The cover of Neil Gaiman's upcoming novel Anansi Boys is out, and so are the covers for Harry Potter 6 (Brit and American (What does the rest of the world do?) (And I'm ignoring the separate adult version cover. The whole idea annoys me.)).
I see Dumbledore as more likely to bite the big one in book 7, as a final sacrifice to help Harry defeat he who must not be named. Because we have been set up to know that Dumbledore is the one wizard strong enough to take on Voldemort in the past.
Hmmm... I can see that. The optimist in me keeps hoping that the end of the 7th book will have a reasonably bright outlook for him after graduation, rather than facing dust and ashes. Though other parts of me suspect that he's like a mathematician, peaking early, and doomed to later (relative) obscurity. [There will be so much fanfic on this, I'm sure.]
One thought that occurred to me last night (I've been re-reading the HP books and am now on #5) is that maybe Harry will end up becoming the first permanent defense against the dark arts professor that Hogwarts has seen in quite a while. I could be wrong, but hey, it's a theory.
Cool theory, at that. I wonder... if he became a teacher, would he ever end up with a family of his own? None of the teachers seem to have spouses, much less offspring. Yes, the school family, yadda yadda, but it's not quite the same thing. Or would that be perfect for Harry, who's not had a normative family yet?
Y'know, I never thought about that -- the family issue, I mean. I ran through the list of Hogwarts teachers in my head, and you're right -- none of them seem to have families.
Hmm. I see the final sacrifice as coming from someone unexpected, e.g. Wormtail (OK, perhaps that one's not so unexpected), or maybe, say, Draco Malfoy. Dumbledore, being the wise, powerful mentor figure, has to get out of the way earlier so that Harry ends up facing the final showdown on his own.
It's pretty clear at this point that Harry is a more powerful wizard than Voldemort. Not only do we have the prophecy that more or less says this outright, but there's also the fact that in Goblet of Fire, Harry and Voldemort are twice in a direct contest of wills (the Imperius Curse and the Priori Incantatem effect) and both times Harry wins.
Yes, I agree that Dumbledore has to be gotten rid of so that Harry is truly standing on his own without help or fallback, but I still think that's a Book 7 twist - it's what causes Harry to seek out Voldemort himself, maybe? Y'know, the loss of Yoda or Obi-Wan or whatever that gives him the strength to go on and kick some Dark Lord ass.
But yeah, I was actually thinking it would be Snape who makes the sacrifice for Harry in Book 7. He's being set up for the character with the most interesting soul.
Hey, don't give it away! Not everyone has succumbed to the mass hysteria yet and read the Potter books. (I almost started Chamber of Secrets last night but luckily picked up Cryptonomicon instead.)
No, I wasn't really being serious. Most people have read the Potter books, so I can't really expect to avoid all spoilers. And I'm going to assume Potter always wins in the end, though, since there are all these sequels. ;)
Yup. Grown-ups who want camouflage for their reading. If they so hate the idea of being caught, maybe they should put a brown paper cover on it.
As for Brit/American covers, I know that a lot of books have different covers, and I'd assumed it's all marketing, what the publishing houses think will best sell the book in each place*. I dislike that as well, though partly because in a lot of cases the dictate of "what sells" leads to horribly similar book covers (that don't appeal to me, to boot).
* Heck, it's a lot cheaper to slap a new cover (even easier: dust jacket) on for a new country than to re-edit the whole thing. And that's what's done for the HP books. Which I also find stupid (it's a chance to expand one's language!), but it seems to have worked.
One thing I'm thrilled about: Book 6 (which I've pre-ordered) will be coming out in mid-July, just a few weeks before my due date. So JK Rowling gets to keep me company for part of the time that I'm waiting for baby to arrive. :)
Ah, that's a good reason to spread the news. I hear women often get restless, irritable or impatient in the last stretch, and the prospect of spending time with my nose in a good book sounds like a great remedy.
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Date: 2005-03-08 08:43 am (UTC)I'll repeat here a prediction I made elsewhere a while back: Dumbledore dies in Book 6.
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Date: 2005-03-08 09:35 am (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2005-03-08 09:47 am (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2005-03-09 08:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-03-09 08:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-03-08 10:02 am (UTC)It's pretty clear at this point that Harry is a more powerful wizard than Voldemort. Not only do we have the prophecy that more or less says this outright, but there's also the fact that in Goblet of Fire, Harry and Voldemort are twice in a direct contest of wills (the Imperius Curse and the Priori Incantatem effect) and both times Harry wins.
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Date: 2005-03-08 10:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-03-08 10:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-03-08 12:03 pm (UTC)But yeah, I was actually thinking it would be Snape who makes the sacrifice for Harry in Book 7. He's being set up for the character with the most interesting soul.
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Date: 2005-03-08 08:58 pm (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2005-03-09 07:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-03-08 11:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-03-08 11:55 am (UTC)Grr.
(HP6's looks like this.)
RIGHT.
Date: 2005-03-08 06:50 pm (UTC)*le sigh*
Re: RIGHT.
Date: 2005-03-09 04:03 am (UTC)Blech.
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Date: 2005-03-08 09:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-03-09 04:02 am (UTC)As for Brit/American covers, I know that a lot of books have different covers, and I'd assumed it's all marketing, what the publishing houses think will best sell the book in each place*. I dislike that as well, though partly because in a lot of cases the dictate of "what sells" leads to horribly similar book covers (that don't appeal to me, to boot).
* Heck, it's a lot cheaper to slap a new cover (even easier: dust jacket) on for a new country than to re-edit the whole thing. And that's what's done for the HP books. Which I also find stupid (it's a chance to expand one's language!), but it seems to have worked.
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Date: 2005-03-08 11:45 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-03-08 11:56 am (UTC)(I suspect at least a couple of the other women I know due around the same time you are haven't yet realized this...)
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Date: 2005-03-08 12:32 pm (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2005-03-09 03:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-03-09 06:47 am (UTC)