There Goes the Neighbourhood?
mike weber
Spielberg Picks Harry Potter
Who's the man to bring Harry Potter to the screen? Will Steven
Spielberg do?
The London Times reports that the blockbuster-producing director has
set his sights on the best-selling book "Harry Potter and the
Sorceror's Stone", the first in the series by British author J.K.
Rowling about an orphaned boy who discovers he's really a wizard.
His qualifications to adapt the magical children's novel, as if he'd
need to submit them, include perennial children's favorite "E.T.",
adventure classic "Raiders of the Lost Ark", and special-effects
extravaganzas like "Jurassic Park".
"Variety" reported in December that the director had been given an
exclusive look at the first draft of Warner Bros.' "Harry Potter"
script adaptation, and the "Times" notes that the director spent the
holidays weighing his next project.
--
"History doesn't always repeat itself... sometimes it just
screams 'Why don't you listen when I'm talking to you?' and
lets fly with a club." JWC,Jr.
<mike weber> <kras...@mindspring.com>
Ambitious Incomplete web site: http://weberworld.virtualave.net
Julie Stampnitzky
> http://mrshowbiz.go.com/news/Todays_Stories/117/spielbergpotter011700.html
>
> Spielberg Picks Harry Potter
>
> Who's the man to bring Harry Potter to the screen? Will Steven
> Spielberg do?
>
> The London Times reports that the blockbuster-producing director has
> set his sights on the best-selling book "Harry Potter and the
> Sorceror's Stone", the first in the series by British author J.K.
> Rowling about an orphaned boy who discovers he's really a wizard.
Speaking of the reliability of the media in reporting what someone said,
I highly doubt that the London Times referred to the book by the title
_...Sorceror's Stone_.
...I notice that "Harry Potter Book 4" is third on the list of
amazon.co.uk top sellers, despite the fact that it hasn't been
released yet. The Harry Potter books are now available in Hebrew
translation. The cover art is the same as in the American editions; I was
amused to see that when they transliterated the author's name they
transliterated the initials as well, i.e. 'Jay. Kay. Rowling' was listed
as the author.
--
Julie Stampnitzky "Lecture slides are the most important
Rehovot, Israel thing a scientist produces."
http://www.yucs.org/~jules -my thesis advisor
http://neskaya.darkover.cx
Marcus L. Rowland
<kras...@mindspring.com> writes
>The London Times reports that the blockbuster-producing director has
>set his sights on the best-selling book "Harry Potter and the
>Sorceror's Stone", the first in the series by British author J.K.
>Rowling about an orphaned boy who discovers he's really a wizard.
"_Philosopher's_ Stone" _please_. Just because they changed the title in
the USA... <grumble grumble grumble>
--
Marcus L. Rowland
http://www.ffutures.demon.co.uk/ http://www.forgottenfutures.com/
"We are all victims of this slime. They... ...fill our mailboxes with gibberish
that would get them indicted if people had time to press charges"
[Hunter S. Thompson predicts junk e-mail, 1985 (from Generation of Swine)]
Beth Friedman
<6RrJiaAr...@ffutures.demon.co.uk>...
>In article <388439bc...@news.mindspring.com>, mike weber
><kras...@mindspring.com> writes
>>The London Times reports that the blockbuster-producing director has
>>set his sights on the best-selling book "Harry Potter and the
>>Sorceror's Stone", the first in the series by British author J.K.
>>Rowling about an orphaned boy who discovers he's really a wizard.
>
>"_Philosopher's_ Stone" _please_. Just because they changed the title in
>the USA... <grumble grumble grumble>
Wanna make a bet about what the title of the movie will be, though?
(If I read them, it'll be the British version if I can manage it -- they
changed more than just the title.)
--
Beth Friedman
b...@wavefront.com
Rob Hansen
weber) wrote:
>http://mrshowbiz.go.com/news/Todays_Stories/117/spielbergpotter011700.html
>
>Spielberg Picks Harry Potter
>
>Who's the man to bring Harry Potter to the screen? Will Steven
>Spielberg do?
>
>The London Times reports that the blockbuster-producing director has
>set his sights on the best-selling book "Harry Potter and the
>Sorceror's Stone", the first in the series by British author J.K.
>Rowling about an orphaned boy who discovers he's really a wizard.
>
>His qualifications to adapt the magical children's novel, as if he'd
>need to submit them, include perennial children's favorite "E.T.",
>adventure classic "Raiders of the Lost Ark", and special-effects
>extravaganzas like "Jurassic Park".
>
>"Variety" reported in December that the director had been given an
>exclusive look at the first draft of Warner Bros.' "Harry Potter"
>script adaptation, and the "Times" notes that the director spent the
>holidays weighing his next project.
