Pullman tells NPR's Scott Simon that stories are the way to teach morality.

theses), and - maybe the mark of real excellence - they're still banned now and then. The books still inspire passion (and occasional Ph.D.

The novels in that series - The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass - tell a kind of anti-creation story, the story of 12-year-old Lyra Belacqua, her daemon Pantalaimon, and their epic struggle against a church called the Magisterium. This year, the first book in Philip Pullman's famed His Dark Materials trilogy turns 20 years old. There is a special place in the canon for the truly sophisticated children's fantasy series - Tolkein, LeGuin, Lewis, L'Engle.

Your purchase helps support NPR programming. Close overlay Buy Featured Book Title The Golden Compass Subtitle His Dark Materials Author Philip Pullman