The Authority: Exploring the Worlds of His Dark Materials

Latest Episodes:

Æsahættr Dec 29, 2020

Welcome to The Authority, Slate’s deep dive into the world(s) of HBO’s His Dark Materials. Each week, Slate’s scholars of experimental theology Dan Kois and Laura Miller discuss the HBO series and Philip Pullman’s original trilogy. This week, they cover the Season 2 finale, “Æsahættr”, in which Will finally meets his father, Lee Scoresby visits the Alamo, and Mrs. Coulter puts a kid in a trunk. Plus: an interview with Jack Thorne, the adaptor-in-chief of Philip Pullman’s books.

Email: asktheauthority@slate.com

Podcast production by Phil Surkis.

Dan Kois on Twitter: @dankois

Laura Miller on Twitter: @magiciansbook

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Malice Dec 22, 2020

Welcome to The Authority, Slate’s deep dive into the world(s) of HBO’s His Dark Materials. Each week, Slate’s scholars of experimental theology Dan Kois and Laura Miller discuss the HBO series and Philip Pullman’s original trilogy. This week, they cover Episode 6 of Season 2, “Malice,” in which Mrs. Coulter controls Spectres, Lee loses control over his balloon, and Mary Malone spends a nice afternoon reading Let’s Go Cittàgazze. Plus: Actual daemons respond to HBO’s My Daemon app.

Email: asktheauthority@slate.com

Podcast production by Phil Surkis. My Daemon segment written by Marissa Martinelli.

Dan Kois on Twitter: @dankois

Laura Miller on Twitter: @magiciansbook

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The Scholar Dec 15, 2020

Welcome to The Authority, Slate’s deep dive into the world(s) of HBO’s His Dark Materials. Each week, Slate’s scholars of experimental theology Dan Kois and Laura Miller discuss the HBO series and Philip Pullman’s original trilogy. This week, they cover Episode 5 of Season 2, “The Scholar,” in which Will and Lyra steal back the alethiometer, Mary Malone makes a big decision, and a monkey wears a seat belt.

Email: asktheauthority@slate.com

Further reading: Archive of Our Own: Temptress - Chapter 1

Podcast production by Phil Surkis.

Dan Kois on Twitter: @dankois

Laura Miller on Twitter: @magiciansbook

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The Tower of the Angels Dec 08, 2020

Welcome to The Authority, Slate’s deep dive into the world(s) of HBO’s His Dark Materials. Each week, Slate’s scholars of experimental theology Dan Kois and Laura Miller discuss the HBO series and Philip Pullman’s original trilogy. This week, they cover Episode 4 of Season 2, “The Tower of the Angels,” in which Will meets the subtle knife, Lee meets the Hot Priest, and Mary Malone meets Dust. Plus: a deep dive into the Guild of Philosophers and the mysteries of the subtle knife.

Email: asktheauthority@slate.com

Podcast production by Phil Surkis.

Dan Kois on Twitter: @dankois

Laura Miller on Twitter: @magiciansbook

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Theft Dec 01, 2020

Welcome to The Authority, Slate’s deep dive into the world(s) of HBO’s His Dark Materials. Each week, Slate’s scholars of experimental theology Dan Kois and Laura Miller discuss the HBO series and Philip Pullman’s original trilogy. This week, they cover Episode 3 of Season 2, “Theft” in which Will loses Lyra, Lyra loses the alethiometer, and Mrs. Coulter has a meeting of the minds with Lee Scoresby. Plus: a deep dive into the character of Lee and the series’ attempt to give this cowboy aeronaut a tragic backstory.

Email: asktheauthority@slate.com

Podcast production by Phil Surkis.

Dan Kois on Twitter: @dankois

Laura Miller on Twitter: @magiciansbook

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Cave Nov 24, 2020

Welcome to The Authority, Slate’s deep dive into the world(s) of HBO’s His Dark Materials. Each week, Slate’s scholars of experimental theology Dan Kois and Laura Miller discuss the HBO series and Philip Pullman’s original trilogy. This week, they cover Episode 2 of Season 2, “The Cave,” in which Lyra meets Mary Malone, a theoretical physicist in our world. She, and we, make some major discoveries about Dust.

Email: asktheauthority@slate.com

Podcast production by Phil Surkis.

Dan Kois on Twitter: @dankois

Laura Miller on Twitter: @magiciansbook

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The City of Magpies Nov 17, 2020

Welcome to The Authority, Slate’s deep dive into the world(s) of HBO’s His Dark Materials. Each week, Slate’s scholars of experimental theology Dan Kois and Laura Miller discuss the HBO series and Philip Pullman’s original trilogy. It’s a new season, and Lyra and Will aren’t the only people who’ve traveled to entirely different worlds. We all have since the show’s first season ended in 2019. Can Season 2 recapture the magic? We explore the season premiere, “The City of Magpies,” and discuss the architecture of Citàgazze, the growing friendship between Lyra and Will, and the secret powers of witches.

Email: asktheauthority@slate.com

Podcast production by Phil Surkis.

Dan Kois on Twitter: @dankois

Laura Miller on Twitter: @magiciansbook

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Betrayal Dec 24, 2019

Welcome to The Authority, Slate’s deep dive into the world(s) of HBO’s His Dark Materials. Each week, Slate’s scholars of experimental theology Dan Kois and Laura Miller discuss the new HBO series and Philip Pullman’s original trilogy. This week, they’re discussing the season finale, “Betrayal.” Plus, a closer look at New Line’s 2007 attempt to film The Golden Compass with Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig. Why did that movie fail so badly?