So what part of America do you think they'll be setting it in, and
which spunky American child actor do you think will be playing the
lead?
--
Rob Hansen
================================================
My Home Page: http://www.fiawol.demon.co.uk/rob/
Feminists Against Censorship:
http://www.fiawol.demon.co.uk/FAC/
mike weber
18 Jan 2000 18:47:02 GMT,
:
>>"_Philosopher's_ Stone" _please_. Just because they changed the title in
>>the USA... <grumble grumble grumble>
Well, it was a US report that i was quoting, intended primarily for a
US audience.
>
>Wanna make a bet about what the title of the movie will be, though?
>
>(If I read them, it'll be the British version if I can manage it -- they
>changed more than just the title.)
>
What else did they change? Possibly some of the awkwardness in the
writing i picked up was due to changes...
Kip Williams
['director' = Spielberg]
> >"Variety" reported in December that the director had been given an
> >exclusive look at the first draft of Warner Bros.' "Harry Potter"
> >script adaptation, and the "Times" notes that the director spent the
> >holidays weighing his next project.
>
> So what part of America do you think they'll be setting it in, and
> which spunky American child actor do you think will be playing the
> lead?
It'll have to be in NYC, so they can have some kind of version of a
British school. Americans accept that such places would likely be in
the Big Apple.
Can't keep track of spunky child actors. Doubtless another Culkin
will suffice.
--
--Kip (Williams)
amusing the world at http://members.home.net/kipw/
Randolph Fritz
On Wed, 19 Jan 2000 02:23:26 GMT, Scraps deSelby <cham...@the.bit> wrote:
>
>I understand the anathema toward Spielberg, though I don't share it --
>wait, this is Usenet, I need to put that more aggressively: I know It Is
>Fasionable to hate Spielberg, and I'll Probably Be Attacked for Saying
>This, but. There. Um, where was I.
>
ROTFL! (Well, at least sitting here giggling.)
>ki...@home.com (Kip Williams) wrote in <3884FC94...@home.com>:
>>
>>It'll have to be in NYC, so they can have some kind of version of a
>>British school. Americans accept that such places would likely be in
>>the Big Apple.
>>
Not New England, where there actually are sort-of English places? :)
Then again, if they're feeling cheap, they might go to Mendocino...
By the way, if it hasn't been discussed to death when I wasn't around,
does anyone have an opinion on the popularity of the HP books? Is it
simply that Scholastic Book Services distributed it at the right time,
perhaps? (Much to the chagrin of some christian extremists.) The one
I've read seemed pretty good, but I just don't see anything in it that
makes it extra-ordinary.
R.
--
"So sit us down, buy us a drink,
Tell us a good story,
Sing us a song we know to be true.
I don't give a damn
That I never will be worthy,
Fear is the only enemy that I still know"--NMA
Scraps deSelby
>Rob Hansen wrote:
>
>['director' = Spielberg]
>
>> >"Variety" reported in December that the director had been given an
>> >exclusive look at the first draft of Warner Bros.' "Harry Potter"
>> >script adaptation, and the "Times" notes that the director spent the
>> >holidays weighing his next project.
>>
>> So what part of America do you think they'll be setting it in, and
>> which spunky American child actor do you think will be playing the
>> lead?
>
>It'll have to be in NYC, so they can have some kind of version of a
>British school. Americans accept that such places would likely be in
>the Big Apple.
>
>Can't keep track of spunky child actors. Doubtless another Culkin
>will suffice.
>
I understand the anathema toward Spielberg, though I don't share it --
wait, this is Usenet, I need to put that more aggressively: I know It Is
Fasionable to hate Spielberg, and I'll Probably Be Attacked for Saying
This, but. There. Um, where was I.
Right: Spielberg's record with child actors is actually quite good. For
example, whatever you thought of =Empire of the Sun= (I thought it was
unjustly maligned) Christian Bale gave a marvelously subtle performance.
Spielberg's not likely to go for a hamfisted Culkin-like portrayal.
The other thing I find encouraging about this, and that Spielberg doesn't
get enough credit for, is that (please note disclaimer. here it comes:)
=for Hollywood=, Spielberg actually has a record of being respectful to his
source material. Empire of the Sun, Amistad, Schindler's List, The Color
Purple, Jaws, these may have their problems, but they aren't travesties of
the books they film, like so much Hollywood product. I'd rather have
Spielberg than the folks who butchered Harriet the Spy, Mrs Frisby and the
Rats of NIMH, The Black Cauldron, Stuart Little....
Regarding the notion of Americanizing the books: apparently that was the
initial intent of the studio, but reportedly with the mass popularity of
the books over here, they've decided it would be a bad idea to not make the
movie British. I hope it's true.
