Nerve Endings Firing Away

It is time to whip up the frenzy again as J.K.Rowling handed in her manuscript for the seventh book of the bestselling Harry Potter series. Titled Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallow, the book will be ready to be devored by Potter fans on July 21st, 2007. Initially it was slated for a 07/07/07 release but I guess the logistics of simultaneous release, security, and handling the Potter mania put off the release date by a couple of weeks.

Although the price is officially not out yet, Amazon has already launched the price war to attract the fans by offering a pre-order price of $18.89 along with eligibility for Super Saver Shipping (free on orders over $25) . The book is already on the top of the bestseller list along with its deluxe edition. I was a late Potter fan and didn’t read the book until after the fourth one was out and was chiefly introduced to the series by a friend who like other Potter fans was a rabid follower of the Hogwarts witchcraft. She gifted me the first four books. I trekked out to the nearby Borders when the VI book was released and was even at the same store for the release of the fifth book. I got a first-hand look at the fan following and took some memorable pictures.

Frankly, I didn’t understand what the brouhaha was all about but after I read the books, I realized the J.K. Rowling brought back the magic that made reading books so much fun. The dark witchcraft and even the occasional death of key characters keeps it real but at the same time does not depart from the original premise that it is after all, a children’s book. However, the books have become progressively darker and Rowling has indicated that the final book will also see the death of two more key characters and I bet a royale showdown between Voldemort and the Potter kid.

Fans are already looking forward to the date but at the same time are misty eyed as this would be the final book in the series. I sincerely hope Rowling stays faithful to that promise. I was kinda disappointed by her previous book because it was clearly aimed at setting up the final one and didn’t have a coherent story or an end by itself.

Update: The book cover is out.