Antonia - I have avoided Fb until now for two reasons. My younger children are on it, and at that time asked me not to be [nicely] and so was my xh, which was so unlikely that I nearly fell over. But I know I am missing out on some good contacts. It used to be easier to meet up here - we could exchange email addresses, but the rules have changed.
My son was encouraged strongly to go back to NC - he did grad courses while he was an undergrad there, and yes he is bright. But he is now based in London, and with a fantastic gf who is training to be a midwife! So not likely to up sticks and move to the USA, especially as midwives have a much more significant and well established position in the whole birth process in Europe.
What I like about Pullman is that he writes intelligent fantasy. Have you read any of Doris Lessing's fantasy/sf works. I think they are terrific, but she got a lot of stick for straying outside 'conventional' fiction.
I always think that fiction is the creation of other worlds, and that fantasy, well written, is an extension of this. Ursula le Guin is a favourite of mine too. I love the way she plays with the idea of gender in books like 'The left hand of darkness'
And yes, in some ways MLC is like a kind of enchantment, a willingness to leave your old life and go off with the fairy folk. The dangers are made very explicit, but so is the allure! And that is what the lbs doesn't see. A wise friend of mine who has dealt a lot with drug addicts told me that drugs make you feel wonderful - at the time - and that is often overlooked. These people feel trapped and failures, and so they seek a drug of choice.
Stories of fairy tell us that there is always a price, often payable at the exit. But sometimes during the process.
Think of 'The Snow Queen' and 'The Little Mermaid'