--
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Soren deSelby, Manager on Duty
scraps....@mtvmail.com
scr...@speakeasy.org
"These days, sincerity isn't kid stuff -- self-referentiality is."
--Robert Christgau
Beth Friedman
>>Wanna make a bet about what the title of the movie will be, though?
>>
>>(If I read them, it'll be the British version if I can manage it -- they
>>changed more than just the title.)
>>
>What else did they change? Possibly some of the awkwardness in the
>writing i picked up was due to changes...
They took out most of the Britishisms -- things like sweater instead of
jumper, and changing the syntax to be more American, and adding more commas.
This was from a post in rec.arts.books.childrens; I haven't compared the two
myself.
--
Beth Friedman
b...@wavefront.com
James Nicoll
Scraps deSelby <cham...@the.bit> wrote:
>
>Regarding the notion of Americanizing the books: apparently that was the
>initial intent of the studio, but reportedly with the mass popularity of
>the books over here, they've decided it would be a bad idea to not make the
>movie British. I hope it's true.
Apparently they've hired Dick Van Dyke to help get the
British accents correct.
--
From _Emily Bronte: Standup Comedian_
"What's dark and evil and stalks the moor?"
"Iago"
mike weber
on 19 Jan 2000 06:12:18 GMT,
:
>In article <8EBFD8425scra...@207.126.101.100>,
>Scraps deSelby <cham...@the.bit> wrote:
>>
>>Regarding the notion of Americanizing the books: apparently that was the
>>initial intent of the studio, but reportedly with the mass popularity of
>>the books over here, they've decided it would be a bad idea to not make the
>>movie British. I hope it's true.
>
> Apparently they've hired Dick Van Dyke to help get the
>British accents correct.
>
Evil, in fact.
Kip Williams
Spielberg, but of Hollywood casting in general. I never could get
into ET because of the treacly family, but I bear him no grudge.
Apoligies for seeming to jump on that particular bandwagon. I've
enjoyed more of his movies than not, including EMPIRE OF THE SUN.
If I had to complain about anything, I'd say it's that he has all
this money and never gives me any. Dang it.
Kip Williams
> >ki...@home.com (Kip Williams) wrote in <3884FC94...@home.com>:
> >>
> >>It'll have to be in NYC, so they can have some kind of version of a
> >>British school. Americans accept that such places would likely be in
> >>the Big Apple.
> >>
>
> Not New England, where there actually are sort-of English places? :)
A lot of Americans don't know where, or what New England is. Come to
think of it, the filmmakers could probably pass it off as an English
enclave, if they wanted to. But NYC is the easiest way out.
Americans will accept anything as happening in NYC. Even if it's not
realistic. And if they live in New York, they might go see it to see
themselves in the crowd shots.
Alison Scott
>By the way, if it hasn't been discussed to death when I wasn't around,
>does anyone have an opinion on the popularity of the HP books? Is it
>simply that Scholastic Book Services distributed it at the right time,
>perhaps? (Much to the chagrin of some christian extremists.) The one
>I've read seemed pretty good, but I just don't see anything in it that
>makes it extra-ordinary.
It's a lowest common denominator thing - and I mean that in a
completely non-pejorative way. You said "it seemed pretty good, but I
just don't see anything in it that makes it extra-ordinary". Pretty
well *everyone* who reads these books has at least that good a
reaction. They just have a very broad appeal. They're gripping
page-turners that are competently written (so that individual
sentences don't irritate style snobs) and full of funny details (of
which my very favourite is Diagon Alley, but YMMV).
I read an interview with Philip Pullman in which the interviewer
asked, paraphrased "doesn't it annoy you that JK Rowling is acclaimed
as a genius and here you are writing vastly better books?" He said
something non-committal. But it seems clear to me that many of the
people who are reading the Harry Potter books wouldn't particularly
enjoy or appreciate the Pullmans. Most books, and especially most
children's books, don't have that level of broad appeal.
--
Alison Scott ali...@fuggles.demon.co.uk & www.fuggles.demon.co.uk
Multiple award-losing fanzine: www.moose.demon.co.uk/plokta
News and views for SF fans: www.plokta.com/pnn
Dave Weingart
>A lot of Americans don't know where, or what New England is. Come to
>think of it, the filmmakers could probably pass it off as an English
>enclave, if they wanted to. But NYC is the easiest way out.
>Americans will accept anything as happening in NYC. Even if it's not
>realistic. And if they live in New York, they might go see it to see
>themselves in the crowd shots.
Nonesense. It will be set in Southern California, probably in a
suburb of Los Angeles. How else can you show poor Harry being
mocked by the bratty older cousin with dark glasses and a convertible
Mustang with the requisite big ass stereo?
