Published in 40 countries, Pullman's "His Dark Materials" fiction trilogy (aimed at older elementary children and young teens)--the Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass--has been on the "New York Times," "Wall Street Journal," "San Francisco Chronicle," "Book Sense," and "Publishers Weekly" bestseller lists. "The Golden Compass" which forms the first part of a story in three volumes, is set in a world like ours, but different in many ways. The second volume is set partly in the world we know. The third moves between many worlds.

The author, a self-proclaimed atheist, set out to create a fantasy story with children and talking animals that would trump C.S. Lewis' Narnia stories, and to promote an anti-God and anti-church view at the same time. He succeeded, and crafted an engrossing well-written adventure story. Why does a Christian-oriented bookseller carry this title? click here to find out. See also Killing the Imposter God and Shedding Light on His Dark Materials