 Fantasy: June 29, 2005 Issue [#443] |
 
Fantasy
This week: Edited by: rose_shadow
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"A lady (and, what makes the story more piquant, she herself was a Jungian psychologist by profession) had been talking about a dreariness which seemed to be creeping over her life, the drying up in her power to feel pleasure, the aridity of her mental landscape. Drawing a bow at a venture, I asked, 'Have you any taste for fantasies and fairy tales?' I shall never forget how her muscles tightened, her hands clenched themselves, her eyes started as if with horror, and her voice changed, as she hissed out, 'I loathe them.' "
-C. S. Lewis, Of Other Worlds: Essays and Stories
Let us all hope that we never end up like this poor woman  .
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July 16 - Let the Mania Begin!
It's a little early, but the fever sweeping the world has caught me too! In case you're totally oblivious to what I'm talking about, check out your local bookstore. There's probably a big sign or stand near the front of the store that announces that happiest of days... July 16, the day when J.K. Rowling's sixth, and second to last, installment of the hugely popular Harry Potter series will be released!
This newsletter will hopefully give you everything you need to know as you prepare for the big day  . There will be no spoilers here as far as plot clues and so on, but there will probably be spoilers for any of the previously published books, so beware!
 Known Facts About the Upcoming Book
 Title: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Length: 672 pages (US edition)
Any new characters?: One that we know of. J.K. Rowling's official website gave his name as McClaggen. Whether he's the title character, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, or just someone that Harry meets is unknown.
What does the cover look like? Check it out here: http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/MTarchives/005562.html
Is Harry the Half-Blood Prince? According the JK Rowling... no. Neither is Voldemort--er You-Know-Who .
What else do we know is going to happen?
Assuming that events in Book 6 follow the same general pattern as the other books, these things are likely to occur:
 Harry will be in his sixth year at Hogwarts in book six. The events of book six will presumably take place between July, 1996 and the end of June, 1997.
Neville will need another wand to replace his father's wand that which was broken in the Department of Mysteries. Perhaps with his own wand his magic will be of better quality?
At the end of June 1996, Hermione's year-long ban on Rita Skeeter's writing will end.
"Ministry...guides to elementary home and personal defense...will be delivered free to all wizarding homes [by the end of July] (OOTP, Chapter 38)." Depending on the definition of "wizarding home", this may come as a bit of a shock to the families of Muggle-born students such as Dean Thomas, who hasn't kept his family informed about the various dangerous happenings at Hogwarts in the last few years (OOTP, Chapter 11).
In July 1996, each of the returning sixth year students will receive an owl with their Ordinary Wizarding Level results and Harry will find out if he can continue his quest to become an Auror.
In September, Hermione will turn 17 and in March of the coming school year, Ron will turn seventeen. That means they'll be of age in the wizarding world and old enough to obtain a license to Apparate.
According to Rowling, there will be a new Minister of Magic, but it won't be Arthur Weasley.
Before arriving at school, Harry will encounter or hear about someone who will be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher (this has happened in each book so far, usually before he even leaves on the train).
Harry will start NEWT-level classes, which will include Potions [if he got a high-enough O.W.L. score] but not Divination [presuming he continues in his quest to be an Auror]. We'll also learn what career paths Hermione and Ron have chosen.
In Transfiguration, the sixth years will start learning human transfiguration spells (OOTP).
What writing lessons can we learn from JK Rowling?
 Characters are vital. If you don't have interesting characters, your plot, no matter how well crafted, will flop. Your characters need flaws; no reader can identify with a perfect character. For example, one of Harry's flaws is his pig-headed pride which got him into a lot of trouble in Order of the Phoenix.
Don't listen to the popular voice. If JK Rowling had been worried about what her readers would think about certain aspects of her story (including the death of a certain character), then the books would be much different and not as good as they are now. Writers cannot be afraid to do what is necessary for the sake of good writing.
