The Dark Material Podcast: His Dark Materials read-along

We FINALLY rejoin Mary Malone! She is settling in well with the mulefa, and makes a fascinating discovery when speaking to her friend Atal during a fishing trip. Cue: Crafting montage!Join us as we learn some polarisation facts, compare sraf measurements and generally enjoy the no-nonsense paciness of another excellent Mary Malone chapter!------Learn more about the history of Swiss Army Knives here.If you want to have your mind blown by the longevity of oral histories, check this out!Confused by our terrible descriptions of polarisation? Us too. Try reading more about it here or here - both excellent!------Music by: Jaymen Persaud, performed by Claire Wickeswww.thedarkmaterialpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcastTwitter: @darkmaterialpodInstagram: @thedarkmaterialpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/thedarkmaterialpodcast

Mrs Coulter is held prisoner by Lord Asriel in his basalt fortress in the mountains. We join the happy couple and Lord Asriel's commanders on a tour of the iron works and for a demo of a strange new vehicle-weapon: the intention craft. Things don't go to plan however… or do they? Who knows whether its all intentional or not….Join us as we bask in the glory of Lord Asriel (Iain), admire Asriel's forethought (Iain) and generally try to discuss other things that happen in the chapter (Amy).------Here is a link to the artists impression Iain found for Pandemonium by John Martin.We also liked this video on how industrial-scale steel making actually works.Here is a link to the Eddie Izzard bit about trams and ALL THE LEVERS.Here and here are some MUCH better fan art pictures of the Intention Craft…check out our social media pages for our drawings!If you want to read an article on the state of Brain Computer Interfaces in 2017 (yes…quite behind the times…), this is an interesting overview!------Music by: Jaymen Persaud, performed by Claire Wickeswww.thedarkmaterialpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcastTwitter: @darkmaterialpodInstagram: @thedarkmaterialpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/thedarkmaterialpodcast

We join Lyra, Will, Iorek and the galivespians as they set up a forge in a Himilayan cave, preparing for the daunting task of mending the knife together as a team.Join us as we shout ‘It will cut' at every opportunity, share our own forging stories and enjoy Iorek's indescribable but effective bear-stares.------We talk about the show Forged in Fire ALOT this episode…here is a little taster of what the show is like!Here are some facts about Encephalisation quotient (EQ) so you can speculate about how smart a Gallivespian might be, relative to a being of the same size.There's a little more here on the general principles and metallurgy of forge welding.Here are some photos of us forging and the actual knives we made! We have a long way to go until we are Iorek-level bladesmiths…We did this at Oldfield forge, which we heartily recommend!------Music by: Jaymen Persaud, performed by Claire Wickeswww.thedarkmaterialpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcastTwitter: @darkmaterialpodInstagram: @thedarkmaterialpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/thedarkmaterialpodcast

We join Lyra, Will and the galivespians as they head back into the Himalayas to find Iorek and see if he can help them with their plan to fix the knife.Join us as we make some of our worst noises yet, get tangled up with quantum physics and share some bizarre cures for whooping cough.------Here are some fun facts about Encephalisation quotient (EQ) - the term Amy half-remembered for the ratio of brain size to body size.Read more about Stradivarius and the European ‘Little Ice Age' here!This is the study about whale language structure which Amy refers to in this episode.------Music by: Jaymen Persaud, performed by Claire Wickeswww.thedarkmaterialpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcastTwitter: @darkmaterialpodInstagram: @thedarkmaterialpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/thedarkmaterialpodcast

This episode we spend some time with Will, Lyra, Tailys and Salmakia as they bring Lyra up to speed on the Amber Spyglass thus far and hatch a plan to visit a new world…Join us as we avoid repeating >10 episodes, give a great rendition of some slam poetry and agree (again) that Iorek really should have just solved everything.

We're back! And for the most action packed chapter yet…the forces of the Magisterium and King Ogunwe are closing in on the Cave where Mrs Coulter is hiding. But Team Will has a plan of their own to try to rescue Lyra.------Here is the photo we talk about in the podcast from the Oxford Natural History museum, showing just how large dragonflies were in the Late Carboniferous period.------Music by: Jaymen Persaud, performed by Claire Wickeswww.thedarkmaterialpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcastTwitter: @darkmaterialpodInstagram: @thedarkmaterialpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/thedarkmaterialpodcast

This is a short announcement from Amy about why there is a pause in our readthrough - but we shall return!Don't worry, we haven't been kidnapped and taken to a Himalayan cave or anything…------Here are the photos of our recent trip to Oxford - on our Twitter and Facebook accounts.------Music by: Jaymen Persaud, performed by Claire Wickeswww.thedarkmaterialpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcastTwitter: @darkmaterialpodInstagram: @thedarkmaterialpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/thedarkmaterialpodcast

In this episode, we join Ama and Kulang, playing in the mist-laden air of the Himalayas, as she stumbles upon a mysterious duo at the top of a waterfall: a huge white bear and a boy with a gruesome wound on his hand.Join us as we enjoy some time with Strategy Will, learn several new words and talk A LOT about Mrs Coulter.------If you'd like to read the full ‘Auguries of Innocence' poem by William Blake (which the quotation for this chapter comes from) then you can find it in full here.If you want to prepare a lovely fresh drink of juice that's DEFINITELY NOT POISONED for your next cave guest, you can learn more about the wild Himilayan Pear here.Like cool facts about spider silk? Us too.------Music by: Jaymen Persaud, performed by Claire Wickeswww.thedarkmaterialpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcastTwitter: @darkmaterialpodInstagram: @thedarkmaterialpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/thedarkmaterialpodcast

In this episode, we rejoin Mary as she starts to learn all about the mulefa and their way of life, including some surprising developments in her communication with them.Join us as we dive into evolutionary selection pressures, do some creepy mulefa voices and concoct some alternative mulefa defense strategies!------The mulefa's society and technology is far more advanced than this, but if you like a bit of slow TV and some experimental archaeology, then you should take a look at the Primitive Technology YouTube channel and blog. Some great content!If you're interested in research about oral history, then this is a fascinating article that Amy referred to in this episode about indigenous Australians' collective knowledge and record on the scale of geological time…amazing stuff!------Music by: Jaymen Persaud, performed by Claire Wickeswww.thedarkmaterialpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcastTwitter: @darkmaterialpodInstagram: @thedarkmaterialpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/thedarkmaterialpodcast

