Bill Nye isn't the only 90's celebrity coming back to the spotlight this year. After almost two decades of speculation of will-he-won’t-he write any more of his critically-acclaimed series, "His Dark Materials," Philip Pullman finally gives the world an answer: yes, he indeed will return, coming this fall with a new trilogy, "The Book of Dust." What’s more, there is even a worldwide release date for the as-of-now-untitled first volume—October 19th, 2017.
So, what will this trilogy be about, exactly?
Will it be a prequel or a sequel?
Actually, it’s neither. Not a prequel nor a sequel, it is to be what Pullman calls an “equel.” According to Pullman, this trilogy will not be told in the typical linear fashion that most readers have come to expect of trilogies. Instead, the first volume of "The Book of Dust" is set to take place 10 years before the events of "His Dark Materials," with the rest of the story thus taking place 20 years after that—or 10 years after the conclusion Pullman’s "The Amber Spyglass." Like the original series, the books will also be released in 3 parts.
While the new volume will focus on new characters, old beloved characters will be present as well.
What is 'His Dark Materials'?
Pullman’s most famous series—or infamous depending on the person you ask—caused intense controversy regarding its not-so-subtle critiques of Christianity, singling out specific elements in his books, uncaring of the potential backlash. “If there is a God, and he is as the Christians describe him,” Pullman said in 2002 in an interview with The Telegraph, “then he deserves to be put down and rebelled against.”
Any controversy this time, or will he play it safe?
Pullman may have turned 70 this past October, but old age has not made the author lose his convictions in the slightest.
In September 2010, Pullman, along with 54 other public figures such as Terry Pratchett, Stephen Fry, Richard Dawkins, Adele Anderson, and Jonathan Miller, signed an open letter in the Guardian newspaper opposing Pope Benedict XVI’s being given “the honor of a state visit” to the UK. The letter lists several grievances, including Pope Benedict’s opposition to LGBT rights, promotion of segregated education, and the failure to address “the many cases of abuse of children within its own organisation.”
Pullman may very well draw inspiration from current events, as shown in his Twitter’s commentary on the current political climate—if he hasn’t shied away from it before, it’s unlikely that he will start now.