I'm pretty sure this is not a series for young, impressionable children. I read the first book at 13 (and got gawked at for carrying around such a big book that wasn't even homework) and I liked it even though I didn't really get it. I read it the whole series again in college and loved the hell out of it. I'm having a hard time understanding what part of it is "propaganda" though. I mean, propaganda for what? How is it any different from any other piece of literature?
posted to MetaFilter by amethysts at 5:48 PM on June 23, 2008

I got the impression that it was more against abuse of power than organized religion, more like "open your eyes, think for yourself make up your own mind", not "science good god bad".

The audio book version (ready by the author w/full cast) was also alot more interesting and emotional than the book, I thought. Pullman's voice had this really sweet tinge of emotion when bad things had to happen to Lyra. I enjoyed it very much. I also liked the links... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by amethysts at 6:32 PM on June 23, 2008

Rayjms:
"She basically tells the firm to go screw itself at the end,"

She does that right at the start:
"EVANICK Robert Bruce Evanick (always known as Bruce to those who loved him - and those who employed him and exploited his work ethic)"

There was alot going on there. I'm glad she didn't hold back.
posted to MetaFilter by amethysts at 4:12 PM on December 12, 2007

Maybe she's freaking out because BOAR TEETH in her MOUTH. Teeth that belonged inside the mouth of a dead boar, were, instead, in HER mouth. Practical jokes are not funny unless the victim laughs, that's the rule. I know i'd sue.
posted to MetaFilter by amethysts at 10:08 AM on July 29, 2007

i thought it was going to be like an audio version of ride by the vines. (that cool video i like) directed by michel gondry.
posted to MetaFilter by amethysts at 7:14 PM on June 22, 2007

The whole article is good, but the last sentence is where he tells you the whole point (why the song is hot):

"Mere mortals are hot like other people or things; having ascended to a higher plane, Mims is hot like Mims. It doesn't get hotter than that."

i enjoyed this article as much as i like this song because, i could somehow feel that the point of the song was about being transcendent, that feeling amused me, but i couldn't articulate... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by amethysts at 7:46 PM on April 23, 2007

Miko: I love what you wrote. I want to favorite it more than 100 times. i want to read that thesis.
posted to MetaFilter by amethysts at 4:57 PM on March 29, 2007

"it doesn't adorn and conceal; it emphasises and refines."

i had that exact same thought about most of the ladies on there. but the men seemed like the opposite.
posted to MetaFilter by amethysts at 11:56 AM on February 17, 2007

Good old lever machines. Why doesn't everbody use them?
posted to MetaFilter by amethysts at 4:22 PM on November 7, 2006

i thought the point of that was that he spends his time looking at his ranch on google earth. like, of all things in the world? and he doesn't spend enough time there in real life?
posted to MetaFilter by amethysts at 7:26 PM on October 23, 2006

i agree, they shouldn't have a book at all.
posted to MetaFilter by amethysts at 5:03 PM on October 2, 2006

what did they mean by settlement, and why must we not think of it during the war?
posted to MetaFilter by amethysts at 8:26 PM on September 25, 2006

i like beatrice tao too.
posted to MetaFilter by amethysts at 9:06 AM on September 10, 2006

i enjoyed this very much. i especially liked how there was sort of a wild west show-down theme when ms. gulch was talking to the auntie to take the dog away.
posted to MetaFilter by amethysts at 11:49 AM on July 15, 2006

"rococo melismatic rodomontade"
i love this phrase so much.

what if this is just an excuse for coming up with funny theme names like Gryff and the Dors and We-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.
posted to MetaFilter by amethysts at 9:42 PM on July 3, 2006

i am just glad this thread is full of references to His Dark Materials, as it should be.

"Instead of imagining that we will be able to save ourselves after we've well and truly fucked everything up, perhaps we should be focussing on not fucking everything up..."
- dinsdale

This is so right. This plan seems kind of backwards to me.
posted to MetaFilter by amethysts at 3:19 PM on June 19, 2006