In this episode, we continue with Will, Balthamos and Iorek as they steam up river towards the Himalayas. Will shares his story so far, explains the danger Lyra is in and show Iorek the subtle knife.Join us as we discover who the Swiss Guard are, invent snow leopard characters and possible Lost crossovers.------Music by: Jaymen Persaud, performed by Claire Wickeswww.thedarkmaterialpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcastTwitter: @darkmaterialpodInstagram: @thedarkmaterialpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/thedarkmaterialpodcast

We're taking a break from our usual chapter readthrough to respond to questions and comments from you lovely listeners!If you have any questions, comments or recommendations for films / books with HDM parallels, then we'd love to hear from you, at thedarkmaterialpodcast@gmail.com or any of our social media profiles below. In the meantime: enjoy!------www.thedarkmaterialpodcast.comTwitter: @darkmaterialpodInstagram: @thedarkmaterialpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/thedarkmaterialpodcastwww.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcast

In this episode, we join Will and Balthamos as they travel through the recently flooded lands of central Siberia. As they move through a village, Will is invited for lunch with the local priest, who shares some interesting news about the next town and Will's possible onward journey.Join us as we get very confused about geography, we write The Gospel According to Iain and tally up Creepy Points.------Although there are multiple small settlements called Kholodnoye, we think the village in the book could be based on this one.If you're intrigued or nostalgic about our random Eddie Izzard reference this week, here is the original sketch we are referring to (on the film The Great Escape), where Izzard shows off his impressive geography skills.This is the article by Lo the Lynx on the parallels between the witches in His Dark Materials and creatures in Scadinavian folklore. Reminder: if you've read up to this point with us, there are not any other spoilers in this essay for His Dark Materials, but one teeny tiny spoiler for The Secret Commonwealth (it is that we hear of a very minor story which Lyra hears from someone to do with witches, but it's not at all part of the main plot). So if you're comfortable with that level of spoiler, read on!Here is the paper Amy refers to on effects of alcohol in childrenHere is the article that Iain references this week by Marek Oziewicz on Representations of Eastern European people in His Dark Materials, The Bartimaeus Trilogy and the Harry Potter series.Last but not least, this is probably how subtle Amy was in her attempts to be like super stealthy Will.------Music by: Jaymen Persaud, performed by Claire Wickeswww.thedarkmaterialpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcastTwitter: @darkmaterialpodInstagram: @thedarkmaterialpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/thedarkmaterialpodcast

Sorry about the terrible sound quality this week! We managed to get through the whole episode without realising we'd been using the wrong mic the whole time....back to our usual standards next episode!In this episode, we join Mary as she travels through the countryside of Cittigazze, a week after she moved over from her own world. She's heading deep into the countryside and unsure of where to go next - so she uses some yarrow sticks and her copy of The Book of Changes to find out more about what she should do next.Join us as we discuss peach-coconut hybrids, the tiniest bird in the world and scratch our heads over how a wheel could evolve.------You can read the section which this chapter's Milton quote is from hereIf you really want to learn how to read the I Ching with yarrow stalks, there are instructions here. Good luck!More information on Mary's Book of Changes reading for hexagram 27, check this out.We are in love with the Bee Hummingbird! Facts here, the EXCELLENT human hand vs bird size comparison here or a video of one here!Is Amy right or wrong with her kangaroo theory? Here's a video which might help explain where we're coming from!More on the reasoning behind why no bio wheels have evolved in nature here.If you want to see Michael Palin being giggled at for his pronunciation skills, then check out this video!------Music by: Jaymen Persaud, performed by Claire Wickeswww.thedarkmaterialpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcastTwitter: @darkmaterialpodInstagram: @thedarkmaterialpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/thedarkmaterialpodcast

In this episode, we hide high in the rafters of St Jerome's college and watch over a hearing at the Consistorial Court of Discipline. Fra Pavel - the alethiometrist - is being questioned by a panel of the senior members of the Court: including the intense President of the Court, Father MacPhail.Join us as we discuss real-world absolution, a typical Greek myth and nuclear Russian Dolls.------Find out which branch of the Magisterium you are, with this silly quiz we put together!More on Jerome (of Saint Jerome) here, and more on Philomel here, who we talk about this episode in the context of a Greek myth.If you want to learn more about the confusing history of the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem, then check here as a starting point. You can also read the poem by Byron here.If you really need a far better explanation of the nuclear bomb Russian Doll ignition process, then you can read more here.------Music by: Jaymen Persaud, performed by Claire Wickeswww.thedarkmaterialpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcastTwitter: @darkmaterialpodInstagram: @thedarkmaterialpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/thedarkmaterialpodcast

Iain is very excitable this week as it's our first Asriel-centric chapter for a long time! We join him in his fortress of war, as he discusses their next steps with his captain of spies, Lord Roke. Asriel then receives an unexpected visit from a wounded angel, who has some very important news for him.Join us as we fail at bible family trees, invent our own branches of the Magisterium and premiere our Gallivespian voices.------Register for the free Hay Festival His Dark Materials panel here, with Jane Tranter, Dafne Keen, Amir Wilson and Jack Thorne.Learn more about and see pictures of real-life sulphur lakes Kawah Ijen and Daikoku Sulphur Cauldron.Here some high level detail about the core idea of a Republic (in theory!)Badass but bullshit myths on the Sword of St Michael and his apparitions here.Test yourself against us on Enoch's family tree! You can only do better than us…More on the beautiful and interesting design of the Gyropter here.On Teucer Basilides: learn more about his possible namesakes here for Basilides, here for Teucer and here for Teucer of Babylon.------Music by: Jaymen Persaud, performed by Claire Wickeswww.thedarkmaterialpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcastTwitter: @darkmaterialpodInstagram: @thedarkmaterialpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/thedarkmaterialpodcast

