Name: Daemon Voices
ISBN: 9781910200964

Philip Pullman

In over thirty essays, written over twenty years, one of the world's great storytellers meditates on storytelling. Warm, funny, generous, entertaining and, above all, deeply considered, they offer thoughts on a wide variety of topics, including the origin and composition of Philip Pullman's own stories, the craft of writing and the storytellers who have meant the most to him.

Essays on Storytelling

Daemon Voices

From the internationally best-selling author of the His Dark Materials trilogy, a spellbinding journey into the secrets of his art--the narratives that have shaped his vision, his experience of writing, and the keys to mastering the art of storytelling. One of the most highly acclaimed and best-selling authors of our time now gives us a book that charts the history of his own enchantment with story--from his own books to those of Blake, Milton, Dickens, and the Brothers Grimm, among others--and delves into the role of story in education, religion, and science. At once personal and wide-ranging, Daemon Voices is both a revelation of the writing mind and the methods of a great contemporary master, and a fascinating exploration of storytelling itself.

On Stories and Storytelling

Some decent essays here and there. These types of books are always a little hit and miss by design. Pullman's observations about writing the exciting bits in red, folktales, and republican stories were all very interesting. I also quite like Pullman's take on religion and comments that make you think deeply about the intention's of authors and how critical stories are to life. I also appreciated this comment about not avoiding the obvious in stories, it's something that we're too often told to not do, but I think he made some great points that the obvious is not bad in stories. I am a bit on the fence on his take about people who say they're not religious but rather "spiritual". Intellectually I do find myself agreeing with Pullman out of principle, yet at the same time I think the viewpoint is somewhat dismissive, maybe too unsympathetic to how often the human mind wiggles into different beliefs and out of them, we all tell ourselves stories about religion and life, much to our own delusion, though that doesn't make it any less valid an experience or choice. 

I mostly can't go higher than 3 stars and would go lower, only because these types of books just aren't that gripping. It's a collection of essays and talks and some hit better than others, or pertain more to one interest than another. Not at all bad overall though. 

BC Hark

Some decent essays here and there. These types of books are always a little hit and miss by design. Pullman's observations about writing the exciting bits in red, folktales, and republican stories were all very interesting. I also quite like Pullman's take on religion and comments that make you think deeply about the intention's of authors and how critical stories are to life. I also appreciated this comment about not avoiding the obvious in stories, it's something that we're too often told to not do, but I think he made some great points that the obvious is not bad in stories. I am a bit on the fence on his take about people who say they're not religious but rather "spiritual". Intellectually I do find myself agreeing with Pullman out of principle, yet at the same time I think the viewpoint is somewhat dismissive, maybe too unsympathetic to how often the human mind wiggles into different beliefs and out of them, we all tell ourselves stories about religion and life, much to our own delusion, though that doesn't make it any less valid an experience or choice. 

I mostly can't go higher than 3 stars and would go lower, only because these types of books just aren't that gripping. It's a collection of essays and talks and some hit better than others, or pertain more to one interest than another. Not at all bad overall though. 

On Stories and Storytellling

Sofia Diaz

This collection of short essays reminded me why i started writing in the first place

Rob Winters

FROM THE INTERNATIONALLY BEST-SELLING AUTHOR OF HIS DARK MATERIALS AND THE BOOK OF DUST COMES A SPELLBINDING JOURNEY INTO THE SECRETS OF HIS ART Warm, entertaining, and above all thought-provoking, Daemon Voices provides a remarkable insight into the mind of one of our greatest writers. He explains which storytellers have meant the most to him, including William Blake and John Milton, why their work has resonated with him, and how it has inspired his own thinking. In over 30 essays, written over 20 years, Philip Pullman reveals the narratives that have shaped his vision, his experience of writing, and the keys to mastering the art of storytelling.

Daemon Voices Essays on Storytelling

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