Langford (nice bloke, deaf as a post) has been in the business far longer than JK and knows a lot more about the field than she does. If anyone can reliably pick out the many sources that have "inspired" the background and plot of the Harry Potter books, it's him. Rowling is a literary lightweight despite her success and Langford has probably forgotten more about fantasy writing that she'll ever know (or admit to knowing for that matter).

The American's aren't going to get this, Guy...

Once described as "The great grandpappy of British ISPs" (El Reg) and Cixen as knowing "the wingspans of every post-war prop aircraft, which Radio 4 comedy shows are objectively amusing, and why you should not be wanting to do that with your shelf units" (NTK.net). CIX still provides a knowledgeable haven from the increasingly US centric ranting, flaming and trolling that seems to have taken over every internet based forum.

Rowling's remarks now remind me of something I thought when there was that spat between her and Terry Pratchett a few years ago, which is that she is a fantasy author who is not really part of the community of fantasy authors.

Here is Rowling's actual statement:

http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/

She never said anything about speculative books. Her comments were directed *only* at people who have actual information from the last book.

What actually happened there was Pratchett took issue with some comments made by a journalist, and then the BBC reported it as Pratchett attacking Rowling. Here's Pratchett's explanation for those who didn't read the actual letter:

http://www.wizardnews.com/story.20050802.html

Maybe the book is filled with so much and covers the entire gammut of sub-plots, twists and themes that it'll be like a short term version of predictions.

Thankfully the Potter faithful won't have to wait so long to truly find out, but for many it sure feels like an age.

The best way to write a book of predictions is to make sure everything occurs a very long time in the future when a) language will have changed its meaning and there-fore be able to be twisted to fit the occasion b) well out of the living memory time frame. Of course you may not get rich for such books, but it's nice to see your name in print sometimes.

The word dumbeldore is used in Tales of Tom Bombadil, which is surely the origin of the name. No doubt re-reading the relevant poem would provide imortant clues about Dumbeldore's fate.

It's an old word for bumblebee.

Did we all forget to just read and enjoy? Harry Potter was written as a kid's book - not a fantasy book. Makes me sad that we can no longer simply suspend disbelief and lose ourselves in a great story. Maybe that's why she writes for kids? Because they still can...

"Harry Potter was written as a kid's book - not a fantasy book."

Huh???

Ahmed

http://ahmedakhan.blogspot.com