In this episode, we travel with Ama and her daemon Kulang to a monastery far away in the Himalayas, where she seeks the help of a highly respected healer. She is looking for a remedy which she can use to wake Lyra from her sleep - won't the beautiful strange woman in the cave be happy!Join us as we chat about war-chickens, creepy death photographs and stupid villain tropes.------You can read the poem for this week by Emily Dickenson here, or a light-hearted intro to her life and work here.Some more about the depressing tradition of menstruation huts here.HENCH CHICKEN BREED!Is this the monastery that Ama visits? It's roughly in the right place we think….More about Tulkus in general here, or an interesting and entertaining introduction to the current political dilemma of the Dalai and Panchen Lama here.Is there a link between zoosadism and psychopathy? There are claims, but more in this article here.------Music by: Jaymen Persaud, performed by Claire Wickeswww.thedarkmaterialpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcastTwitter: @darkmaterialpodInstagram: @thedarkmaterialpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/thedarkmaterialpodcast

In this episode, we join Serafina as she speeds over the arctic landscapes of her own world. She's looking for Iorek Byrnison, as she has some tragic news to share with him. And she is burning with remorse, fear and rage.Join us as we have fun doing some frenetic fox/ghast impressions, ponder the details of language acquisition and disagree about some taboos.------You can read the Knight's Tomb by Samuel Taylor Coleridge here.Some pictures and more information on Purple Saxifrage here.Information on ritualised cannibalism here and endocannibalism here.------Music by: Jaymen Persaud, performed by Claire Wickeswww.thedarkmaterialpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcastTwitter: @darkmaterialpodInstagram: @thedarkmaterialpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/thedarkmaterialpodcast

In this episode, we are reunited with Will, picking up from where we left him at the end of the Subtle Knife: with Lyra lost and in the company of two angels called Balthamos and Baruch.Join us as Amy damages Iain's ears, Iain explains his glorious artistic vision for Metatron's spear and we speculate about the Angel Alethiometer Switchboard system.------The chapter quote for this week is from this section of the Book of Job.Very high level information on the hierarchy of angels here.More on the delicious history of Kendal Mint cake here!Here is the great picture of Metatron as interpreted in Islam - as a great and powerful scribe angel.You can learn more about names of god in Judaism here - or more about Yahweh, El and the Canaan Late Bronze Age.We highly recommend The Prancing Pony Podcast to any Tolkien fans - one of our big inspirations for starting our own podcast journey!------Music by: Jaymen Persaud, performed by Claire Wickeswww.thedarkmaterialpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcastTwitter: @darkmaterialpodInstagram: @thedarkmaterialpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/thedarkmaterialpodcast

Wahoooo the Amber Spyglass is here! This week, we travel to a distant and rainbow-filled valley, to find Mrs Coulter camping out in a remote Himalayan cave. But she's not alone…Join us as we unenthusiastically sing some hymns, get sad about real-world rainbow valleys and both of us forget to take notes on different parts of the text.------Here is a video of O Worship the King being sung in a highly average way (genuinely the first video that came up on search!)You can read Raine Maria Rilke's Duino Elegies online here, and read about some of that background to Rilke writing the pieces here.You can read William Blake's Little Girl Lost here, and a little more about the references of this poem here.If you too want to be disturbed and saddened by Everest's real world rainbow valley, then feel free to read this article!------Music by: Jaymen Persaud, performed by Claire Wickeswww.thedarkmaterialpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcastTwitter: @darkmaterialpodInstagram: @thedarkmaterialpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/thedarkmaterialpodcast

Join us in this very special bonus episode as we hold our second interview with the maker of the sharpest, subtlest and most shadow-coloured props on His Dark Materials - Michael van Kesteren!We spoke to Michael about his work on Season 1 last summer (including creating the alethiometer), but returned to pick his brains about props in Season 2 - including the subtlest knife of them all, a giant telescope, a famous Winchester rifle and much more besides!We do get overexcited and Amber Spyglass spoilery at one point, but we moved this section to the end: be wary of our spoiler warning after our outro music and stop there if you don't want spoilers!A HUGE thank you to Michael for giving us his time: you can find him at the links below.We definitely recommend taking look through his portfolio here, showcasing lots of gorgeous things he has designed and created!Twitter: @michaelveekay1Instagram: @michaelveekay------www.thedarkmaterialpodcast.com@darkmaterialpodwww.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcast

In this bonus episode, we wrap up and review The Subtle Knife to finish our chapter by chapter readthrough of book 2!Join us for this special episode as we discuss some of the highs & lows, winners & losers (cough *Juta* cough), themes & evolution from Northern Lights. And of course some speculatitve fanfic we'd write to ‘improve' what we know about Will, Lyra and the world of His Dark Materials.------Music by: Jaymen Persaud, performed by Claire Wickeswww.thedarkmaterialpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcastTwitter: @darkmaterialpodInstagram: @thedarkmaterialpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/thedarkmaterialpodcast

In this chapter, we finish The Subtle Knife (kinda - Patreon episode on the appendix & lantern slides to follow)! Will and Lyra continue up the mountain, urged on by the alethiometer. Will's hand has still not healed and in this final chapter he is at the brink physically and emotionally.Join us as we chat ancient Greek weapons, ‘love' the whole hell-hath-no-fury story line and get skeptical about Boreal's susceptibility to obvious manipulation.------Spoiler warnings for His Dark Materials and some tiny part of The Book of Dust, but we highly recommend checking out Lo's article on the witches of HDM and Scandinavian folklore here.Learn some basics about the Makhaira here.Not heard of this Eve person? Well you can read more here or here. But which one is Lyra…?Not tired of stupid tropes about women scorned? Here is another fun story (it's the one with the dragon).You can read some basics about Huldra here.------Music by: Jaymen Persaud, performed by Claire Wickeswww.thedarkmaterialpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcastTwitter: @darkmaterialpodInstagram: @thedarkmaterialpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/thedarkmaterialpodcast

