Somewhere Over the Artic

There has been much of fuss about the upcoming movie, The Golden Compass--similar to the prerelease angst before the movie of The Da Vinci Code came to the big screen. Not having read this fantasy series of novels yet, I've been wondering what all the fuss was about. It seems that the author of the novels is an atheist and some Catholics feel this book is "atheist propaganda". (Note--the screenplay was written by someone else and ends earlier and cheerier than the novel apparently.)

I wonder if they said the same thing about Frank L. Baum? Here's an explanation of all the fuss from today's New York Times. Now I will head to my county library's website to reserve a copy of the book so we can read it before go see this movie over the holidays!