Philip Pullman
Because of the armored bear Iorek, I would give this trilogy more credit.:P
Most times I don't like works with too much Christian implication and this is no exception, though I do like the idea of multiworlds. But still, no one wouldn't think of Adam and Eve when Lyra and Will kissed and hugged in the forest .
Moreover, the characterization is also somwhat blurring. Lyra is said to fulfill her destiny by lying and betrayal, but it seems that her mother is far better at that-- and both of her parents are passionate, strong willed figures, but also full of incongruity. And as for the Dr. Malone, I doubt her participating in the journey is just to lure Will back to his world, lest he should stay with Lyra and spoil the "tragic" or artificially sacrificial ending.
For me, this trilogy is full of wonder--small wonders, like Gallivespians' dragonflies(wouldn't anyone think of Gulliver's travell?) and the armored bear Iorek (recognizing the Danish pirate fierceness in the name?). But as the story advances, it becomes gradulally dull, lengthy and falling apart. Perhaps the intention for another Paradise Lost is admirable, but apparently the adventure fails in the end.
"Maybe sometimes we don't do the right thing because the wrong thing looks more dangerous, and we don't want to look scared, so we go and do the wrong thing just because it's dangerous. We're more concerned with not looking scared than with judging right."
~Will
Hi, I found your site when I entered that quote from will into google, from te book that was my favorite quote, I have to disagree with you because I liked the trilogy, but you make some good points.