In this chapter, we join Lee Scoresby and John Parry as they travel through the world of Cittigazze on their search to find the bearer of the knife. But they soon realise that they have unwanted company in the skies behind them.Join us as we grappel with grapnels, fumble American history and Iain surprises everyone by dabbling in some poetry.------Here is the excellent picture of the Massive Eagle Striking Back (not the official title), showing pilot Eugène Gilbert fending off a giant eagle from his plane in 1911.You can learn more about snarge (warning: horrible photos) and bird strike here.Here and here is a start if you want to help us get understand the history of Napalm and Greek fire.You can check out the great film The Aeronauts here - written by the TV series' Jack Thorne and starring our own Roger as Lewin Lloyd's character!You can watch The Americas with Simon Reeve on BBC iPlayer here, if you want to learn more about the scary reality of forest fires.If you would like to have a better researched, contextualised AND more succinct snapshot of the history of the Texas revolution, we recommend this Crash Course video (also covering the history of California). Also, some more general background here.------Music by: Jaymen Persaud, performed by Claire Wickeswww.thedarkmaterialpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcastTwitter: @darkmaterialpodInstagram: @thedarkmaterialpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/thedarkmaterialpodcast

In this bonus episode we share with you a crossover episode we recently did with Em Anderson, friend of the podcast and creator of the Unfinished/Unpublished podcast!Join us as we talk about plot-hole gymnastics, get some great biscuit hacks and hear all about Em's own secret collection of novel opening lines…------We highly recommend giving the Unfinished / Unpublished podcast a listen here, as Em talks to creators about their own private projects.Some of them are works which never quite got realised - such as the art installation project ‘Prog land', a theme park based on Prog rock album covers. Others exist, but just not in a published form, which includes a museum archivist's work in getting a medium to give psychic readings on objects. It's a thought-provoking and joyful listen, which will certainly leave you pondering about the nature of creativity and possibly even inspire you to (re)start a project yourself!You can follow Em on Twitter at @TrueBagglerag to hear more about her latest episodes and projects.------Music by: Jaymen Persaud, performed by Claire Wickeswww.thedarkmaterialpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcastTwitter: @darkmaterialpodInstagram: @thedarkmaterialpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/thedarkmaterialpodcast

In this chapter, we see more magic from Serafina as the witches attempt to heal (at last) Will's subtle wound. As Lyra and Will press on with their search for John Parry, Ruta Skadi rejoins the troupe with some strange stories of Asriel, Angels and Æsahættr…Join us as we meet an apparently Scottish witch queen, an intensely creepy cliff ghast and marvel at laser dragons...------Find out about the Aesir - the Norse gods whose name may be an inspiration for Æsahættr here.You can also learn a bit more about the global prevalence of moon magic here.------Music by: Jaymen Persaud, performed by Claire Wickeswww.thedarkmaterialpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcastTwitter: @darkmaterialpodInstagram: @thedarkmaterialpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/thedarkmaterialpodcast

In this bonus episode we reflect on Season 2 of the BBC / HBO TV adaptation. Crowning Cast & Creative award winners, discussing our best and worst of the whole series and suggesting some entirely new additions of our own!Join us as Iain gives our most generic creative award yet, we disagree about warrior nature vs nurture and chat about arse lightning.------If you would like to find out more about the charity DASH (Domestic Abuse Stops Here) and how they working to help people experiencing domestic abuse, you can check out their site (and donate if you can) here.------Music by: Jaymen Persaud, performed by Claire Wickeswww.thedarkmaterialpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcastTwitter: @darkmaterialpodInstagram: @thedarkmaterialpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/thedarkmaterialpodcast

In this chapter, we join Mary Malone as she tries to explain to her colleague exactly what on earth happened with Lyra. Whilst they are talking, Sir Charles Latrom arrives to offer an interesting funding proposal for their research… Mary has some difficult decisions to make, following revelations of biblical importance.Join us as we mull over defense funding, fail to understand the bible and debate determinism (again).------Music by: Jaymen Persaud, performed by Claire Wickeswww.thedarkmaterialpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcastTwitter: @darkmaterialpodInstagram: @thedarkmaterialpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/thedarkmaterialpodcast

In this chapter, Lyra and Will recover in Cittigazze from their escapades in Will's Oxford the previous night. Just as they have managed to clean up Will and his hand and are having a breakfast of scavenged stale toast, they see a crowd of angry children racing towards them.Join us as we crack out our best (worst) cockney impressions, speculate about the Belvedere's owner and figure out that main characters killing children is a Bad Idea.------Music by: Jaymen Persaud, performed by Claire Wickeswww.thedarkmaterialpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcastTwitter: @darkmaterialpodInstagram: @thedarkmaterialpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/thedarkmaterialpodcast

Be warned, this episode will contain all manner of spoilers from both His Dark Materials and the Book of Dust book series, AND the UK schedule of His Dark Materials season 2…so if you want to avoid that, cut back through to our episodes on the book series.In this episode, Iain and Amy give their thoughts and reactions to episode 7 of Season 2 of His Dark Materials - ÆsahættrJoin us as we talk about the Ego and ‘single points of success', as well as trying out our Cliffghastian.------If you like the sound of ‘His Dark Materials & Philosophy - Paradox Lost', you can pick up a copy here (UK) or here (US). If you buy from this site, you'll also be supporting local, independent bookshops - win win!We're trying to keep our social media accounts spoiler free where possible, so just drop us an email or a direct message if you have spoiler-y thoughts to share - thanks!Vote on your favourite Cast and Creative performances on our Twitter page - we're posting them a bit later than usual (on Wednesdays after the episode airs in the UK) to allow for some crossover with people outside the UK who won't see the episode for a while after us! :(------Music by: Jaymen Persaud, performed by Claire Wickeswww.thedarkmaterialpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcastTwitter: @darkmaterialpodInstagram: @thedarkmaterialpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/thedarkmaterialpodcast

