Radical post...
OK not really a radical statement, but a statement nonetheless. I have read the Golden Compass books twice through now, and I like them better than the Narnia series - A LOT better. And I know the Narnia series VERY well and I didn't see the Golden Compass as a "rebuttal" of any kind. It's an awesome story. I did see a lot of anti-CATHOLIC messages, but it was worth it to me to see God, angels, etc etc, talked about openly. SO cool. And I loved the technology and the scientific concepts.