-Come join the Harry Potter discussion and speculation!
-Go test your knowledge of the HP books! It's a fun quiz
- Shameless, I know, but hey, it's good art that needs to be seen. 
Also, just a reminder that you can now see past issues of my newsletters here: "Invalid Item"
 Moira's Fantasy Book Pick of the Month
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Amazon's Price: $ 7.14
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I was in high school when the excitement about the publication of the fourth Harry Potter book ('The Goblet of Fire') came out and that was the first time I ever really took notice of the series. Curious about the hype, I checked out the first in the series, [[ Product review #106216 does not exist. ]], and the rest is history .
Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
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This week's question: Are you doing anything special July 16? (Like a party at a bookstore, or simply reading all day, etc)
Previous question:
Has there been any particular book helpful to your writing?
From: Puditat  
Moira, I am reading a book right now that has been the most helpful to me. I haven't read many books on writing, but this one is rejuvenating the way I attack my novels. "Write Away" by Elizabeth George is a refreshing look at the way to write a novel. Half a chapter and I am inspired to just get to and write.
From: Tagra
I think a lot of good authors study their topic (like history for your fantasy culture) - plus the libary has got to be the best place to brain storm.
One other thing, I think the best fantasy series is 'The wheel of time' by Robert Jordan.
I was just wondering how many other fantasy fan's like Jordan?
Tagra
From: rssn_grnstrp
Now, I actually haven't finished my stories yet (I've got three in the making, and about four on the way), but I think Brian Jaques has really influenced my writing. It was a fanfic of one of his stories that I wrote for school that really opened up my taste for writing. He uses believable characters in belivable situations, even if the characters aren't human. He has a way of making you sympathise with the characters, from the warlord struggling to siege Redwall to the warrior trying to save it. Plus, his stories are just fun to read!
From: Sarah Rae 
"Ella Enchanted". It's perhaps a younger fantasy story, but it's a childhood favorite, one that's stuck with me. Whenever I get stuck with writers block, I'll pick up the book and read my favorite parts to relax and soon I'm writing again!
From: The Shawnshank Redemption
For the Question of the Week:
If I was to chose one book to be most influential on my writing I would have to choose Stephen King's "On Writing".
Although he has a good deal of tips for writing, I felt the best part of the book was the first half of it where he goes over what it was that inspired him to become an author. It still cracks me up to think his first published book was a story filled with characters he neither really liked or could connect to.
He says it best: "Just because you might not like a character, or think something is too hard to work through emotionally, doesn't mean you shouldn't quit writing. Sometimes the best writing comes from moments when you don't think you can write a letter more." (I paraphrased from my own memory, sorry for the butchering)
From: Karen Rump
Q of the Week:
Yes, the Eddingses for sparking the hilarity-fantasy type, and Sailormoon. (Don't laugh). It may have been a manga, but it had such depth to it that I could not come away from it without learning more than I could take. That was what started me on Fantasy, truly.
From: Izkata
Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's "The Death Gate Cycle" is a 7-book series published back in 1990-1991, with a bit of an unusual approach on Magic, and a great ending storyline.
It certainly changed my mind on many subjects, not only Fantasy writings
From: niah
"This Weeks Question"
Well, I recently read "Writing - A Memoir of the Craft" by Stephen King. This book is like a really big treasure box - I recommend it to everybody. It's fun to read and does have some very good points. It certainly help me improve my writing!
From: Elizabeth Anne Ensley
Hi! http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=limyaael might help give you a few ideas. She's been on fantasy rants lately but she has excellent articles posted to her lj. "Aside from reading other genres of fiction, be sure to include a healthy dose of non-fiction like history and mythology." By that I think you also mean articles and hers might give you a few ideas for future articles too.
From: Mindy14
I started reading David Eddings' Belgariad series when I was 12. It was the beginning of my love of fantasy, and I'd recommend the Belgariad to any one in search of a good read!
- and thanks for the newsletter, once again!
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