In this chapter, we rejoin Lee Scoresby as he moves along the rivers from a Yenesei port, trying to find the mysterious Stanislaus Grumman in a nearby Tartar village. After three, mosquito-infested days, he arrives: but there are a few surprises in store for our favourite aeronaut.Join us as we discuss Devil's snare/zombie cucumbers, some apt Native American turquoise myths and shamanas ex machina.------We mention Russia with Simon Reeve ALOT this episode - needless to say (though we did say it already), we highly recommend giving it a watch!More fun facts about Jimsonweed/Jamestown weed/devil's snare/zombie cucumbers hereMore about Navajo jewelry here, but they also have an amazing online collection of Navajo jewelry at the National Museum of the American Indian here. This is the ring which Amy based this week's drawing on.------Music by: Jaymen Persaud, performed by Claire Wickeswww.thedarkmaterialpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcastTwitter: @darkmaterialpodInstagram: @thedarkmaterialpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/thedarkmaterialpodcast

Be warned, this episode will contain all manner of spoilers from both His Dark Materials and the Book of Dust book series, AND the UK schedule of His Dark Materials season 2…so if you want to avoid that, cut back through to our episodes on the book series.In this episode, Iain and Amy give their thoughts and reactions to episode 6 of Season 2 of His Dark Materials - MaliceJoin us as we talk about the Magisterium's Council of Shit, the ongoing wait for Antonio Banderas and whether there is quite enough blood.------We're trying to keep our social media accounts spoiler free where possible, so just drop us an email or a direct message if you have spoiler-y thoughts to share - thanks!Vote on your favourite Cast and Creative performances on our Twitter page - we're posting them a bit later than usual (on Wednesdays after the episode airs in the UK) to allow for some crossover with people outside the UK who won't see the episode for a while after us! :(------Music by: Jaymen Persaud, performed by Claire Wickeswww.thedarkmaterialpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcastTwitter: @darkmaterialpodInstagram: @thedarkmaterialpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/thedarkmaterialpodcast

Be warned, this episode will contain all manner of spoilers from both His Dark Materials and the Book of Dust book series, AND the UK schedule of His Dark Materials season 2…so if you want to avoid that, cut back through to our episodes on the book series.In this episode, Iain and Amy give their thoughts and reactions to episode 5 of Season 2 of His Dark Materials - The ScholarJoin us as Iain forgets how design works, Amy shares her theories about separation and we both freak out about ALL the beautiful parallels and deeper currents of the additional scenes.------Learn more about the great courses and work being done at the Phoenix Studio (near Thame, Oxfordshire) here.We're trying to keep our social media accounts spoiler free where possible, so just drop us an email or a direct message if you have spoiler-y thoughts to share - thanks!Vote on your favourite Cast and Creative performances on our Twitter page - we're posting them a bit later than usual (on Wednesdays after the episode airs in the UK) to allow for some crossover with people outside the UK who won't see the episode for a while after us! :(------Music by: Jaymen Persaud, performed by Claire Wickeswww.thedarkmaterialpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcastTwitter: @darkmaterialpodInstagram: @thedarkmaterialpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/thedarkmaterialpodcast

In this chapter, Lyra and Will plan the Heist to end all Heists, as they move through Cittigazze and try to get within stealing distance of Sir Charles Latrom's mansion…but not everything goes to plan. Because nothing ever goes to plan…Join us as we discuss the power of a voice, Will's Training Montage and what lax background-checking they have in Will's world.------If you want to learn more about the English Council of State, here is a good place to start!------Music by: Jaymen Persaud, performed by Claire Wickeswww.thedarkmaterialpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcastTwitter: @darkmaterialpodInstagram: @thedarkmaterialpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/thedarkmaterialpodcast

Be warned, this episode will contain all manner of spoilers from both His Dark Materials and the Book of Dust book series, AND the UK schedule of His Dark Materials season 2…so if you want to avoid that, cut back through to our episodes on the book series.In this episode, Iain and Amy give their thoughts and reactions to episode 4 of Season 2 of His Dark Materials - Tower of the AngelsJoin us as we write a new Lee-centric ‘Bacon episode', review Boreal's misogyny and Amy tries to recreate her favourite scene (complete with choir).------You can find all of Lo the Lynx's writing here, but we especially recommend their review episodes of the recent TV series, looking at the show specifically from a feminist perspective (Ep 2 and Ep 3)More information on the process of voting in a Pope as it is used today, here.On Father McPhail's bedroom design: This is the tweet which we talk about from an Irish Priest of their set up for their evening prayer, and this is the Church of the Light in Japan by architect Tadao AndoWe're trying to keep our social media accounts spoiler free where possible, so just drop us an email or a direct message if you have spoiler-y thoughts to share - thanks!Vote on your favourite Cast and Creative performances on our Twitter page - we're posting them a bit later than usual (on Wednesdays after the episode airs in the UK) to allow for some crossover with people outside the UK who won't see the episode for a while after us! :(------Music by: Jaymen Persaud, performed by Claire Wickeswww.thedarkmaterialpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcastTwitter: @darkmaterialpodInstagram: @thedarkmaterialpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/thedarkmaterialpodcast

Be warned, this episode will contain all manner of spoilers from both His Dark Materials and the Book of Dust book series, AND the UK schedule of His Dark Materials season 2…so if you want to avoid that, cut back through to our episodes on the book series.In this episode, Iain and Amy give their thoughts and reactions to episode 3 of Season 2 of His Dark Materials - Theft.Join us as we rave over all the amazing extra scenes, lose our shit over portable Pan and speculate about Boreal's ‘collection'.------We're trying to keep our social media accounts spoiler free where possible, so just drop us an email or a direct message if you have spoiler-y thoughts to share - thanks!Vote on your favourite Cast and Creative performances on our Twitter page - we're posting them a bit later than usual (on Wednesdays after the episode airs in the UK) to allow for some crossover with people outside the UK who won't see the episode for a while after us! :(------Music by: Jaymen Persaud, performed by Claire Wickeswww.thedarkmaterialpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcastTwitter: @darkmaterialpodInstagram: @thedarkmaterialpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/thedarkmaterialpodcast

