Date: Fri, 18 Apr 2003 10:38:38 -0400
From: "Michael Walsh" <MJW at mail.press.jhu.edu>
To: <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: Anti-Potterism
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>

> StrongL at MTMC.ARMY.MIL 04/18/03 10:18AM
>	An amusing interpretation of Oz, but I doubt that it's really what
>the Royal Historian intended.
>	Getting back to my original question, it appears that Harry Potter
>is objectionable and the Wizard of Oz was perviously objectonable, but
>Tolkien and the Hobbits, Earthsea, Conan, Frfhed and the Grey Mouser and
>other fantasies are not objectionable.  I have a theory as to why, but =
I'd
>like to hear from others before going further.

The popularity of the book, and it is incredibly popular as we all know, =
has caused it come to the attention of people who object to YA books about =
magic?

There are lots of books about magic for the YA audience - Diane Duane's =
"So You Want To be A Wizard" books comes to mind.  But they're no where =
near as popular; but then nothing is.

Current US print run for the latest Potter book is now set for . . . 8.5 =
million copies (that's a lot of trees . . .)   There are about 80 million =
Potter books inprint in the the US.

I'd stay away from bookstores as soon as 21 June hits - the worldwide =
onsale date for the book.  I believe bookstores in New Zealand will be =
able to sell it first.

mjw