Musings: Author Loyalty

I am geniunely excited to get my hands on a copy of Philip Pullman’s newest book, The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ, which releases today in North America.

Why am I excited? It’s not that the subject matter particularly tickles me, nor the controversy and religious ire that surrounds it. It’s not the reviews, nor the title nor the description. It is, simply, the fact that is written by Philip Pullman. As a child, Pullman won my loyalty with the His Dark Materials trilogy (it is blasphemy if you haven’t read any of these books), and I am a fiercely faithful individual.

It hardly even matters to me what he releases, or whether or not it has any tenuous connection to Lyra’s world. Now, of course, I am intensely and overwhelmingly excited for The Book of Dust to be released (whenever this may be), but Pullman is Pullman to me and I am not afraid of being disappointed.

In about an hour I will trek out to my local bookstore and pick up my copy of The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ, and then I will suffer through an entire day of work before I can read it. As soon as I get home, I will throw off my shoes, put on my pyjamas and dig in.

For more information read this fabulous Globe and Mail article:The gospel according to Philip Pullman

What authors are you loyal to? Will you read anything and everything that they put out?

Author: Philip Pullman

Pages: 256

Release Date: April 20 (US & Canada)

Synopsis: Part novel, part history, part fairytale, The Good Man Jesus offers a radical new take on the myths and the mysteries of the Gospels, and the genesis of church that has so shaped the course of the last two millennia. With all the magic for which Pullman’s storytelling is famed, this provocative and thoughtful new book from one of Britain’s best loved writers promises to be the highest profile yet in Canongate’s acclaimed Myths Series. (GR)

Article: “The gospel according to Philip Pullman”

My friend sent me this fascinating little article about Philip Pullman’s new book, The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ.

While the book has been released in the UK, it won’t be coming out in Canada or the United States until later this month.

I, for one, am very excited to read Pullman’s latest. He is definitely one of my favourite authors, and I would probably read (and enjoy) the phonebook if it were written by him.

I’m a terrible book critic.

The gospel according to Philip Pullman – The Globe and Mail

Review: Once Upon A Time In The North by Philip Pullman

A short story from the His Dark Materials universe that makes me ache for more. This is the tale of Lee Scoresby and Hester’s first meeting with Iorek Byrnison on one fateful day in Muscovy.

Author: Philip Pullman

Pages: 104

Published: 2008

Bottom Line: A wonderful little short story that makes me want to curl up into a corner and hibernate until Pullman’s Book of Dust comes out.

I only recently realized that this book had been released, and as soon as I did I couldn’t stop myself from running to the bookstore to pick it up. Though it is a small, slim little volume, it is packed with the wonder, joy and originality that Mr. Pullman manages to squeeze into every neat phrase and every enthralling sentence.

I must admit that I missed the characters from His Dark Materials more than I can possibly say. I have read and reread each book in the trilogy so many times that the corners are thoroughly dog-eared and the spines are cracked and comfortable. The opportunity to once again meet Lee, Hester and Iorek wasn’t one that I would pass up for all of the ore in Muscovy.

The story begins with a 24 year-old Lee Scoresby and his daemon, the jackrabbit Hester, [crash]landing their hot-air balloon on Novy Odense, an island in Muscovy (this universe’s Russia). As is quite typical with Lee, he manages to end up in the wrong place at the wrong time and gets mixed up in dangerous political dealings including a mayoral election, an evil corporation, and a deadly American mercenary. Lee meets a young panserbjørne that we all know and love and together they tangle for justice, l’amour, and just to get the hell out of Dodge.

As with each and every one of Pullman’s books, Once Upon A Time In The North is a pure joy to read. It is bursting with action, adventure, excitement and the sort of clever, easy dialogue that makes you wish Pullman released a novella a day for the rest of eternity.

I love Lee Scoresby as a young man just as much as I love him as a curmudgeonly old aeronaut, and I have always adored Hester and her down-to-earth demeanor and sage wisdom. As for Iorek – when isn’t he an absolute delight? Even as I am writing this I have a terrible need to reread The Golden Compass and The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass.

As I have been repeating, ad nauseum, I wish I could just go into a deep and pleasant sleep until Pullman releases The Book of Dust – something I have been waiting for, on tenterhooks, for years now.

Mr. Pullman, if you are reading, please release stories about how Farder Coram and Serafina Pekkala met, or about Lord Asriel and Mrs. Coulter and Lord Asriel’s love affair or – oh, I don’t even know, I want to know everything!

If you’re a fan of His Dark Materials, this is an unmissable tale. If you’re not, then what are you waiting for? Even if you have no familiarity with the trilogy, this story is perfectly satisfying and entertaining for all readers.

Also, this book has wonderful bonuses at the end, including a lovely boardgame (which I have not yet had a chance to play) and a couple of pages that literally made me gasp with happiness. No spoilers!