The Golden Compass

Happy 2025 from In Contrast!

Alan & Nisha are ringing in the new year by discussing a seminal work in modern young adult fantasy and a personal favorite of Nisha's: The Golden Compass. This book (also known as The Northern Lights) was written by Phillip Pullman and released in 1995. It is the first entry in the His Dark Materials trilogy, but this conversation specifically focuses on the first book and its adaptations.

The book was adapted into a feature length film released in 2007, and the entire trilogy was later adapted into the His Dark Materials TV series which premiered in 2019. Alan focused on the film and the first season of the series, which covers the events from the first book.

This series has faced some criticisms for its perceived anti-religious bent, but do these criticisms hold any water? The film is noted as a box office bomb, but is it as bad when compared to its source material? How did the series hold up to the same scrutiny?

Join us to find out!