Navigating The Golden Compass: Religion, Science And Daemonology In His Dark Materials (Smart Pop series) [Paperback]

Glenn Yeffeth (Editor), Sarah Zettel (Collaborator)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 11, 2005 | Series: Smart Pop series

** COMPLETELY UNAUTHORIZED **

 

Contributors with backgrounds in philosophy, theology, science fiction, and children's literature bring their expertise to this critical investigation of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, and the insights it offers to today's world. The His Dark Materials trilogy is an unusual sort of young adult series: one that appeals to adults as much as to their children thanks to its richly imagined world, rigorously explored cosmology, and unflinching confrontation of the modern answers to life's big questions. Essays from a variety of critical disciplines do justice to the complexity and intrigue of this trilogy, exploring the answers to questions such as: Is His Dark Materials a new antireligious myth, or a failed perversion of Christian truth? and How does the story of the Specters of Cittagazze challenge our modern-day scientific practices?

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Glenn Yeffeth is the editor of the nonfiction essay anthologies Taking the Red Pill: Science, Philosophy and Religion in The Matrix and Seven Seasons of Buffy. He lives in Dallas, Texas.

Product Details

• Paperback: 185 pages
• Publisher: Smart Pop (July 11, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932100520
• ISBN-13: 978-1932100525
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,074,836 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I spent fifteen years consulting and running management consultancies in Chicago, Dallas and London. In a burst of mid-life crisis, I chucked it to start BenBella Books, a traditional publishing house. Starting a old-fashioned publishing firm in the 21st century is crazy, I know, but it's turned out to be one of the best things I ever did.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Illumination but overdone, March 9, 2007

By 

Kathleen P. Bingaman "avid reader" (Lilburn, Georgia United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Navigating The Golden Compass: Religion, Science And Daemonology In His Dark Materials (Smart Pop series) (Paperback)

Before reading this book, I had no idea what Phillip Pullman's personal positions on faith and religion were and that was pretty much what this book was about -- variations on the theme of "Phillip Pullman wrote this series as a rebuttal to C.S. Lewis and Christianity". I picked this book up because I had so enjoyed Pullman books and had found the previous "Smart Pop" series books I had read so enlightening and mentally stimulating. Unfortunately, this one did not reach that same level of interest. I found the majority of the essays to be rather simplistic and very little of what I read made me think. It was illuminating to hear the underlying philosophy that Pullman brought to his writing, but I would have liked it if they essayists had not all addressed this same topic but had instead looked at other aspects of the books

3.0 out of 5 stars Simple., September 7, 2011

By 

N. J. Stallman "Nick" (Australia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Navigating The Golden Compass: Religion, Science And Daemonology In His Dark Materials (Smart Pop series) (Paperback)

This compilation of essays on His Dark Materials is simple, at times comical, and an easy read for those who want to know just that little bit more after having read the series. Don DeBrandt's "His Dark Pharmaceuticals" is perhaps the most imaginative responses to the series and quiet the laugh! However, if you are look for a textual analysis or an in depth insight into the series, then this is not the book for you.

2 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing!, December 2, 2007

By 

M. P. Yates - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Navigating The Golden Compass: Religion, Science And Daemonology In His Dark Materials (Smart Pop series) (Paperback)

Great book! I was looking for a book about the topics in Pullman's books. i was impressed! It covers just about everything!