I was condemned to be burnt myself recently, or my books were. An article in the _Catholic Herald_ said that my _His Dark Materials_ was far more worthy of the bonfire than Harry {Potter}; it was a million times more sinister. Naturally, I'm very proud of this distinction, and I asked the publishers to print it in the paperback of _The Subtle Knife_.
In a recent controversy, Philip Pullman reflected on criticism of his work, particularly his novel _His Dark Materials_. He mentioned that some believe his writing deserves to be condemned or even burned, just like Harry Potter, but to a greater degree. An article in the _Catholic Herald_ characterized his work as considerably more sinister than that of J.K. Rowling's series, which has sparked debate. Pullman takes pride in this negative distinction,...
