His dark materials

I imagine this comes under the fantasy catergory, so not for me. Never watched Game ofThrones either.

loved it but I've read the books and seen it in the theatre. Stick with it if you can I'm sure it will become clearer.

I went to see the sequel to Stephen King's 'the shining' last night instead and thoroughly enjoyed it. Also quite dark and definitely not aimed at children but oh the nostalgia of being younger, watching the shining through my fingers in fascination and horror.
Nostalgia marketing is huge business, its the adults that spend the money, and we're all tied to things from our younger years. It's how Harry Potter manages to churn over millions of revenue each year still, adults who read them as teens or children have children of their own, and the obsession gets passed down. They've remade ghostbusters, jurassic world game out, they even remade jumanji. Doesn't matter that a lot of the remakes or sequels aren't that good, people will want to see them because that was a part of their younger life.
They don't aim these remakes or continuations of childrens/YA things FOR younger people, not really. Stranger things is full of 80s references and homages to classic films, songs and games from the 80s,it goes totally over children's heads but we remember all that stuff... It's for the now-adults who enjoyed these things. If kids enjoy it too, then bonus.
I won't be watching HDM purely because I didn't like the books or the film!

Loved the books, and enjoyed the first episode, the story will unfurl.

Not sure yet , I enjoyed the film the Golden Compass but didn’t realise it was against bathe Catholic Church .Not that that bothers me .

I watched last night - a bit confusing - and will persevere for a couple more episodes to see if I understand it any better.

I really enjoyed it but then I love the books as well. I actually met him last year and he was a very interesting speaker and utterly charming to talk to. One of my granddaughters is called Lyra!

I was bored too Fiachna59 and totally and completely baffled, but I saw the film and was utterly underwhelmed by that as well. Why they film these oh so complex fantasies when there are such excellent real life historical stories published every day I will never understand

It is said demons .

Good idea

Is there a free download on the Kindle?

Ooh. Perhaps just buy the first one?

I spent a lot of time when trying to read them trying to decide whether to say "daemons" or pronounce it "demons".

I could buy them for the DGC and have a sneaky read first.

Callistemon, please read the books. I admit that I am besotted by them but I think you will enjoy the stories. They are a good read!

Perhaps I should record the series, read at least one book then try again.

BTW I would say that the books are really intended more for young adults that children, although I think that they can be enjoyed by people of all ages but on different levels.

Pullman is a sort of atheist version of C.S. Lewis.The books are weird and wonderful, my DGS devours them.
I have recorded the series to watch.

Callistemon I do prefer to read first and see later!
I'd have hated to miss the opportunity to exercise my own imagination before sitting back to watch the bbc's excellent production!
Cgi proving invaluable with the daemons.
Bring on the bears!

I'll reserve judgement!

I am not a Harry Potter fan; I remember a young relative devouring them at the age of six and thought 'perhaps not'!

Although perhaps these books can be interpreted on different levels like the Narnia series?

Quite often I think that it is better not to have read a book or series before watching it translated on to the screen, but in this case it would seem that reading the series first would have been an advantage.

With allusions to Blake and to Paradise Lost, HDM is not simply a fantasy tale for children!
Stay with it, think about the references and liberate your inner theologist!
This production is far better than the Golden Compass film.
Several years ago, when voting in what I think was a R4 poll for the nation's favourite book, it took some time to decide between HDM and Wuthering Heights. I surprised myself by voting for Pullman.

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Suppose I should have said teenagers there.

I couldn't get on with the books. Same with Harry Potter. They were, after all, written for children.

The tv serial might be watchable. Will have to wait and see.

MawB I am sorry so many grans don't appreciate good stories, but there is little I can do about it.
When I quote from a publication I name the author or source unless the quotation is common knowledge. That post was my own work based on much thinking about HDM and related texts such as William Blake, and theology of human freedoms.

Is that straight out of Wikipedia Alexa ?