Charlie Rose - Philip Pullman

[LucidDivinity]

The interviewer was a bit giddy...

[ABookwormAndProud]

It's been over two years---anyone else waiting for The Book of Dust? :)

[haolihfaioefh]

@ABookwormAndProud *checks amazon* ......Yup, still waiting. :( Actually completely forgot about that until I watched this vid..... I'll just re-read Once Upon a Time in the North, then Lyra's Oxford.... about a hundred times. Each.

[jono21198]

@haolihfaioefh i check for it literally everyday. no joke

[haolihfaioefh]

@jono21198 Lol- let me know when it's available then. ;)

[lambertsheepishlion]

I must say that this man sounds very snobby and pretentious. He spits in the face of the man that is the reason why he writes fantasy (Tolkien). Success has gotten to his head.

[anamelia4]

... Counting time to the book....

[Theblizzardking]

Why'd he laugh at 0:58?

[prrrrecious]

I adore The Golden Compass (Northern Lights). Incredibly potent storytelling. Vivid. True. Relentless. Simple.

[fragman08]

NOTHERN LIGHTS! not "golden compass". How dumbed down.

[xxPatheticEmoxx]

@fragman08 No offense, but I think that golden compass works better than northern lights, not only because i thought the story revolved around the aleitheometer more than the aurora, but a compass, a knife, and a spyglass are all "materials".

[fragman08]

@xxPatheticEmoxx you have a point, yes, but Pullman detests having his book renamed.

[xxPatheticEmoxx]

@fragman08 Well at least he liked the movie.

[xxPatheticEmoxx]

@xxPatheticEmoxx And he wanted to call the series "The Golden Compasses".

[TheGIRROX]

U like Gaiman? Well u cant be all bad lol Gaiman rox .U ever read Coraline? I read that 1 and fell in love with his stuff. now im reading Graveyard book which is pretty good tried 2 read Stardust but i was 2 afraid my mom wood get ahold of it lol

[TheGIRROX]

by the way u spelled "black" wrong and i dont think in black and white i think in multi colors like Philip Pullman and Neil Gaiman so there!

[MythicDude]

srry about the spelling. However, I found that u seemd to come across as someone who thought in bLACK and white because of your reaction.

I never really got the impression that Philip thought in multi-colors but Gaiman is amazing.

[TheGIRROX]

No it is not becuz of wat u sed about an atheist man nor is books in fact thats not even half the reason it is the mere fact that u took time 2 go on youtube look up this interview and comment on it in a negative way that made me find u a religious freak or a non believer persecutor

[MythicDude]

well I'm not a religious freak or a non-believer persecutor. If I gave off that impression, I'm sorry.

I just commented negativly because hes not my deffinition of a good writer.

[chukmaty]

I do think Pullman was trying to reign in peoples impression that he uses his books as an anti religious allegory. The major problem with that is that he was very open about how it went after religion before his movie's success became an issue.

The Golden Compass felt like a bait and switch, especially the last couple chapters. It also was a straw man. I cannot think of were CS Lewis did anything close to that, his villains were devils and witches and not atheist or pagans.

[MythicDude]

good points.

[TheGIRROX]

MythicDude u reveal in ur comments that ur a biased religious pompus windbag who obviously hasnt read the his dark materials series and has only seen the movie or interviews u and all the other religious freaks out there r the reason science hasnt furthered itself and the reason the series isnt going to be made into movies ps douchbag the his dark materials seris isnt mainly about non-religion its mainly about science. if ud read the books then ud kno that also iv read narnia and its not as good

[MythicDude]

TheGIRROX, u reveal in your comment that ur a impulsive person who thinks in back and white. Explain to me how I made myself sound religous. Is it just because I don't happen to like a book by ONE atheist author? Or just happen to not like that ONE atheist authors opinoin or style?

[SurealVids]

i wish i had finished the movie and watched what i did see after reading the books so i could get a better opinion on it, but from what i saw and remember the movie was definetly toned down.

[maxanakin7]

iam just starting the golden compus and in is an extrodinary work of great talent i love his books!!!

[abrightside]

I'm not kidding when I say his trilogy inspired me to actually become a published writer one day. When I was little I'd look at his books and be like "oh, so you have line breaks with dialogue" and simple things like that-- yeah I just really love his books, lol.

[F6JRW]

His Dark Matriel or The "The Golden Compass-Triologie" are the best book of the World.

[Whatthejuice]

If he wants to kill Gods in the minds of children, then why does he include the concept of Dust in his books? Dust is most definitely the divine stuff in the context of the book. He did not kill god within the book, he preserved the divine, and I respect that.

[chrisman737]

I don't know why, whatthejuice. I was quoting Pullman himself. He is the one who said, quite specifically, that he wished to kill God in the minds of children. He was outraged by the Narnia Chronicles, which is why he wrote his own books. They are his "answer" to Narnia.

