Disney's The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe movie has its work cut out for it. American church-state separatists are already upset by a contest sponsored by Florida's childhood literacy program that encourages children to read the C.S. Lewis book and maybe win a seat at a special premiere screening of the film. Now, in Lewis' native England, one of today's leading children's fantasists goes on the attack.

Speaking to the Observer, Philip Pullman calls his forerunner's seven-novel series "a peevish blend of racist, misogynistic and reactionary prejudice," adding, "If the Disney Corporation wants to market this film as a great Christian story, they'll just have to tell lies about it." (Meanwhile, New Line's proposed version of Pullman's The Golden Compass continues to make its way slowly through the pre-production process.)