Dumbledore Was Gay

J. K. Rowling's revelation:

"Dumbledore is gay," she said, adding he was smitten with rival Gellert Grindelwald, who he beat in a battle between good and bad wizards long ago.

Later she added that she regarded her novels as a "prolonged argument for tolerance."

I wonder how various conservative Christian groups who have opposed her books will react to this revelation. And can you imagine the fan-fic this will now spawn on various sites?

Rowling too is alive to fan-fic possibilities: "Oh, my god," Rowling, 42, concluded with a laugh, "the fan fiction".

The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter — a Theme Park

[. . .] Warner Brothers and Universal studios plan to take fans of the schoolboy magician on another (expensive) adventure with the creation of a billion-dollar park in Orlando, Florida.

The film-makers believe that they can recreate the dream of every child reader, and probably a few million adults too, who have imagined themselves flying in a game of Quidditch or walking into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for a lesson in spells rather than spelling.

[. . .]

Rowling has been involved in the project from the beginning. She said yesterday: “The plans I’ve seen look incredibly exciting, and I don’t think fans of the books or films will be disappointed.”

There are plans for visitors to wander through a lifesize Hogwarts Castle, encountering some of the characters and seeing “magic” recreated in front of them. There will also be Forbidden Forest and the village of Hogsmeade, home to wizards and magical creatures, with its steep roofed slate-and-stone buildings and eccentric shops selling broomsticks, cauldrons, wands and magic potions. The Hogwarts Express will be steaming away at the rail station. [. . .]

Details here and here.

If you Want to Understand Inequality Today . . .

. . . you must first understand Harry Potter.

Alex Tabarrok writes in Marginal Revolution:

[. . .] Rowling's success brings with it inequality. Time is limited and people want to read the same books that their friends are reading so book publishing has a winner-take all component. Thus, greater leverage brings greater inequality. The average writer's income hasn't gone up much in the past thirty years but today, for the first time ever, a handful of writers can be multi-millionaires and even billionaires. The top pulls away from the median.

The same forces that have generated greater inequality in writing - the leveraging of intellect, the declining importance of physical labor in the production of value, cultural and economic globalization - are at work throughout the economy. Thus, if you really want to understand inequality today you must first understand Harry Potter.

And Thus it Begins . . .

Image From: The Leaky Cauldron

The cover artwork of the seventh Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows, is released.

And of course the cover art has summaries.

Time for Potter-maniacs to go crazy. The insanity that whips itself around this series (with all of us doing our little bit to add to it) is simply amazing.

I am already looking forward to nice long discussions with a couple of fellow potter fans during chai-time (and some over IM) in office tomorrow.

Looking to read more on Harry Potter? Click here.

Books I am Looking Forward to in 2007

The Guardian, on the last day of the last year, put up a list of books that one can look forward to this year. Most of it is pretty high-brow stuff, fiction and non-fiction both included. I doubt if I'll pick much (or anything at all) from Guardian's list.

One book, this year, that I am definitely looking forward to, as must be a large number of crazy muggles, is the seventh and final Harry Potter book. Rowling is reportedly still working on the book titled Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows but it is expected to be in the bookshops by July 2007. Fans will have to wait till then to find out if Harry Potter is bumped off (Don't fret, it's nothing to worry about).

Fans of fantasy fiction however don't have to wait till July 2007 to get their fix. Sometime before the marketing machine behind the final Potter book goes into overdrive, the third book of the very impressive Percy Jackson and the Olympians series will be available. The Titan's Curse, is scheduled for release on May 1, 2007 and I am eagerly looking forward to reading it (I am probably more eager for this book than I am for the final Potter). As I mentioned it here, the basic premise of the Percy Jackson books, because it is so much different from the usual fantasy fare, makes the books refreshing and interesting and I feel in Percy Jackson, both the books and the character, there are the makings of a classic in the fantasy genre. You can download the first chapter of The Titan's Curse as read by the author here.

There are also rumors that the third and final book of Christopher Paolini's Inheritance Trilogy will be published this year. Readers will remember that Book II of the series, Eldest, ends with an ominous twist that promises a dangerous journey into the heart of King Galbatorix's domain this time for a rescue and for revenge. And there are many questions to be answered: Who will be the third dragon rider? How will that change the power equations in Alagaësia? What is Eragon's Inheritance? Definitely a book to look forward to.

I am also hoping Samit Basu, this year, will come out with the final volume of The Gameworld Trilogy. The Simoqin Prophecies and The Manticore's Secret count amongst the best of what I have read in SF&F. And I love Basu's irreverent and subversive take on the genre and its conventions. In spirit I would compare Basu's books to the Percy Jackson series — very, very clever. But it's the kind of cleverness that makes you smile and grin in delight. Awesomely enjoyable and I confess, of all the books listed here, the one I most definitely don't want to miss. I fervently hope that the book is published this year.

