and evil, but between wisdom and ignorance plays around my personal beliefs. What do you guys say?

[InternalDialogue]

1. Believe it or not, I finished it just last night as well.

All three books provided an enjoyable read.

I'm on my way out of the office right now, but I'll check back in later to discuss.

[deepthought42]

2. Haven't read it, but I am intrigued now

It kind of reminds me of Goodkind. I know not everyone is a fan, but I love the SOT series. :freak:

[n2doc]

3. Excellent series

There is a lot of interesting philosophy in that trilogy. If one has an open mind it is stimulating.

I did think the last book was a bit of a letdown, but then I usually find that to be the case and it probably says more about me than the book.

[InternalDialogue]

4. Good vs. Evil

One of the things that struck me about the books was how often and how fully the forces of "good" or "evil" switched places in the books, either because the cause of a character changed or because the reader's perception of the truth changed. I think it plays into your ideas about wisdom=good and ignorance=evil. Rather than there being eternal states of good or evil, there are simply natural forces that act without regard to good or evil, and it's the intention humans (or other creatures) place behind their actions that harness the power and imbue it with the flavor of good or evil.

Another theme I particularly liked was the intricate systems that Pullman's universes held. The mufela-trees-dust cycle; the set of interconnected universes that allowed energy or objects to pass through into each other; the mythologies that were distinct among people and universes but which shared common elements and stories; the passage of creatures to the land of the dead and eventually back into the universe. It reinforces some ideas about participation in society and obligation among people in a community, as well as ideas about responsibility of one's own actions and awareness of how they will cause ripples that others will feel. Much of the peril in the book came not from malicious acts but negligence -- Pullman's universe was self-sustaining only to a point, but once humans mastered skills that enabled them to act above their place in nature, their responsibility to be precise and mindful grew much larger.

When you open a door into a new universe, make sure you close it! And brush your teeth!

[sinkingfeeling]

5. I'm not much into good and evil. I've always believed that if one actual had 'wisdom' or

knowledge of all the consequences of an action, that people would choose to not act in an 'evil' manner and that it's because we don't have perfect knowledge that we act in evil ways. Will used the knife with good intentions, but because he lacked knowledge, he also created 'evil' Specters. It re-enforced my views on religion as well. Xaphania said, "The history of human life has been a struggle between wisdom and stupidity." She and the rebel angels, the follower of wisdom, have always tried o open minds; the Authority and his churches have always tried to keep them closed. (page 429 of Book III).

I've always believed that 'god' is some minute part of every living thing, so I really liked the concept of dying and then breaking into some eternal particles and drifting forever through the universe. Hopefully, my particles would attract those of all I've ever loved and we would all be together again.

And finally, I liked the concept of a Republic of Heaven rather than a kingdom with an authoritarian god figure.

[InternalDialogue]

6. Knowledge and wisdom were key parts of the stories.

Personally, it resonated that the ideas of stories and storytelling became very important at the end of the third book. Lyra's story to the harpy (which the harpy saw as a lie), her subsequent true story for Roger and the ghosts, and the deal with the harpies to trade the freedom of the ghosts for stories of their lives. I push myself to try and remember stories, tell stories, and encourage others to tell me theirs. Part of it is pure entertainment -- I think real stories from real people are a better use of time and attention than just about anything else -- but part of it is that I think our society is losing the ability to tell stories. That results not only in losing true, personal history, but also in losing the wisdom that comes from experience, and which we used to get by hearing firsthand the lessons others have learned before us. All other themes and lessons in the book aside, that one brought the books near to my heart.

I share your concept of god as part of everything. One of the things that has occupied my thoughts recently is the question of where self-awareness or the soul resides in all of it -- is it merely a shimmering projection of particular physical actions among nerves and tissue that fades when we die, or is it tied more intimately with the energy in the universe that somehow passes into a new form or reconstitutes among other fragments of energy?

[flamingyouth]

7. I loved that series.

I need to re-read those books. :)