What Excitement Does Tomorrow Bring for a Fan of Fantasy and Sci-Fi?

[Townsend]

I cannot wait!

It should be at my door tomorrow afternoon...the anticipation is almost painful!

 

[neurocomp2003]

lol its 12am and my copy ain't here! I WANT MIDNIGHT DELIVERY.

 

[Townsend]

lol its 12am and my copy ain't here! I WANT MIDNIGHT DELIVERY.

 

[dduardo]

Dude, get over yourself, its only Harry Potter.

 

[Townsend]

Dude, get over yourself, its only Harry Potter.

Sorry, I just feel like a kid...

I love Harry Potter!

 

[Moonbear]

Aww...I just know my copy has been shipped, but don't know exactly when it will arrive. I'm just happy that I know it will show up before I have to fly to Canada at the end of next week; I'm looking forward to reading it on the flight!

 

[Janus]

Dude, get over yourself, its only Harry Potter.

Harry who?

 

[yourdadonapogostick]

ewwwwwwwwww, i have to go wash off all the geekiness that i got on me from this thread...

 

[Pengwuino]

ewwwwwwwwww, i have to go wash off all the geekiness that i got on me from this thread...

me too! ewwwwwwww *chops off eyes*

 

[Townsend]

me too! ewwwwwwww *chops off eyes*

How the heck did you manage to chop off your eyes? Never mind...I don't want to know.

Does your screen print in Braille?

 

[JamesU]

so you all reserved harry potter, even though they will have 1,000 copies at costco tomorrow for less than half the price of what you're all paying.

 

[Townsend]

so you all reserved harry potter, even though they will have 1,000 copies at costco tomorrow for less than half the price of what you're all paying.

I doubt it...but we will see tomorrow.

 

[JamesU]

that's what happened to me when the last book came out.

 

[Townsend]

that's what happened to me when the last book came out.

Well, we will just have to see what happens.

Regards,

 

[Moonbear]

so you all reserved harry potter, even though they will have 1,000 copies at costco tomorrow for less than half the price of what you're all paying.

Well, since Costco membership costs more than the book, I doubt it would turn out cheaper to buy it there. I order most of my books online anyway, and they just happened to be taking the pre-orders when I was ordering some other books, so now I don't have to wait in lines to get it (I ordered enough other stuff at the time that the shipping is free too). If I see it cheaper somewhere, well, I still have the convenience of it being brought to me instead of having to fight off a bunch of kids to get to it. After reading the other 5, I couldn't wait for the paperback version on this one.

(Hey, if Zz can have his Disney obsession, I can have my Harry Potter obsession!)

 

[JamesU]

in vancouver, a local bookstore released 14 copies yesterday as a mistake by the staff. The buyers were given a court order not do disclose any of the information on the book, until it's release tomorrow.

the daily show claimed them "the least busy court in the world'.

 

[Moonbear]

in vancouver, a local bookstore released 14 copies yesterday as a mistake by the staff. The buyers were given a court order not do disclose any of the information on the book, until it's release tomorrow.

the daily show claimed them "the least busy court in the world'.

It was probably for their own protection. Nobody wants to hear from someone else what's in the book anyway! If anyone spoils the story for me before I read it, they should get the death penalty!

 

[JamesU]

well the half blood prince is really harr- oh, you don't want me to spoil the ending...

 

[neurocomp2003]

online is a lot cheapers...its like 40-60 % off. i paid 24 CDN(?20US?)...i doubt costco can beat that price plus you get a rebate from Chapters that could be up to 1000$ ..thus i can by the Kandel Neurosci book that I've been wanting to get and teh ALife conference set and a physics book.

and as for being nerdy and stuff...look at the forum you participate in. Games are nerdy too. and so is reading in itself...so geez.

moonbear:you flying to Canada ? cool wher eyou going to. Mcmaster hospital?

 

[Moonbear]

online is a lot cheapers...its like 40-60 % off. i paid 24 CDN(?20US?)...i doubt costco can beat that price plus you get a rebate from Chapters that could be up to 1000$ ..thus i can by the Kandel Neurosci book that I've been wanting to get and teh ALife conference set and a physics book.

I got it for $17.99 from Amazon, but I don't think it will arrive tomorrow unless they shipped it overnight, which I doubt they did.

moonbear:you flying to Canada ? cool wher eyou going to. Mcmaster hospital?

I have a conference in Quebec City. That's assuming I actually make all my flights (no direct flights, and I know they've been busily overbooking the flights there because the seats were already all assigned for several flights, yet they were still trying to sell me tickets for them ). Stupid conference organizers pick the peak of tourist season. They kept sending out notices to book rooms and flights back in March, before they even had a program out yet! How could anyone book that early when we didn't even know the meeting schedule yet?