2007 should be a good year for fans of fantasy fiction.

Which book are you waiting for?

How Harry Potter Might die, but the Potter Series Will Continue

Yesterday some of us got together at a friend's place for an evening of doing nothing. Three of us were at the said venue on time only to come to know that the rest of the gang would be late --- they being conscientious contributors to India's GDP.

No sweat. Some snacks were duly brought out, a few drinks distributed and we got down to the serious business of the evening -- talking. And with three Potter fans getting together the discussion quickly veered to the important and sensational (to Potter fans) news reports of a few days earlier: Will J. K. Rowling bump off Harry Potter in book 7? Who are the two important characters that she has promised will pay with their lives? If not Harry, then who? Why Harry has to die? Why Harry doesn't have to die? And in the event of Harry's death what will happen if a few years later Rowling feels the need for some extra small change and has to resurrect the series?

Opinions flew thick and fast.
"Yeah, but she said that she understood why some writers killed off their creations."
"It's only a red herring. She does that often."
"Well, then if not Harry, then who?"
"Voldemort is a sure."
"I think she meant apart from Voldemort, there will be two more deaths."
"She never said that."
"But that's what she meant."
"Who else will die?"
"Snape. He will sacrifice himself."
"Ron."
"Hermione."
"Harry. She said . . ."
"Hagrid and Lupin."
"McGonagall."
"Don't be absurd. And she's hardly that important."
"Well Harry then. She did say that she wanted to leave no possibility of . . ."
"That's bull. Am sure she'll leave herself a back door that she can use to restart the series after a few years."
"Ginny. Ginny is a strong possibility. . ."

More along the same lines till, "Hang on guys. I have an idea." That was Ang.
"See our basic problem is we don't think Rowling will find it easy to give up writing Potter books, right?"
"Right."
"Yet she might bump off Harry, because right now it looks like she wants to, right?"
"Right."
"So it all boils down to how Rowling can bump off Harry to satisfy herself and yet leave open the possibility of a sequel, right? "
"Right."

"Here's how she can achieve both her ends. . ."

Over the next few minutes, Ang proceeded to outline her idea. When she stopped Ro and I looked at each other.
"It's good, yup."
"Simple and beautiful."

The three of us then got down to polishing Ang's idea into a finished product. This is what we think will happen in Book 7:

Times are bad in the wizarding world as well as for the muggles. Members of the Order of Phoenix and aurors of the Ministry of Magic are out fighting the death eaters on the streets. Muggles are dying. The wizarding community is scared.
Meanwhile Harry along with Ron and Hermione sets out to find and destroy the other horcruxes of Voldemort. They find all the horcruxes but one. And though they search long and hard the three still don't locate the last horcrux. Throughout his "quest," Harry is worried about Ginny. He knows that Voldemort would have by now come to know that the two are more than just friends. The death of Lupin adds to his glum outlook. The three finally give up and return to Hogwarts. Harry is reunited with Ginny.
The danger is still growing. Fearing that Harry or possibly Ginny might be attacked in school, McGonagall and the other members of the Order of the Phoenix convince Harry to go underground. Harry and Ginny can't bear to be separated and so Ginny also accompanies Harry into hiding. Ron agrees to be their secret keeper and Hermione performs the complex Fidelius charm.
Much is well (for Harry and Ginny) after this. They are sequestered away from Voldemort and so well hidden that he can't find them. They also know that this peace in their lives is temporary and precious and make the most of it.
Voldemort, angry at being unable to find Harry or Ginny, guesses correctly that they have been hidden by using the Fidelius charm. His agents soon get him the name of the secret keeper. Ron is captured. Voldemort threatens to throw Ron in a pit full of spiders and that is enough leverage. Ron reveals Harry's and Ginny's hiding place.
Voldemort reaches it, blasts the door with a spell and comes face to face with Ginny. This time he doesn't spend time talking and unleashes the death curse on Ginny. Harry who is the next room comes running in and jumps in front of Ginny, meanwhile unleashing a curse of his own. Harry's curse kills Voldemort.
Harry is killed by the curse that Voldemort had unleashed on Ginny. In the process, he not only saves Ginny but also their unborn son ("Hang on, they are only kids. . .one's 17 and Ginny's 16." "So?" "But they are too young to have . . ." "Don't be squeamish. Anyways, don't wizards and witches come of age when they are 16?" "Do they?" "Doesn't matter. There are enough teenage pregnancies happening in the world, now its happening in the wizarding world too." "Gross." "Maybe Rowling can explain it away as artistic license." "Whatever."), but his sacrifice also leaves its indelible mark on the yet unborn child. This is ancient (and hence, inexplicable) magic at work.
With Voldemort's death the wizarding world can breath easy. A number of death eaters are captured or killed. The others are believed to have fled to the United States and lost themselves in that muggle dominated society. Members of the Order of the Phoenix and Harry's surviving friends start rebuilding their lives. Ron is forgiven, but he is so filled with remorse that he takes up the position of Assistant Gamekeeper at Hogwarts. Hermione, joins Hogwarts as a teacher, to be as near Ron as possible. A sad (and pregnant) Ginny returns to the Weasley household.
At the end of book 7, Harry Potter Jr. is born and, like his illustrious father, on his forehead is a lightning-shaped scar.