In this chapter, Lyra and Will leave Sir Charles in Oxford, heading back into Cittigazze to try to find the mysterious knife that Charles wants so badly. As they arrive at the Tower of the Angels in the city, they carefully scout out how to get inside and soon notice a strange young man inside, behaving strangely, talking to himself and dancing around alone, slicing the knife through the air.Join us as we review The Art of War according to Will Parry, design a secret Sraffies handshake and discuss how we would behave in ‘Tower of Angels: the computer game'.------Music by: Jaymen Persaud, performed by Claire Wickeswww.thedarkmaterialpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcastTwitter: @darkmaterialpodInstagram: @thedarkmaterialpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/thedarkmaterialpodcast

Be warned, this episode will contain all manner of spoilers from both His Dark Materials and the Book of Dust book series, AND the UK schedule of His Dark Materials season 2…so if you want to avoid that, cut back through to our episodes on the book series.In this episode, Iain and Amy give their thoughts and reactions to the second episode of Season 2 of His Dark Materials - The Cave.Join us as we discuss Lyra's all-powerful ‘innocent face', boggle at voting systems and geek out over quantum computers.------Here is an article on the quantum computer that inspired The Cave! Well worth a read…We're trying to keep our social media accounts spoiler free where possible, so just drop us an email or a direct message if you have spoiler-y thoughts to share - thanks!Vote on your favourite Cast and Creative performances on our Twitter page - we're posting them a bit later than usual (on Wednesdays after the episode airs in the UK) to allow for some crossover with people outside the UK who won't see the episode for a while after us! :(------Music by: Jaymen Persaud, performed by Claire Wickeswww.thedarkmaterialpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcastTwitter: @darkmaterialpodInstagram: @thedarkmaterialpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/thedarkmaterialpodcast

Be warned, this episode will contain all manner of spoilers from both His Dark Materials and the Book of Dust book series, AND the UK schedule of His Dark Materials season 2…so if you want to avoid that, cut back through to our episodes on the book series.In this episode, Iain and Amy give their (excitable) thoughts and reactions to the first ever episode of Season 2 of His Dark Materials - The City of Magpies.Join us as we discuss some mysterious title sequence additions, rave over ring snogs and disagree about angelic garden furniture.------Join our discussion and share your thoughts with us!We're trying to keep our social media accounts spoiler free where possible, so just drop us an email or a direct message if you have spoiler-y thoughts to share - thanks!Vote on your favourite Cast and Creative performances on our Twitter page - we're posting them a bit later than usual (on Wednesdays after the episode airs in the UK) to allow for some crossover with people outside the UK who won't see the episode for a while after us! :(We also recommend the below excellent sneak previews of future episodes, as well as great behind the scenes looks, and interviews with cast and creators: - When Worlds Collide - interview with cast and creators, and some exclusive footage from upcoming episodes - JoPari and the witches - interview with ANDREW SCOTT (John Parry), JADE ANOUKA (Ruta Skadi), RUTA GEDMINTAS (Serafina Pekkala), writer FRANCESCA GARDINER and costume designer CAROLINE MCCALL. - Creating Cittigazze - interview with executive producer and production designer JOEL COLLINS, casting director KAHLEEN CRAWFORD, VFX Art Director and Previs Supervisor DAN MAY, Framestore's Senior VFX Supervisor RUSSELL DODGSON and composer LORNE BALFE.------Music by: Jaymen Persaud, performed by Claire Wickeswww.thedarkmaterialpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcastTwitter: @darkmaterialpodInstagram: @thedarkmaterialpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/thedarkmaterialpodcast

In this chapter, Lyra gathers intel from some local Citigazze kids, before going through to Will's Oxford to meet Mary Malone. But when she gets there, she finds that two police officers are waiting for her and want to question her about why she's here.Join us as we discuss our spitting skills, Amy gets disturbed by smells and Iain gets smug about science.------Here is a disturbing history of our messed up persecution of cats.WOAH, TURNING LEAD INTO GOLD IS KIND OF POSSIBLE, SORT OF?Here is some more info about fancy smancy Porter's lodges in Oxford colleges (also used in other universities with swanky collegiate systems!)Continuing Lyra's tour of Oxford:- The road where she hides in Norham Gardens- Summertown - where Sir Charles drives her from there, near the public library- And here is a map with Norham Gardens, the point where Sir Charles drops Lyra off in Summertown and the rough location of the window to Citigazze, all marked on it.Some more info about the use of masks in Greek theatre hereTHIS is the hilarious facial expression we think Lyra pulls which is ‘like a Greek mask'!------Music by: Jaymen Persaud, performed by Claire Wickeswww.thedarkmaterialpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcastTwitter: @darkmaterialpodInstagram: @thedarkmaterialpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/thedarkmaterialpodcast

We are thrilled to be talking to Faye and Rachael (from the Her Dark Materials podcast) about the characters of Northern Lights. We really dig into it here, so join us as we discuss our favourites, our least favourites and all the layers of complexity in between!This episode is spoiler heavy for Northern Lights the book and Series 1 of the TV adaptation, but otherwise spoiler free.Many thanks to Faye and Rachael for their time and thoughts, AND for missing the Bake Off in our honour! You can find their creations at the below links:Subscribe and listen here, or wherever you find your podcastsYou can also follow Faye and Rachael on Twitter, Instagram or FacebookThey also have a Patreon account hereWe can recommend checking out Rachael's shop too, here!------www.thedarkmaterialpodcast.com@darkmaterialpodwww.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcast

Be warned, this episode will contain all manner of spoilers from both His Dark Materials and the Book of Dust book series, as well as Series 1 of the TV adaptation - so if you want to avoid this, cut back through to our spoiler-free readthrough of the books now…Welcome to our introductory episode to a new series on the Dark Material Podcast: our thoughts, feelings and reflections on Series 2 of the BBC / HBO TV adaptation.In this episode we what we know so far, the newly announced cast for season 2, what the trailers tell us and some of our hopes & fears for this adaptation!Join us as we discuss new angel genres, get excited about new ships sailing (/flying) our way and confuse everyone with references to haggis.------Watch yourselves some trailers! We personally recommend this EXCELLENT ONEAlso these trailers are very good, but lack Iorek - yes, we are that petty.- Official teaser trailer- BBC Countdown and featurette with some cast members discussing their characters- Official Comic Con trailer- BBC official trailer------Music by: Jaymen Persaud, performed by Claire Wickeswww.thedarkmaterialpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcastTwitter: @darkmaterialpodInstagram: @thedarkmaterialpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/thedarkmaterialpodcast