 

[Knavish]

I kind of wish I had followed through the HP series.. I feel so left out having nothing to be exited about.

 

[neurocomp2003]

i i did the conversion factor wrong...24.60CDN=18US as listed on amazon...hmm i thought cdn dollar was closer.

 

[siddharth]

The ending is quite unexpected and sudden. I still can't believe what I just read.
In my opinion, the previous books were better.

 

[Smurf]

ewwwwwwwwww, i have to go wash off all the geekiness that i got on me from this thread...

Dude. Look where you are! WHAT DO YOU EXPECT!??

The ending is quite unexpected and sudden. I still can't believe what I just read.
In my opinion, the previous books were better.

Not a fan of twists?

 

[Kakarot]

im like the only one whos never read a hp book or seen any of the movies lmao. ill stick to starwars thanks

 

[siddharth]

Not a fan of twists?

Not this one.
My favorite character as well.
And what about the identity of the Half-Blood Prince? That was another twist few could have expected!

 

[loseyourname]

It was probably for their own protection. Nobody wants to hear from someone else what's in the book anyway! If anyone spoils the story for me before I read it, they should get the death penalty!

Let me take a wild guess. Harry and his pals will be called to adventure. They'll be reluctant at first, but eventually take up the call, pass through some trials, perform supernatural feats, and triumph in the end. Along the way, Harry will learn about himself, develop new abilities or hone existing ones that he didn't realize he was so proficient in. There will be a surprise or two (most likely a central character turning out to be something other than what was first thought). All character and creature types will be borrowed from Tolkein and the plot will be borrowed from Joseph Campbell. Did that ruin it for you? It shouldn't, because every other Harry Potter book followed the exact same formula.

 

[Moonbear]

Let me take a wild guess. Harry and his pals will be called to adventure. They'll be reluctant at first, but eventually take up the call, pass through some trials, perform supernatural feats, and triumph in the end. Along the way, Harry will learn about himself, develop new abilities or hone existing ones that he didn't realize he was so proficient in. There will be a surprise or two (most likely a central character turning out to be something other than what was first thought). All character and creature types will be borrowed from Tolkein and the plot will be borrowed from Joseph Campbell. Did that ruin it for you? It shouldn't, because every other Harry Potter book followed the exact same formula.

Stop it, stop it! La la la la la la la la...*sticks fingers in ears*...I'm not listening!

Okay, I'm laughing my butt off here watching all the kids lined up in costume for a book, and they're all the little geeky kids. Kid's nowadays! At least in my day, kids only dressed up in costume to wait in line to see movies. Harry Potter will take the place of Star Wars for this next generation of geeks.

Take note I'm not quite as crazy as the rest of the folks around here. I pre-ordered online and can contentedly sit here waiting for my shipment. I'm not one of those nuts who pre-ordered at bookstores and spent the wee hours of the morning standing in a line with a number waiting to be called to get their book. What kind of parent let's their kid do that anyway? You show up at midnight and then stand in line until whenever they call your number? Okay, that's nuts...surely the book could have waited at least until morning.

I'm just happy because I have flights with long connections coming up, and a Harry Potter book is perfect for reading in airports.

 

[Astronuc]

Well, I am looking forward to reading the next book, although I wouldn't say I am 'excited'. Probably pick up a copy today.

IMO, the "Goblet of Fire" was probably the best, followed by "Prisoner of Azkaban".

Yes, the stories are remeniscent of the 'Lord of the Rings' and 'Star Wars' - good vs evil, the dark side vs the (positive) force. Nevertheless, the Harry Potter series is appealing - well at least to me anyway.

 

[Knavish]

good vs. evil is a parallel used in, like, everything..

 

[Astronuc]

good vs. evil is a parallel used in, like, everything..

Yeah - as loseyourname pointed out, Joseph Campbell has mentioned that. Temporally transcendent themes.

It all comes down to a matter of choice. One can choose to be good - or otherwise.

 

[dduardo]

*********Spoiler**********

The new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor is: Horace Slughorn

*********Spoiler**********

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Last night there was a news story about this. It was mentioned that the author has probably inspired more children to read than anyone in history.

 

[Townsend]

Last night there was a news story about this. It was mentioned that the author has probably inspired more children to read than anyone in history.

I would agree with that...I might even go so far as to say it for adults as well.

 

[Moonbear]

Last night there was a news story about this. It was mentioned that the author has probably inspired more children to read than anyone in history.

Yes, that's one thing I think is wonderful about these books, something that inspires so many children (and adults) to read can't be bad! And these are some hefty books for children! I think back to the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys mystery series that were so popular when I was young; it's the same sort of popularity where everyone is reading them, so it makes it more fun because the kids can all talk about the books too.