Now fast forward to the time when Rowling (or someone else) decides to renew the Potter series. Well, now it's easy.

Remember Voldemort is vanquished, but one of the horcruxes was never found. There are rumors that the dark forces are gaining in strength preparing for the coming of the dark lord. Other rumors contend that the dark lord has already back and that this time he is looking for world domination. The fight is assuming truly global proportions. A major fight between the still active members of the Order of the Phoenix and the Voldemort's death eaters in the city of Mumbai on July 26, was masked as a cloudburst by the Ministry of Magic. Thankfully there were very few muggle deaths. But the fight in New Orleans spiraled so much out of control that it had to be masked as a hurricane and a bad case of disaster management by the muggles (There are whispers that the horrific events of 9-11 in the muggle dominated United States were actually death eaters announcing their presence). In certain areas of the world skirmishes between the Phoenix members and the death eaters now are so frequent and so brutal that it is difficult to make out who are the good guys and who are evil. Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine are notable examples of the rising turmoil in the wizarding world. Harry potter Jr. is now 11 and ready to begin his training in Hogwarts.Times, indeed, are dark. The world is in need of a savior.
Book 8 of the Potter series begins with these lines, "He was born with a gift . . . he was special . . . like his father."

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Warning: Mild spoilers ahead. If you belong to that part of the world that hasn't read Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince yet, you may consider not reading any further.

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How good is Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince?

If you like the Harry Potter series and have followed it like a fan you will find the book awesome. I did. After (a disappointing) The Order of the Phoenix, this was the kind of book we were waiting for and Rowling delivers. Rowling gives us a book that has the readers straining at the leash for the next one. It is immensely enjoyable and like the earlier ones you can go through each and every line with a magnifying glass and still be unable to tell what it is that makes it so. At the end of the book, there are a number of thoughts and emotions running through your mind. But the dominant feeling is that of impatient yearning -- for the next installment.

People who however complain about the Potter books, will also find a lot in this one to kvetch about. If there is one thing I would crib about this book is that while it gives us a lot of information on the various plots in the Potter universe, it doesn't give us enough. If all the plot strands in the series have to be neatly tied up in the last book, it's going to be a tome at least twice the size of Book six.

The book starts off, not at Privet Drive, but in the office of the (nameless) muggle British Prime minister awaiting a meeting with the minister of magic. All is not right with the wizarding world and the magic and sinister happenings of the magical world have started impacting the world of muggles. Rowling, one would expect, is only establishing the the tone for the book here.

But then Professor Dumbledore appears at Privet Drive to personally escort Harry to the Weasley's home -- The Burrow and we know that things have gone really bad in the wizarding world. The next few pages further establish the troubled times. A number of arrests have been made. Some established shops in Diagon Alley have been boarded up -- the whereabouts of their owners is not known. And the Daily Prophet brings in regular news about people going missing or getting killed -- some of them from the families of Harry's classmates.

Rowling then quickly takes us to Hogwarts and that's where most of the action of the book happens as Rowling deftly arranges the pieces in her gigantic jigsaw. From then on the main purpose of this book is very straight and simple -- set the stage for an humdinger of a seventh book and Rowling achieves this admirably.

For starters, Dumbeldore takes upon himself the job of preparing Harry for his final confrontation with Voldemort. And he doesn't do it by instructing Harry in advanced spellwork but by answering a number of questions and resolving some of the mysteries raised in the earlier book and supplying Harry with the information that will eventually help him when he confronts Voldemort for the final duel.

Rowling uses the overall search for the identity of the Half Blood Prince to maneuver characters and the various strands of the Potter plot into position.The dominant theme of The Half Blood Prince is the tying up of loose ends in preparation for the final narrative to come.