[MythicDude]

nobody should try to do that with a kids mind etheir way. Kids should read books that are more open for their minds to follow anyway. Pullman is just doing what Lewis was doing, just with a non- beleiver veiwpoint. He is somewhat of a hypocrite.

I'm not pro- reiligon or anti- anything, I just think that Pullman is a pompuss hypocrite.

[r00bix]

well obviously you don understand... douch bag

[MythicDude]

then by all means, explain how I don't

[r00bix]

first of all phillip pullman is in my opinion one of the best fantacy/mystery authors. he sees both sides of the argument to an extent and turn's the "religious" aspect on it head i the "his dark materials" series, he isnt a doin what lewis was doing, lewis was very biased againsed the non-believers and his books were purley about christianity and the righteousness of the believers over the non believers. to call pullman a hypocrit its just harsh.

[MythicDude]

ha. read what he says about religons and then tell me that sees both sides again. plus, hes said that he went out to " kill god in the minds of children". sounds kinda biased to me. hes very outspoken dude. As I neutural person in the argument of religon and non- beleviers, I gotta say, hes a pompuss hypocrite.

hes also very overated if u ask me. none of his characters were likable.

[r00bix]

is one of the better writers of these past 20 years better than rowling, at least he has the balls to write something about anti-religion and better yet it was successful. and being as u call neutural to the argument of god no-god is just a cop out... namby pamby, sit on the fence agnotic's. pah =P. i still dont see how hes a hypocrit if hes sticking to his guns...

p.s. read terry pratchets faulse gods =)

[MythicDude]

I much prefer Rowling. Her books don't put me to sleep.

wow critizing my veiws because I don't agree with everything about etheir side. you sound like a really open minded person.

but I will take your advice on the Faulse Gods because Pratchet is funny.

[chukmaty]

I like Rowling, but her books are kind of lowest common denominator. Pullman and Lewis are both offensive and challenging on the opposite ends of the spectrum and while this makes them both slightly niche... it makes them (imo) more satisfying and thought provoking.

Lewis's fantasy aside, his other books are consistently entertaining and thoughtful.

I know less about Pullman but am enjoying HDM right now. Movies have done neither author any favors.

[MythicDude]

I much prefer stuff by Gaiman, Herbert, King and Tolkien than both of them.

[chukmaty]

As in Frank Herbert?

If so, I love Dune.

[MythicDude]

yes. Frank Herbert is awseome. As is Dune.

[jigen08]

That you consider yourself "neutral" is laughable. That you found none of his characters likable says more about yourself than the author. That you repeat the spelling of "pompuss" says your spell-check isn't up to snuff.

I prefer him to Lewis, because his world was more fully formed, more realized. There was a greater emotional stake for me. I enjoy both, but Pullman stands on the shoulders of giants, and delivers a more satisfactory work of fantasy.

Please explain how he is a hypocrite.

[MythicDude]

When it comes to characters, I suppose it boils down to opinion. I like interesting characters that aren't so bland and flavorless. Pullman's characters coulden't even use those negative features to the advantage of the story.

I prefer Lewis over him ( although there are many authors that I would rather read then both) because he could actually keep me interested. Still, I actually agree with some of the reasons Pullman bashes him.

Please explain how being neutral is laughable.

[chukmaty]

Both keep me interested, in different ways.

Lewis is really dry and purposefully lacking detail (he thought this stimulated imagination) but he grabs me with his whit. Pullman is very descriptive and has a whole different approach to storytelling. Pullman remakes the world to tell us about what he thinks of it and Lewis takes us to the small cracks to notice things we might not have, and occasionally takes us through the cracks to a new world that, while fantastic, says a lot about our own.

[MythicDude]

and this is how hes a hypocrite. So, he hates C.S. Lewis and thinks all of his veiws were twisted. thats fine.

but he takes his side of the argument and does everything that Lewis did, but for his own veiws.

[chukmaty]

It may be more satisfactory for you, well and a lot of people, but that is because it is geared for an older audience. Lewis is less satisfying to some because he has simple characters and does not saturate his world with description, this is to allow the young reader to read what they want and see themselves as the character and imagine the world any way they want. Instead of describe in detail everything about something, he will say it was natural and comfortable and leave it to imagination.

[pwincesslonglegs]

i disagree with you whatthejuice, do rember when he said in his book dust was when matter become conscience. it is preserverance of knowledge and wisdom. since there hundreds of the stuff it defeats the purpose of the divine.

[RyuuMakato42]

I think I know what you are trying to say, Whatthejuice, but dust is certainly not anything 'divine'. Dust is meant to represent knowledge and the loss of innocence. In that respect, the Magisterium was right to compare it to the forbidden fruit within the Garden of Eden. Pullman is simply saying that "falling" from grace really isn't neccesarily all that bad. For instance, had we not, we would not have literature, art, music, science, or just about anything. They made a HDM documentary where...

