Harry mania

You either love him or hate him, but right now it's almost impossible to ignore Harry Potter.

Fans of the Harry Potter franchise have been counting down towards this day for years, waiting with anticipation for that moment when they can read the final instalment of his adventures.

Rowling has hinted that two characters will die in the final novel and fans have been frantically discussing which characters are likely to be killed off. Central to the plot is the prophecy that holds the key to the reason why Harry is the only wizard to have survived encounters with Voldemort or (He who shall not be named). The prophecy states that Harry and only Harry can kill Voldemort and that neither one can survive while the other lives, this has led many fans to fear that Rowling has killed off her key character.

‘The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches… born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies…and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not…and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives…the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies…’
- Order of the Phoenix, ch 37, The Lost Prophecy

Bookies are so sure that Potter will die that they are no longer asking if Harry will be killed but are instead asking “who will pot Potter?” Many fans believe that it is instead Harry’s friend Neville Longbottom who will kill Voldemort and that the prophecy in fact relates to Neville.

The final book in the series goes on release June 21st at 12.00am. Stores all over the world are holding special openings and events so as to allow eager fans the chance to grab their copy.

The recommended retail price of the book is around €27.99, however the price war between larger retail outlets will lead to the book being sold for a fraction of that price. This may be wonderful for the consumer but not so great for smaller, independent book shops that are unable to compete with the larger stores.

This week, Asda accused Bloombury, the Potter books publisher, of ‘holding children to ransom’ by selling the book for £17.99 stg, which is 30% more than the cost of the first book. In retribution, Bloomsbury refused to provide Asda with the 500,000 copies of the novel that they had ordered, stating an unpaid bill as the reason. However, the dispute was settled when Asda issued an apology and paid their bill. But Asda undoubtedly had a point, is it fair that a publisher can charge such a high price for a children’s book?

Even though millions of the books will be sold worldwide, it is unlikely that any of the retailers will make much profit, as they will sell the book at a discount in order to remain competitive. The book has highlighted the plight of smaller book sellers, who must compete with the larger stores as well as online companies such as Amazon.

For once, it seems that the consumer is getting the good side of the bargain.

By: Marie Duffy