His Dark Materials 1

I read the first two Philip Pullman books (His Dark Materials series, vol. 1: The Golden Compass (US title)/Northern Lights (orig title), vol. 2: The Subtle Knife) over the weekend.

Here are a couple of observations:
- both novels become the most explicitly and provocatively theological in the last scene or two. These tend to be the most disturbing (for me) parts of the books. The rest of them could be generic (not using that term in a degrading sense) fantasy novels.
- the metaphysics of the universe, if taken seriously, seems rather new age-ish. A variety of "traditional", spiritualistic beliefs and practices are accommodated, while there is a blanket rejection of authoritarian religion. Certain shamanic practices and folk Daoist divination practices (fortune telling sticks) are recognized as authentic ways to communicate with a genuine supernatural reality.

SPOILER WARNING!
IF YOU INTEND TO READ THE PULLMAN BOOKS YOURSELF AND DO NOT WANT TO HAVE CERTAIN BACKSTORY INFORMATION REVEALED DO NOT CONTINUE READING!!
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I started to worry (from the perspective of an absorbed reader sympathizing with the main characters) as soon as it became clear (in the second book) that the so-called "aletheometer"(sp?) was not so much a scientific instrument used to directly measure reality and to tell you what is true, but a medium for communication with personal supernatural beings (self-described angels), and also when the aletheometer began to give instructions (without much information or explanation) instead of information.
Immediately I want to ask--should we be trusting what these beings are telling us to do? Are they good? Do they always tell us the truth, really? There is clearly an agenda driving the orders they are giving to the character(s) using the aletheometer, but they are not terribly up front about what that agenda is.
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At the end of both books the things that the angels and the adults on their side seem to say sound very typical of what the Enemy would say in a Christian fantasy like say Perelandra or That Hideous Strength, or perhaps in something like Screwtape Letters or the Great Divorce. At one point toward the end of the second book, some fallen angels say that every scrap of progress toward freedom, wisdom, enlightenment gained by humanity has been torn from the reluctant grip of "the Authority", who wants to make human beings obedient and humble. The war against the Authority is painted explicitly in terms of repeating the rebellion of Adam and Eve, only to a greater degree.
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The Church is certainly not good in this universe, and the Authority behind the Church may be no better. But really it does not sound to me that the opposition is any improvement. I feel reconfirmed in an Anabaptist/Christian pacifist emphasis on the distinctive message of Jesus. The kingdom of God is recognized not just because of what colors it flies, but beacuse of how its troops fight. Jesus does not wage war by killing an "acceptable" number of human beings as a "necessary sacrifice", but by letting himself be hung on the cross. The power of the resurrection does not require any "lesser evils" to be committed in order to be released and made effective. The means--love of enemies and paradoxical, nonviolent meekness--not the ends, distinguish good and evil in a strong pacifist NT theology.
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More spoilers ahead!
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There also seems to be something approaching inconsistency in (1) the apparent blanket opposition to Authority (personified in "the Authority", identified as "God", the "Creator", the Authority behind the Church) and (2) the main characters' movement away from using the aletheometer as a tool to further their own agenda and toward letting the aletheometer set the agenda. My hope/prediction right now is that eventually the main characters will choose not to submit themselves in obedience to the fallen angels, but for now it seems that the main character considers her own move toward being less headstrong, and having more faith in the aletheometer and what it says to do as a virtue.

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"He Himself is our Peace." (Eph 2)