Pullman gives God a break for Easter

A.S.H. Smyth

22 March 2008

The author of His Dark Materials talks to A.S.H. Smyth about the latest episode in the saga in which he turns towards politics — with a nod to The Magnificent Seven along the way

Several years ago, Philip Pullman wrote that ‘“Thou shalt not” might reach the head, but it takes “Once upon a time” to reach the heart.’ Now, the prizewinning author and self-appointed scourge of God is preparing to unveil the latest episode from the universe of His Dark Materials, called Once Upon a Time in the North.

With Easter upon us, the Church might be relieved to hear that God doesn’t get a look in. The writer whom Peter Hitchens once called ‘the one the atheists would have been praying for, if atheists prayed’ is leaving Him alone for now. On paper, anyway. Instead, it is politicians who should be worried, for the Pullman barrage appears to have rumbled on to their turf.

In the time it takes to make a plunger of coffee I learn a lot about the failure of Kent’s local authorities to enforce carbon-capture clauses on the plans for a new E.ON power station. Later, the conversation roams unsparingly through officialdom and encroaching regulation (especially in the national curriculum), crass sloganeering and political unspeak (‘Tony Blair was a great bullshitter’), and ID cards: ‘I’d go to jail rather than have an identity card.’

‘I’ll hold you to that.’

‘Good. Absolutely.’

While these are not quite themes of the new book, diehard fans of His Dark Materials may be a little disappointed at the prevalence of what, in the circumstances, might be deemed ‘reality’. A raft of era-defining background issues: oil-rich lands, race hate, private security firms. ‘Globalisation, big corporations taking over... These are the things I think about and I naturally found myself writing about them.’

What’s more, though Once Upon a Time in the North has more cut and thrust than Lyra’s Oxford, at 112 (small) pages it amounts to little more than a free-standing chapter of Northern Lights, The Subtle Knife or The Amber Spyglass. Still, as chapters go, it’s good reading: an old-school Western-style adventure, replete with pretty women, crooked politicians and hired guns. Uncomplicated, uncompromising stuff.

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