Join the conversation:

Email: asktheauthority@slate.com

Dan Kois on Twitter: @dankois

Laura Miller on Twitter: @magiciansbook

Podcast production by Phil Surkis, with engineering assistance from Melissa Kaplan and Asha Saluja.

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The Fight to the Death Dec 17, 2019

Welcome to The Authority, Slate’s deep dive into the world(s) of HBO’s His Dark Materials. Each week, Slate’s scholars of experimental theology Dan Kois and Laura Miller discuss the new HBO series and Philip Pullman’s original trilogy. This week, they’re discussing episode 7, “The Fight To The Death,” in which Lyra travels to Svalbard and meets lofur Raknison, the ruler of the panserbjørne.

Join the conversation:

Email: asktheauthority@slate.com

Dan Kois on Twitter: @dankois

Laura Miller on Twitter: @magiciansbook

Podcast production by Phil Surkis, with engineering assistance from Melissa Kaplan.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Daemon-Cages Dec 10, 2019

Welcome to The Authority, Slate’s deep dive into the world(s) of HBO’s His Dark Materials. Each week, Slate’s scholars of experimental theology Dan Kois and Laura Miller discuss the new HBO series and Philip Pullman’s original trilogy. This week, they’re discussing episode 6, “The Daemon-Cages”, in which Lyra sees firsthand what they’re up to at Bolvanger. Plus: a closer look at intercision.

Join the conversation:

Email: asktheauthority@slate.com

Dan Kois on Twitter: @dankois

Laura Miller on Twitter: @magiciansbook

Podcast production by Phil Surkis, with engineering assistance from Rosemary Belson.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Lost Boy Dec 03, 2019

Welcome to The Authority, Slate’s deep dive into the world(s) of HBO’s His Dark Materials. Each week, Slate’s scholars of experimental theology Dan Kois and Laura Miller discuss the new HBO series and Philip Pullman’s original trilogy. This week, they’re discussing episode 5, “The Lost Boy,” which cuts back and forth between Lyra’s adventures with the Gyptians, and the introduction of the character of Will Parry. Plus: a closer look at the alethiometer.

Recommended reading: His Dark Materials Illuminated

You can also read Laura’s Slate piece on Francis Yates here.

Join the conversation:

Email: asktheauthority@slate.com

Dan Kois on Twitter: @dankois

Laura Miller on Twitter: @magiciansbook

Podcast production by Phil Surkis, with engineering assistance from Rosemary Belson.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Armour Nov 26, 2019

Welcome to The Authority, Slate’s deep dive into the world(s) of HBO’s His Dark Materials. Each week, Slate’s scholars of experimental theology Dan Kois and Laura Miller discuss the new HBO series and Philip Pullman’s original trilogy. This week, they’re discussing episode 4, “Armour,” in which Lyra meets Lee Scoresby and Iorek Byrnison. Plus a deep dive into the mysteries of the Magisterium, with a little Milton and Blake thrown in for good measure.

You can also read Dan’s piece about Lee and Iorek here.

Join the conversation:

Email: asktheauthority@slate.com

Dan Kois on Twitter: @dankois

Laura Miller on Twitter: @magiciansbook

Podcast production by Phil Surkis, with engineering assistance from Rosemary Belson.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Spies Nov 19, 2019

Welcome to The Authority, Slate’s deep dive into the world(s) of HBO’s His Dark Materials. Each week, Slate’s scholars of experimental theology Dan Kois and Laura Miller discuss the new HBO series and Philip Pullman’s original trilogy. This week, they’re discussing episode 3, “The Spies,” with a closer look at the relationship between Lyra and the Gyptians.

Join the conversation:

Email: asktheauthority@slate.com

Dan Kois on Twitter: @dankois

Laura Miller on Twitter: @magiciansbook

Podcast production by Phil Surkis, with engineering assistance from Melissa Kaplan.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Idea of North Nov 12, 2019

The Authority is Slate’s deep dive into the world(s) of HBO’s His Dark Materials. Each week, Slate’s scholars of experimental theology Dan Kois and Laura Miller discuss the new HBO series and Philip Pullman’s original trilogy. This week, they’re discussing episode 2, The Idea of North”, studying the relationship between Lyra and Mrs. Coulter, and a closer look at daemons.

Join the conversation:

Email: asktheauthority@slate.com

Dan Kois on Twitter: @dankois

Laura Miller on Twitter: @magiciansbook

Podcast production by Phil Surkis, with engineering assistance from Melissa Kaplan.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lyra’s Jordan Nov 05, 2019

Welcome to The Authority, Slate’s deep dive into the world(s) of HBO’s His Dark Materials. Each week, Slate’s scholars of experimental theology Dan Kois and Laura Miller discuss the new HBO series and Philip Pullman’s original trilogy. This week, they’re discussing the series premiere; weighing in on the show’s three primary characters, Lyra, Mrs. Coulter, and Lord Asriel; and going in-depth about the complex relationship between Jordan College and the Magisterium.

Join the conversation:

Email: asktheauthority@slate.com

Dan Kois on Twitter: @dankois

Laura Miller on Twitter: @magiciansbook

Podcast production by Phil Surkis, with engineering assistance from Rosemary Belson.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Coming Soon: The Authority on His Dark Materials Nov 01, 2019

Go deeper inside the world of HBO's adaptation of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials. Join Slate's scholars of experimental theology, Laura Miller and Dan Kois, as they discuss Dust, daemons, the Magisterium, and more—and, of course, break down the events of each episode.

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