For me, when reading fiction, I care far less about the content of the writer's message than with how effectively in graceful, subtle writing that message is conveyed. Pullman fails on that count -- he is a derivative bludgeon rather than a knife. As one small example, the Texan balloon pilot who plays a minor role is in one scene nothing more than a copy of Han Solo in Star Wars. I approached The Golden Compass ready to be plunged into an epic adventure; I finished it uninterested in what happens to any of the characters. And as for ever thinking about going on to the rest of the trilogy, forget it.I realize this is both harsh and a very minority view, but wanted to warn prospective readers/buyers who may be on the fence about The Dark Materials, having heard the decade-long buzz, that sometimes, for some people buzz is simply wrong.