Philip Pullman has written a new book, with an intriguing title, “The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ”.. It’s not published yet, but here’s what he says about it: “The story I tell comes out of the tension within the dual nature of Jesus Christ, but what I do with it is my responsibility alone. Parts of it read like a novel, parts like history, and parts like a fairy tale; I wanted it to be like that because it is, among other things, a story about how stories become stories.” I can’t wait to read it, but some people would have me do just that; here’s how Mr. Pullman answered one of them—

I’ve heard no one make a better or more succinct case for freedom of speech and publishing.

I’ve pre-ordered it from Amazon. I’d encourage you to do the same; I expect neither of us will be disappointed.