‘Canonicity’: the Book or the Reader?

[HerenIstarion]

Well, well, well

I must confess I haven't read the story so heatedly debated. After reading the Touchstone article, I thought 14.95$ I intended for purchase of the trilogy from Amazon were saved from spending, but now, as I look at your bone - picking, I'm in two minds - should I read it and add some bones to the boiling soup here, or rather wait until you retell the whole plot of the story for me and save me money

But, to be serious, what I have read and heard up to now makes me feel that, if push comes to show, I'll be in league with davem here:

But some paths are better - the road to Heaven is better than the road to Hell - Pullman simply denies the metaphysical existence of either, in order to make it seem like niether road exists, & that whatever road we take will lead us to whatever place we want to be - we can build a Republic of Hell more easily (& we're more likely to, given our history & natural proclivities) than a Republic of Heaven. Of course, we all take different paths, but the question is where the paths lead, & they don't all automatically lead to the same place - much though Pullman might wish it.

Hits the ten mark in the T - embossed truth categories for yours truly

Can not be more prolix till the drift goes over to something I've actually read

So cheers until than