By the way, mine did show up with today's mail. Actually, that might not be a good thing. Now I'll be tempted to start reading as soon as all my household chores are done today (I'm really avoiding cracking it open until then, or else nothing will get done), and I won't have it to read on my flights to Canada! Darn, that means I'll be doing work on the plane, no good excuses not to do it.

Well, I better get back to my chores, I have a book waiting for when I'm done.

(I should just note that I actually wasn't really jumping up and down with excitement when I saw it appear with the mail, just tempted to do so. I have certainly been looking forward to it since reading all the other books this winter, but haven't exactly been counting days until its arrival or anything quite that crazy).

 

[Ivan Seeking]

I would agree with that...I might even go so far as to say it for adults as well.

No kidding. When I traveled a lot for work, I ran across a number of people reading HP that would otherwise never read for pleasure.

I wonder if this is so incredibly popular in part due to a need for fantasy in an increasingly objective world. I'm sure that the books are good but there must be more to it than that. Timing is often a critical factor with phenomena like HP.

 

[Integral]

We received our copy from Amozon today. Looks like it was being held for delivery until after the 15th. Moonbear, I am guessing you got yours also.

Now as soon as our daughter gets finished with it, I will get it started. Should be a quick read.

 

[loseyourname]

I think you're right, Ivan. I'm going to have to write some fantasy novels. Same thing with Star Wars. Modern-day people are enamored of any story about using non-material 'forces' to transcend and defeat the dehumanizing machine - symbolized perfectly by Darth Vader returning to the light side, only to see his cyborg body die and be resurrected as a force ghost. I've never actually read a Harry Potter book. It might be time to see what all the fuss is about.

 

[Townsend]

I've never actually read a Harry Potter book. It might be time to see what all the fuss is about.

You need to read the books...really. You will enjoy them, I promise you that. I hope you didn't watch any of the movies yet, it might lessen the value of the book.

 

[klusener]

Why did my favourite character have to die? :(

I can't read the next book without him, the whole series is just bs without his clever remarks and antics. The middle was too much like a romance novel, but other than that, I have no complaints other than why did he have to die?

 

[JamesU]

oh! I got my copy at fry's for 40% off! they had about a million copies, just stacked there! and I didn't have to pay ship[ping fees like YOU people!

 

[Townsend]

oh! I got my copy at fry's for 40% off! they had about a million copies, just stacked there! and I didn't have to pay ship[ping fees like YOU people!

I had free shipping and 25% off, so you saved a few buck...I am still happy.

 

[neurocomp2003]

23.60 CDN just checked the bill...chapters cheaper than amazon which is weird
apparently some places were going for 15CDN which i find odd but itw as on the news.

Lets see i woke up at 7am to open my door and FFS it wasn't there...opened the door on every our...went to chapters to read it...cuz I've come acrossed to many spoilers. came home and it finally came around 4pm...stupid CANADA post delivery...i'm on page 500 and have to wait till someone else finishes reading it ARG!...i may be a little obsessed but i am also with alife/ai/cogsci/math/phys...
plus I can't stomach the LOTR world and teh language in which its written...and people whoh say things are ripped from LOTR...do they read teh greek books?

 

[Kakarot]

You need to read the books...really. You will enjoy them, I promise you that. I hope you didn't watch any of the movies yet, it might lessen the value of the book.

he had to die as part of a publicity stunt to get more sales for the book of course

 

[Gale]

ok, i went to a book party with my campers the night it came out. and yes we dressed up, and if we're lucky, i'll get a hold of some pictures of me in my hot witches robes and hat!

anyways, i already finished the book as well. yesterday i finished i guess. and ya... I'm sort of unsure about the next book. i know Rowling was saying some things about a possible 8th book? but eh... especially because of what harry said about school next year... i don't know if the last book will... if dunno... feel right or something... eh.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Same thing with Star Wars. Modern-day people are enamored of any story about using non-material 'forces' to transcend and defeat the dehumanizing machine - symbolized perfectly by Darth Vader returning to the light side, only to see his cyborg body die and be resurrected as a force ghost. I've never actually read a Harry Potter book. It might be time to see what all the fuss is about.

Hmmmm, that's an interesting point. Star Wars is a fantasy story of good and evil, right down to the black and white. I always thought of it as sci-fi, but it is in fact fantasy - a distinction that I am usually careful to make. Perhaps this is a matter of a need for a certain density of well told fairy tales with each new generation. The space theme has pretty much run itself out, so something new was needed? So back to Bewitched and Willly Wonka we go?