Entitled Webb Pages: The Riddle of the Cherub Blade and defining itself as “a biblical science-based fantasy,” the book will feature a boy, his wonderdog, and a cast of beastly companions seeking to stop an evil geneticist. On his adventures, the boy will learn how faith in God may be the most powerful weapon of all. The book’s message will likely be seen by His Dark Materials fans as a riposte to Philip Pullman’s trilogy, which in turn has been seen by many Christian groups as an ‘Anti-Narnia’. Whether this latest story will prove as well-written and successful as either His Dark Materials or The Chronicles of Narnia remains to be seen. The author, K. Edgar Winchester is an interdenominational minister based in Bremen, Georgia, USA who counsels people around the globe through his internet ministry. Further information can be found in the press release.
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Images from The Golden Compass movie are © New Line Cinema.
Images from The Golden Compass movie are © New Line Cinema.
“…to stop an evil geneticist.”
Is there any such a thing as a good geneticist in the Christian mythology?
Didn’t think so.
Why is this on this site?Its not as if its now HDM V Narnia+Church.Why have a war?You alreadyhave enemies in the shape of hisdarkmaterials.org,and now you have made Narnia your enemies.K. Edgar Winchester has the right to write a pro-christian book just as much as Philip Pullman has to write an anti-christian book
In some ways HDM and organised religion are at odds – you only have to look at the Catholic League’s reaction to the film.
This article is on the site, as most His Dark Materials fans find the religious controversy interesting, whether they believe it to be justified or not. The press release for this book directly cited His Dark Materials; it was the book’s own public relations who made the original comparison, not us.
As for hisdarkmaterials.org – we’re competitors, not enemies. We both link to each other’s websites and jointly arranged an online chat with Philip Pullman in 2005. Both communities benefit from our rivalry, as it forces both sites to strive to improve.
I’ve stated above that Narnia is a well-written and successful series. The idea of His Dark Materials as an ‘Anti-Narnia’ is one thrown around the press (try a search in Google) due to both books’ genre similarities and contrasting approaches to religion. It doesn’t mean we think Narnia is bad.
To conclude, K. Edgar Winchester does indeed have every right to write a pro-Christian book; you won’t find any condemnation of it in the post above. However, while C.S. Lewis and Philip Pullman were both Oxford-educated linguists, I know nothing of this new author’s literary credentials, which leads me to reserve judgement as to how much influence his book will ultimately have.
I agree with Krebbe, and I’ll just put my two cents in…
I’m Catholic, and I like HDM, Narnia, Harry Potter, Diana Wynne Jones, Richard Adams, Terry Pratchett, the list goes on…
If it’s well-written fantasy, I’m going to read it.
i’m the same as Skye.. if its good, funny, thriller, drama or anything and worth are time… i say read, and dont look back.
Look I’m not saying you are all God-haters and I do read all the good books I can,but you must admit the above news article does say ‘HDM fans will likely see this as a riposte to PP’s trilogy’
The author himself claims it to be a counter allegory (from the press release):
I say it may be seen as a riposte (quick or sharp response), because of the timing of its release with regard to the religious controversy surrounding The Golden Compass film.
I didn’t read HDM because it was about “killing God,” because I didn’t know anything of the sort to begin with. If I read Winchester it won’t be because tit’s about “killing Pullman.” :o)
Oh, because the poor, poor Christians don’t have enough fiction aimed at believing in God. BOO HOO.
Sounds like a load of crap and only sheltered homeschoolers will read/enjoy it.
Well, I homeschool one of my significant other’s kids, and I would like to point out it’s certainly not always about sheltering anyone. That may be an unfortunate trend, but homeschooling itself can be an enormous boon. Particularly because the school systems are crap, and aim at nothing else but producing a society of dumb, docile consumers. The ideal of education is to expose children to as many things as possible, and let them make up their own minds. The universe is my classroom.
And yes, the book sounds like crap.
This had nothing to do with homeschooling.
Dear Krebbe,
I thoroughly enjoyed the article above, as well as the lively commentary that followed, and would love an opportunity to respond. Would you like an interview?
God bless,
K. Edgar Winchester