EA Updates Harry

EA has annouced that an updated version of the Sorcerer's Stone will be available this fall. The EA Potter offering is being updated from its previous version to work with the latest game consoles.

Fans Face Piracy Charges

A Czech publisher of the Harry Potter books is considering legal action against a group of schoolboys suspected of posting an English to Czech translation of OotP on the internet. The official Czech translation is not slated for publication until February 2004.

I don't Wanna Grow-up...

This op/ed piece by A.S. Byatt in The New York Times takes a look at just why some of us "childish adults" love Harry Potter.

British Home Secretary Upset at Audio Book Price

From the dailyrecord.co.uk:
HARRY Potter fan David Blunkett blasted BBC chiefs yesterday for slapping a £75 charge on tapes of the new book.

The Home Secretary, who was born blind, was outraged to discover the cost - and to find he would have to wait until mid- September to hear them.

Harry Is Here To Stay

Professor Eliza Dresang says Harry is destined for the literary long-haul in this article from The Tallahassee Democrat .

Will kids even recognize the names of these fictional characters or the stories they came from?
At least one Tallahassee scholar says yes. According to Florida State University Professor Eliza Dresang, theContinued...

Newly Discovered Plant Gets 'Potter' Name

As published through EurekAlert:
Harry Potter's influence pervades even the science of plant taxonomy at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Lena Struwe, assistant professor of ecology, evolution and natural resources at Rutgers' Cook College – and a fan of the fictional young wizardContinued...

Audio Book Reviews

The Boston Globe gives the audio version of Order of the Phoenix a positive review, saying it is 'not only as delightful as its predecessors, but reveals more depth of talent than Rowling has previously displayed', while the Philadelphia Inquirer says that at $45 (tapes) and $75 (CDs), the recording is 'well worthContinued...

Teachers Call OotP 'Dead Right'

In an article from news.scotsman.com, teachers hail Order of the Phoenix as 'blistering satire on years of politically motivated interference in the running of schools'. Says Sandy McAulay, head teacher of Leith Academy:
The book sounds about right to me. Many teachers, including me, believe the magic has beenContinued...

134 Characters, 1 Actor

While we wait for TLC Editor Melissa Anelli's interview with Jim Dale, check out this article from the Austin American-Statesman about Mr. Dale's most recent performance - the audio version of Order of the Phoenix.

Keeping Secrets

Buffalo News business reporter Matt Glynn finds out what life was like before June 21st for Digicon, the company that did text layout and image scanning for Order of the Phoenix.

King Gives OotP an "A"

Thanks James, for alerting us that Stephen King's review of OotP that appears in the July 11 issue of Entertainment Weekly is online. You'll need to be either an AOL member or have a special code to get to that link. On it is a special web-only download of King's review in his own handwriting. To quote a small bit:Continued...

'Never Again' Says Times' Writer

The Times' Brian MacArthur reveals 'tortuous negotiations' required in order to interview J.K. Rowling:
"Our self-respect was eroded, our journalistic integrity insulted. Never again," wrote MacArthur in today's Times.

(Editor's Note: This editor wishes The Times a speedy recovery.)

Rival Publishers Happy About Potter

From Reuters:
Rather than envy U.S. Potter publisher Scholastic Corp's success, industry insiders are grateful that Rowling's magic touch has fired up interest in children's books.

Dame Maggie Smith

From This is London, a rare interview with Dame Maggie Smith, in which she comments on her career, her personal life, and her role in Harry Potter.

Why is Harry Potter so successful?

Matt Berman, Children's book columnist for the Times-Picayune, writes:
Many have commented since then (and I'd agree) that the Harry Potter books are not the greatest children's books ever written, not even the greatest fantasies ever written. So why are they the most successful?

Thanks to bumblebee forContinued...