The sub themes are also strong and all lead to the seventh book. Relationships established earlier and new ones (Harry finally finds his girl) are as crucial as ever. These will matter in the times to come. The characters are all grown up. Harry is quieter and more sure of himself and what he is meant to be. A central character dies and the death makes Harry accept the "larger call," the "quest" (if you may call it that) which he has to undertake and fulfill. Importantly his friends are with him.

There are a number of other things even more subtle that add up and may (or will be) be of essence for the next book. Ginny emerges as a very strong character. Snape has suddenly become central and might play the most crucial role in the coming book. The Weasley twins are brought in to show their genius at invention and their inventiveness might play a part in the next book. A number of earlier important characters -- like Mad Eye Moody and Wormtail -- are mentioned and will probably line up on either sides for the battle that's to follow.

The book ends with a number of dramatic episodes that will stagger Potter fans. The Order of the Phoenix is rudderless. The enemy has grown stronger. Hogwarts might not open for the next year. And even if it does, Harry might not come back to school.

The seventh book is going to be awesome.

Wonder when that'll be in my hands.

Yes, the sixth book is just that good -- it makes you long for more. And after I finish tackling this blizzard of owl posts (it started pouring SMSes the minute I switched my cell on yesterday) -- I can't believe Snape did that! / What will happen to Ginny? / Will Harry die? / Do you think Harry is also a horcrux? / Will Harry kill himself? / Who the hell is R.A.B? -- I think I will go and read The Half Blood Prince again.

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Meanwhile, if you think that this post has been too gushing about HP6, you can read an alternative view here.

Update: More on HP6: here and here.

technorati tag(s): Harry Potter: And the Half Blood Prince

A Bit Potty About Potter: Awaiting the Sixth Harry Potter Book

Another two and a half days to go. For what? Oh, it's the weekend, yes. But it is THE Weekend. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince releases this Saturday. Have been waiting for this weekend since I booked the book (bad one, I know) . . . since I pre-ordered the book about a month and a half back. As did another of my colleagues. And a few (many) others in the office.

This week we finally dropped the pretense of serious, responsible adults. Talk during chai-time (or for that matter any time) around the pantry table revolves only around the Boy who lived. We have had serious hour-long discussions (and project deadlines be damned) about which character will Rowling bump off this time - Hagrid and Dumbledore seem to the favorites, though Ron and anyone else from the rest of the Weasley family are also considered to have the requisite bump-off quotient. People have held summit meetings to consider the possibility of Voldemort finally attacking the Dursley household. And we've had a few round tables centered around the new DADA teacher. Harry's love-life has been dissected and analyzed more than we have ever discussed any of our colleagues. Who will Harry hook-up with this time? Ginny? Luna? Hermione? What then happens to Ron and Hermione angle?

People have already planned their weekends and most of us are thinking of little else than being at the bookshop the minute it opens, picking the book and then shutting ourselves off from the world. I will have to come all the way from Ambernath to Andheri to pick up my copy (Don't want to wait till Monday). I figure that I will read a goodish bit on my journey home. And then through the day and the night and the next day if necessary. The cell-phone will be switched off and will be switched on again only after I have read the book (Don't want anyone to call/SMS any spoilers). The Sis-in-law has been told to tell all callers and friends that I am unavailable (A friend who has returned from a long sojourn from the US of A has been told that he can meet me only on the next weekend -- and yes, he did question my friendship. It cut no ice). The brother has been told that he will have to wait for me to finish before he sets his eyes on the book. Project Managers who have (and some who still will) questioned my devotion and dedication (and of other like-minded colleagues) have been firmly told that there will be no work happening this weekend. I have heard that one persistent PM was threatened with violence. And that somebody else shouted expecto patronum at another PM.

On my way back home yesterday I lectured two of my friends on the Potter universe. One tried to change tracks and talk of Dan Brown and The Da Vinci Code, but he was not allowed to succeed.

Any worries over the next two days? Yup! Fear that the monsoon that has taken a break for now might return with a vengeance and halt the trains and the traffic. But that will not stop me.

What am I doing till the weekend then? Have decided not to read any of the earlier Potter books so that no Potter fatigue sets in (Not that it is possible, but why take a risk). Actually need the time to read project documents. Have been sneaking time every few hours to read other blog posts and past reviews on Potter, visit Rowling's site, read stuff like this and this and this and this. Have been visiting various sites to feel the buzz and stumbled across this interesting one: The Alternative Harry Potter Project.

And there's always the chai-break and the pantry table for another round of animated Potter talk.

Two and a half days to go. Suddenly there is much to look forward to in this life.

technorati tag(s): Harry Potter: And the Half Blood Prince