For religious types, Harry Potter controversy may have just been a warmup for The Golden Compass.

I'm not convinced that the talking bear et al is really going to convince any kid of the invalidity of religion any more than a talking lion will save anyone's soul.

Pullman is so overt that I guess I can admire his ability to manipulate the praise and fear his work has garnered....

Still, I think I generally feel that they are the kind of thing that exist to make people feel like they're smart for having read them/participated in their culture.

But, maybe not quite as bad a situation as the adults who claimed that J.K. Rowling was doing some great literary writing in an absurd attempt to validate their own reading....