Microsoft Word final-current Developments at the Intersection of British Children-online-version doc

6.7
 
The current trend 
The recent turn of the millennium preoccupies the authors of British children’s fantasy 
to a great extent. Particularly clear is the demand for spiritual material. Here, conservative, 
moderate or hybrid as well as rebellious ways of approaching theology and ethics are 
juxtaposed. An ethical approach is often considered a more liberal and open, less specific way 
in contrast to a stricter, confession-oriented point of view. Whereas the themes of the 
discussions remain very traditional ones, there is a new openness with which different angles 
are examined and awkward questions are being asked. Rhetoric, philosophy and their 
discourses play an important role in this, as they provide the tools for an ingenious occupation 
with these issues. 
In the selected novels the treatment of faith, the existence and role of God and angels, 
the threat of evil as well as the place of man in this fabric are the primary concerns when it 
comes to spirituality. Various possibilities are addressed and followed through and it 
transpires that, in times of upheaval and crisis as these, the individual search for personal 
happiness and well-being is rated highly. Despite - or perhaps because of - the strong 
influence of globalisation, the role of the individual and his quest for truth
95
and story in view 
of the glut of pieces of information are emphasised. Faith and spirituality, serving as anchors, 
are revealed to provide support and meaningfulness for the individual’s quest. 
6.8
 
“Parasitical” literature 
Wherever there is literature that is successful with critics and audience alike, people 
are trying to imitate it. Of those jumping onto the bandwagon, there are only a few who profit 
from the original work and get new ideas or develop suggested ideas further, finally finding 
their own style in following a model. Le Guin for example was inspired and influenced by a 
fruitful reading of Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings before she created her own distinctive 
Earthsea
cycle. However, there are also those who try to make the most of a trend in 
literature. Mainly for pecuniary advantage these authors plagiarise originals, introducing only 
a few changes of names and places whilst keeping most of the original plot and structure. Due 
to a high degree of conformity of original and imitation the prospects are good for the latter: 
95
Fictional fantasy novels for children and truth are by no means mutually exclusive. On the contrary – the 
otherness of the fantasy worlds introduces so many novelties that consistency, reliability and truth (in the form 
of verifiable facts) are necessary to re-stabilise the individual. In His Dark Materials, Pullman takes up the 
question and the importance of truth. The main character Lyra, “liar”, has to learn that telling the truth is often 
more difficult than telling lies, but also far more rewarding.

---

243 
Readers who enjoy the original novel might buy the imitation since it is apparently so similar. 
These “parasitical”
96
authors and their books thus profit from actual trends and seem to 
constantly be on the outlook for new gaps in the market, quickly filling them with their 
novels.