In preparation for the Chicago Humanities Festival, the Chicago Sun-Times‘ Kevin Nance speaks to festival director Lawrence Weschler and Philip Pullman himself. “He’s a huge phenomenon,” says Weschler, whose school-aged daughter first introduced him to the His Dark Materials trilogy. Pullman looks positively towards the premiere of the Golden Compass film describing wonderful performances from both star Nicole Kidman and newcomer Dakota Blue Richards as Lyra. Read more.

Philip Pullman will be in dialogue with Weschler and his daughter Sara Weschler (now 20) at 1230 pm this Saturday, 3rd November at the Harold Washington Library Center Auditorium. He will also deliver a lecture, “The Elementary Particles of Narrative,” at 200 pm Sunday, 4th November at Columbia College’s Film Row Cinema. Both engagements are now sold out.