The Authority (His Dark Materials)
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In Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, The Authority is the equivalent of God.
The Authority was the first angel to come into existence, who (according to the angel Xaphania) seized power and claimed to be the creator of the multiverse. He was formed from the substance known as Dust, just like the other angels, but he used his cunning to convince them that he had created them and the worlds.
He rules his various churches and organisations from the Clouded Mountain, a city believed by many in that universe to be Heaven. As he grows older and weaker, the Mountain becomes more and more obscured by cloud.
In his old age, The Authority appoints the tyrannical angel Metatron to act as regent of the Kingdom of Heaven. Metatron grows more powerful than his master. The two are opposed by Lord Asriel, who allies with "fallen" angels such as Xaphania in an attempt to overthrow the divine monarchy and replace it with a Republic of Heaven. However, the Authority has grown weak and senile with age, and has given all of his power to Metatron. During the final battle, the Authority is carried away from the Clouded Mountain on the orders of Metatron. He is imprisoned in a crystal box, which keeps him alive but trapped. Lyra and Will free him with the subtle knife, not knowing he is too weak to survive outside his box, upon which he drifts apart and dies in a moment of happiness and peace.
Many Christian commentators have criticized Pullman's portrayal of God in this way. However, some other readers point out that the Authority is not really God at all, and only set up himself up as God.
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