[RyuuMakato42]

...this subject is discussed further. Its not REALLY a documentary, much more of just an interview, but they labeled it as such, lol. Its on Youtube too.

[Surells]

that interviewer was annoying

[lyra22blue]

I've just started reading His Dark Materials. Sounds nice.

Why does every writer say that writes in the morning? What´s the deal with the morning?

I'll never get there, I don't wake up before 12 if I can

Sorry for my bad english

[trombone7]

"No point in waiting for inspiration. If I waited for inspiration, I'd only write on 2 or 3 days a year." RIGHT ON. Got that quote right in under the wire.

[sixpackspy]

i agree, great quote!!

[alaskascribbit]

After hearing so many tirades on the Golden Compass (similar to the comment by VitamAgere) and remembering the religious panic over Harry Potter I was curious to "meet" Pullman through this interview. It was one of the most interesting author interviews I've seen and I found Pullman charming, intelligent and having fascinating observations about Tolkien and Lewis. I'm a religious person who supports organized religion and I agreed with everything Pullman had to say.

[Dedalus153]

Philip Pullman is a genius of the highest order. Thank goodness someone has the integrity to point out how incongruous it is for people to want to live in a country that is a Republic, and argue up and down that that's the best form of government, but then when they turn to religion, they want to live in a universe that's a totalitarian theocracy! How messed up is that?

[mrlittlemarvel]

@Dedalus153 Now I am a Christian and I love our American constitution that is the blue print for the government but our government has failed and done terrible things because it is made up of imperfect people just as we all are but Jesus the King is perfect in goodness and He is holy and it is His natural place to rule so if God gave the law and our governments are under law then why not have the Lawgiver be the ruler.

[VitamAgere]

I don't know about the book, but the movie was an entirely puerile anti-religious/catholic tirade. I'm shocked to hear it compared to Tolkien or Lewis. It contains nothing of Tolkien's subtle typology or Lewis' authentic characters. A vapid plot with even more colorless characters. I hope the book was considerably better considering it got this much attention.

[johnclavis]

The movie was an anti-religious tirade? Really? Have you seen it? Stupid troll. Go kiss your crosses and celebrate your eternal slavery.

[chrisman737]

Well, the movie was very toned down from the original book, but Pullman's book was most certainly an anti-religious tirade. That is why he wrote his books, most especially as a response to C. S. Lewis, whom he hates a great deal. He has been quoted as saying that he wants to kill God in the minds of children.

[chrisman737]

And I had to laugh when the film was a flop. Can't wait for Prince Caspian -- now THAT will be a real movie!

[Malacth]

LoL the film wasnt a flop, it was the highest grossing film of the year in the UK and 3rd in USA. Get you facts right before spreading your dirty little lies.

[slagathor23]

It was? Does that mean they're considering making the sublte knife?

[Malacth]

Yes, the director said in an interview that they had to water this film down so that it would get viewers, none of the other two films will be watered down he said because anti religion is what they are soley based on.

[chrisman737]

Malacth, I do have my facts right. 3rd in the US? You have got to be kidding. The film did so poorly that talks of a sequel, once a given, have now been put on hold. I don't know where you get your data, but here in the USA, the film was a disaster.

[kinnkster]

Well boy, you sound very christ like.

[euanguild91]

my interpretation of that is he wants to un dogmatise god in the minds of children, open their minds and let them chose what they want to beleive, instead of blindly worshipping a god just because their parents told them to, because of how they were brought up. let them make an informed decision. and you may say that this book would create bias against religion, but in life most things are either indiferent or inherently bias towards it, so its good to have a bit of balance.

[lyrandwill4ever]

Nicely put johnclavis

[Jackstowne]

What a shame the film didn't even come close to doing the book justice.

[TheShinyDemon]

I haven't seen the movie yet, but isn't it a shame that happens with 99% of book-to-movie translations? The book was phenomenal, but I was afraid what you said would happen, and I am hearing from many different places that is really wasn't that good. Which is truly a pity, considering what they could have done with the beautiful canvas Pullman gave them.

[slagathor23]

I was so disappointed with the movie. Every scene felt rushed, and the ending was left out for a possible sequal. They nearly completely squished any mention of religion as well, which is a shame, but movies are about making money. Unbelievably good books.

[TheChromiumDude]

@slagathor23 My thoughts exactly. But when I told someone about it they said I was crazy because they said that it was an Awesome Movie.

[creole60]

I wish I knew how to write stories. It must be a great escape, outlit, and a way of expression.

[Surells]

no one knows how to write stories, you just have to practise; writing is brilliant because you don't need an instrument or pains or anything but a pen and paper.