The Golden Compass & His Dark Materials discussion

[Fist and Faith]

I read Ender and Speaker. They didn't do enough for me to go on, but I didn't see that kind of problem.

[ussusimiel]

I've read those ones and Ender's Shadow and Xenocide (both of which I would recommend). And, like you Fist, I've never picked up a polemic that overshadowed the story. About the only thing that Card pushes for is the improved treatment of gifted children and he doesn't even do that very successfully (making them out to be more like gifted adults, which they can't be as they don't have the necessary experience).

u.

[Avatar]

I'm a fan of Card's books as well. I've never felt that they were polemical, am I missing something?

Probably not, but there are criticisms. (His Alvin books for example, are considered by some a thinly veiled reference to Joseph Smith.)

And his political and religious views are not ones of tolerance. But it doesn't stop me enjoying his books. I liked Hubbard's Mission Earth and Battlefield Earth as well.

--A

[MsMary]

I love Heinlein.

I like Orson Scott Card too, (well, his writing anyway).

--A

I love the writing of both, as long as I ignore their politics.

Well, I should qualify that to say I love early Orson Scott Card stuff. His more recent writing doesn't hold up to the quality of Ender's Game and Speaker for the Dead.

Edit: I searched around and found that both Heinlein and Card have their own threads, for the record.

Heinlein
Card

[MsMary]

To get back to the subject of the thread, though, I am a fan of the Dark Materials trilogy. It was only after I read them that I became aware of any possible anti-religious agenda.

Pullman has actually has said that it isn't religion he objects to but the way it's used. Interesting article on him and the books here.

[Avatar]

Interesting, thanks MsMary. As I think I already said, I didn't notice any anti-religious stuff in it. Suppose I'll have to re-read it.

--A