Just over three weeks ago, on 2 November, millennials up and down the country (and all over the world for that matter) nuzzled into their sofas and switched the telly over to BBC One for, arguably, one of the most anticipated viewing experiences of the year. These are the people who grew up with dæmons by their side – albeit imaginary ones – in a world of anbaric lights, whirring gyropters and alethiometers. In Pullmanian spirit, we voyaged north to discover armoured bears and ethereal witches, cut into new worlds with a peculiar knife, and told stories to harpies in the world of the dead.

No matter what their age at present, these eager Dust enthusiasts can be transported back to the world (or worlds) of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials quicker than a young dæmon can flit between forms. This ultimate children’s saga, seen through the eyes of two wild and complex characters, Lyra and Will, has recently been adapted into a new television series by the BBC and HBO. It’s not your usual good-versus-evil tale. Instead, it widened a generation of children’s minds to see beyond that binary, asking its readers to question what “good”, “evil” or even “god” really mean. Though its content is supernatural, its themes are ultimately existential, weaving through a torrent of alternate realities and introducing a cast of fierce, original characters in the process.