In the second half of this hefty chapter, we join Serafina, Ruta and their crack squad of SWAT witches as they fly through the new world. They encounter all sorts of…well, otherworldly things, and also see Spectres for the first time and learn the horrible details of all they can do…Join us as we revisit Bird Corner, cast Antonio Banderas and get lost in the confusing and colourful mythology of angels!------If you're interested to know more about Hypoboreans, you can start here and we also definitely recommend the book The Idea of North by Peter Davidson if you're interested in learning more about what historically was associated with the cultural idea of ‘The North' in different times and societies.Maybe the Mandola instrument mentioned is similar to this? Who knows…See a picture of a snazzy little Bluethroat here!If you want to a picture of the swaggiest, most L'Oreal advert angel EVER, then feast your eyes on this.Here are some other interesting depictions of angels: with no physical bodies, in high status clothing of the time, or just super colourful and showing off their supernatural prowess.------Music by: Jaymen Persaud, performed by Claire Wickeswww.thedarkmaterialpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcastTwitter: @darkmaterialpodInstagram: @thedarkmaterialpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/thedarkmaterialpodcast

*Note: we were so excited talking to Brian that we forgot to hit record on our side at first, so our sound quality is a little worse at the beginning. It gets better from about 14mins in though, so please stick with it!We are very excited to be interviewing Brian Fisher about his work on the TV adaptation! Brian worked on the BBC / HBO adaptation of His Dark Materials as a Lead Puppeteer and CFX (Creature Effects) Coordinator. What does that mean? Listen to find out just how many strings there are to Brian's bow, but it's not a spoiler to say that he has been involved in ALOT of different aspects of the production.Brian was also paired with Ruth Wilson to bring That Monkey to life through puppetry and his vocal performance...thankfully, he broke character to talk to us about it. It was really fascinating to hear about the amazingly detailed and mysterious work that went into every aspect of this production, and of course everyone's (least) favourite monkey is no exception.Many thanks to Brian for his time! We hope you enjoy listening to this episode - we're certainly looking forward to seeing more of his amazing work in Season 2…If you want to learn more Screen Alliance Wales - which Brian mentions at the end of this interview - then you can check out their website here.------www.thedarkmaterialpodcast.com@darkmaterialpodwww.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcast

This time we follow Lee as he sifts through the collective knowledge of the ‘old Arctic hands', searching for answers about where he can find Stanislaus Grumman.Join us as we review ALL of human history (well, almost), geek out about ospreys and get freaked out about the earth's magnetic field.------We talk about general human pre-history, including some key finds in the archaeological records - such as the 50,000 yr old sewing needle, a 42,000 yr old flute and the general increase in finds around the emergence of Early Modern Humans.Want to shudder about just how horrible the trepanning practice sounds? How about this picture of a bow drill - that should help you imagine it nicely.Gaze into this osprey's piercing eyes as you listen to the osprey facts section…intense!Find it hard to picture Amy's odd explanation of how dogs find their way through smell? This article might help.This is a picture of the Sphinx Observatory in Switzerland, or read more here.------Music by: Jaymen Persaud, performed by Claire Wickeswww.thedarkmaterialpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcastTwitter: @darkmaterialpodInstagram: @thedarkmaterialpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/thedarkmaterialpodcast

In this chapter, Will and Lyra have a face-off about who is the best and most serious at deceiving people, then enjoy a couple of films at a cinema to lay low in Will's Oxford. Once night has fallen and they can pass back through the window, they return to the safe, reassuring arms of Citigazze. But a piercing scream soon shatters the calm warm night air of their new home…Join us as we discuss optimal amounts of slack, Iain goes on a punning rAMPage and Amy gets obsessive about the Zaire leopard.------Here is the link to the fascinating article on melting permafrost and viruses - thank you Kathi for drawing our attention to this!The Thaw is the film that we couldn't quite remember the name of, where a virus attacks scientists in a remote arctic research station.Here is the (highly photographed) and picturesque square that we think Pullman refers to in this chapter.Fancy searching for the Alaskan window in our world? Here are the GPS coordinates that John Parry gets from Matt Kigalik, and here is the location of Lookout ridge. Or click here for a map with both points marked on it. Good luck!You learn more about the ‘ghost ship' SS Baychimo in this article, including some pictures of people on the boat itself on one of it's last sightings.If you are also intrigued by the mystery of the Zaire Leopard, then you can check out a potted history of Zaire here, more on the werecat myths here or read about some more about the dictator Mobutu Sese Soko here.------Music by: Jaymen Persaud, performed by Claire Wickeswww.thedarkmaterialpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcastTwitter: @darkmaterialpodInstagram: @thedarkmaterialpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/thedarkmaterialpodcast

Will and Lyra navigate the dangers of Will's Oxford. Lyra meets an unsettling man while investigating some trepanned skulls in a museum, before heading off to explore further mysteries about Dust with an overworked physicist. Will delves into the archives to learn (a little) more about the strange disappearance of his father…Join us as we get confused about how post works, speculate about dark matter and reminisce on our favourite Oxford museums!------A video of someone demonstrating how to use (the very fiddly) microfilm in a microfilm reader can be found here.Some very general information about the I Ching can be found here.A rough introduction to Dark matter here.Here is the full letter from Keats to his brothers, which Mary Malone quotes in this chapter. You can read more on this concept of ‘Negative Capability' that Keats wrote about here.Here is an interesting article on the history of radar installations in the Arctic.Continuing the Virtual Tour of Oxford:Inside the Covered MarketOutside and inside the Natural History Museum, within which is the Pitt Rivers museum (museum within the museum!)Display case in the Pitt Rivers Museum where Lyra sees her Arctic clothingPhoto of Philip Pullman in the Pitt Rivers Museum, with the Trepanned skulls and instruments which inspired this scene in the book.Park which Lyra consults the alethiometer inDenys Wilkinson Building (part of the dept. of Physics) within which the real-world LUX-ZEPELIN Dark Matter research project is housed.You can view the wonderful collections at the Ashmolean museum online, here. If you want to view what it looks like for Will when he takes refuge here in this chapter, then you can view inside the museum here.------Music by: Jaymen Persaud, performed by Claire Wickeswww.thedarkmaterialpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcastTwitter: @darkmaterialpodInstagram: @thedarkmaterialpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/thedarkmaterialpodcast

We breakfast with Lyra and Pan in this strange new world, as she carefully crafts her first ever omelette with pride. Will and Lyra discuss their next move, as two strange children appear in the deserted town and explain where they are and why everything is so quiet.Join us, as we review the weird and wonderful history of processed food, rage about toxic femininity and take you on a virtual tour of real-world Oxford!------More on William Parry the explorer here.Virtual tour of Will's Oxford:The place where will and Lyra get off the bus is here.Viewing Balliol college from Broad street - here.Inside one of Balliol college's quadrangles - here.A view of the Bodleian library from Catte Street (Lyra's ‘Bodley's library) - here.A view inside one part of the sprawling Bodleian library (Duke Humphrey's Reading room, one of the oldest parts of the library) - here.------Music by: Jaymen Persaud, performed by Claire Wickeswww.thedarkmaterialpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcastTwitter: @darkmaterialpodInstagram: @thedarkmaterialpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/thedarkmaterialpodcast

We join Serafina Pekkala in this chapter for a tour of the North - starting with a witch's daemon she finds trying to get back to his human who is being held by the Oblation Board on a boat at sea. Serafina sneaks aboard to find out more and try to help her fellow witch and eavesdrops on a Magisterium meet-up with Cardinal Sturrock, Mrs Coulter and the Magisterium's very own alethiometrist: Fra Pavel.Join us, as we try out even more accents (offending even more different countries around the world), get excited about magic lore and freak out about permafrost.We talk about the melting of the permafrost and female genital mutilation (FGM) this week - you can support relevant projects for these topics here and here, respectively.------Learn more about the Taymyr peninsula here, or about Lake Taymyr here.This is an interesting article on the magic of invisibility and we also recommend this interesting article on the history of invisibility within culture, including the psychology behind the ‘desire to be unseen'.A bit more on ‘cheery' or otherwise unusual depictions and personifications of death: The Danse Macabre, Baron Samedi and the Angel of Death.If you want to learn how to read the future from a sheep's liver (probably), why not have a look at this 3000 year old tablet from Babylonia (modern day Iraq)If you want to learn more about the Pleistocene Park Project, you can watch this (mosquito-laden) video, or read about and donate to the project here.Some stuff on the concept of ‘death of God' or killing God here, here and here.Listen to JFK's great Moon Speech here (plus rousing music)- it's about an idea that almost as HAAAAARD as the goal of killing God…(Contested) research on the prominence of faith and religious belief in societies here.You read some more about the Biblical story of the War in Heaven here.Here and here are some interesting facts about Female Genital Mutilation, or more info about genital mutilation (and modification) in general here. We recommend the UNFPA's ‘Born Complete' campaign - learn more or support that project here.------Music by: Jaymen Persaud, performed by Claire Wickeswww.thedarkmaterialpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcastTwitter: @darkmaterialpodInstagram: @thedarkmaterialpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/thedarkmaterialpodcast

We finally made it to The Subtle Knife! This week, in a classic cliff-hanger tease, we meet an entirely new character - who is this Will guy?! We learn a little bit of an answer to that question, as we meet up with this mysterious and serious 12 year old boy, as he struggles to hide his mother from some sinister men.Join us this week, as we discuss our EPIC new intro music, try out some 1930s voices and mispronounce some currencies.------You can learn more about or support work to help child carers in the UK by visiting Carers UK or Action for Children.More about Moxie, a potential namesake for the Murder Cat.You can find here a version of the BBC Imagine programme on Philip Pullman and his writing.You can look for your very own window to another world in our world's Oxford - we recommend starting under the hornbeam trees of Sunderland avenue…If - like Lyra - you want to learn more about fridges, you could start worse than starting here.------Music by: Jaymen Persaud, performed by Claire Wickeswww.thedarkmaterialpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcastTwitter: @darkmaterialpodInstagram: @thedarkmaterialpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/thedarkmaterialpodcast

We're almost there…it's been a long time coming, but we have finally finished Northern Lights!Turns out we still had a lot to talk about though - join us for this special episode as we discuss some of the high points, the themes and what we would add to improve the book (ok, possibly make it worse…we're not good storytellers!)We also go through some of your questions and comments! If you have some thoughts about the series, we'd love to hear from you so don't hesitate to get in touch and remind us who is the other side of the podcast…------Thank you to Lo Jatko Mührer for their questions, we highly recommend their SPOILER HEAVY essays on Nordic influences in His Dark Materials and Power Relations in His Dark Materials.You can hear more from Dr Em Anderson in her new book, culture and poetry radio programme The Review, where she talks to different literary guests! It's a fascinating and joyful listen, give it go!------www.thedarkmaterialpodcast.com@darkmaterialpodwww.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcast

Join us in this special bonus episode as we go through our thoughts on the 2007 film adaptation of The Golden Compass! This episode will contain spoilers for all of Northern Lights, so if you haven't finished reading that book yet, meet us back here when you're finished!We re-watched the film for this special episode (we didn't remember any of it before) and then had a chat about the Good, the Bad and the Odd…we even dust off the trophies and dole out some Cast and Creative Awards! After all, it's bloody difficult stuff to make a film (we'd have no idea where to start), so credit where credit is due!------You can read more about the reception of The Golden Compass film around it's release and the author's general thoughts on the process in this interview with Philip Pullman from 2007.You can read Chris Weitz's first draft of the screenplay for the Golden Compass here.Listen to Kate Bush's song ‘Lyra' here! Warning: it is a bit of an earworm…If don't already follow Twittagazze and Instagazze (the official fandom accounts for all things His Dark Materials and Book of Dust related), then do so now at the above links!------www.thedarkmaterialpodcast.com@darkmaterialpodwww.patreon.com/darkmaterialpodcast