--
73 de Dave Weingart KA2ESK If you can read this,
mailto:phyd...@liii.com Y2K was over-hyped.
http://www.liii.com/~phydeaux
ICQ 57055207
Mike Kozlowski
[Steven Spielberg]
>If I had to complain about anything, I'd say it's that he has all
>this money and never gives me any. Dang it.
I suspect that this same motivation is behind at least some fraction of
the Bill Gates hatred that most people have.
(I mean, c'mon -- just give me, say, $10 million, Bill. That's petty cash
at your level.)
--
Michael Kozlowski
http://www.ssc.wisc.edu/~mkozlows/
Scraps deSelby
>Randolph Fritz wrote:
>
>> >ki...@home.com (Kip Williams) wrote in <3884FC94...@home.com>:
>> >>
>> >>It'll have to be in NYC, so they can have some kind of version of a
>> >>British school. Americans accept that such places would likely be in
>> >>the Big Apple.
>> >>
>>
>> Not New England, where there actually are sort-of English places? :)
>
>A lot of Americans don't know where, or what New England is. Come to
>think of it, the filmmakers could probably pass it off as an English
>enclave, if they wanted to. But NYC is the easiest way out.
>Americans will accept anything as happening in NYC. Even if it's not
>realistic. And if they live in New York, they might go see it to see
>themselves in the crowd shots.
>
It needs to be in an isolated place. I think New York would feel wrong for
Hogwarts even if they did Americanize it.
Argh, I've just had an awful vision of the Harry Potter books as a remake
of =Fame=.
bdaverin
cham...@the.bit (Scraps deSelby) wrote:
> Argh, I've just had an awful vision of the Harry Potter books as a
remake
> of =Fame=.
Craft!
I'm gonna learn how to spellcast,
I'm gonna learn how to fly
High!
--
Brenda Daverin
bdav...@grin.net
* Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet's Discussion Network *
The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet - Free!
Janice Gelb
>rand...@cyber-dyne.com (Randolph Fritz) wrote:
>
>>By the way, if it hasn't been discussed to death when I wasn't around,
>>does anyone have an opinion on the popularity of the HP books? Is it
>>simply that Scholastic Book Services distributed it at the right time,
>>perhaps? (Much to the chagrin of some christian extremists.) The one
>>I've read seemed pretty good, but I just don't see anything in it that
>>makes it extra-ordinary.
>
>It's a lowest common denominator thing - and I mean that in a
>completely non-pejorative way. You said "it seemed pretty good, but I
>just don't see anything in it that makes it extra-ordinary".
I agree that they don't break striking new ground, but they're
very competent: the writing is good, the conception of the world
is well thought out, and the themes are relevant to children. I
think part of the appeal for kids is that the writing doesn't talk
down to them.
>
>Pretty
>well *everyone* who reads these books has at least that good a
>reaction. They just have a very broad appeal. They're gripping
>page-turners that are competently written (so that individual
>sentences don't irritate style snobs) and full of funny details (of
>which my very favourite is Diagon Alley, but YMMV).
>
I like the owl mail delivery service myself.
*****************************************************************
Janice Gelb | The only connection Sun has with
janic...@eng.sun.com | this message is the return address.
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/8018/index.html
"These are my opinions. If they were the Biblical truth, your
bushes would be burning" -- Randy Lander
mike weber
19 Jan 2000 16:29:39 GMT,
:
>In article <3885B682...@home.com>, Kip Williams <ki...@home.com> wrote:
>
>[Steven Spielberg]
>
>>If I had to complain about anything, I'd say it's that he has all
>>this money and never gives me any. Dang it.
>
>I suspect that this same motivation is behind at least some fraction of
>the Bill Gates hatred that most people have.
>
>(I mean, c'mon -- just give me, say, $10 million, Bill. That's petty cash
>at your level.)
>
won't go into here, as it would quickly get Very Interesting and take
up a lot of bandwidth.
I will say that, personally, i think the only thing the man has done
since "Duel" that comes close to it for sheer bravura filmmaking is
"Jaws".
Randolph Fritz
>
>It needs to be in an isolated place. I think New York would feel wrong for
>Hogwarts even if they did Americanize it.
>
Well...maybe in an isolated bit of Staten Island...
But the place for classy private schools in the NYC area is more Long
Island or southern Connecticut.
Marcus L. Rowland
<jan...@marvin.eng.sun.com> writes
>
>I like the owl mail delivery service myself.
Must admit I found myself thinking of it during the opening titles of
Gormenghast, where the white "raven" (actually a crow - does Mary Gentle
know?) was swooping across the castle.
Bjørn Vermo
..
> perhaps? (Much to the chagrin of some christian extremists.) The one
> I've read seemed pretty good, but I just don't see anything in it that
> makes it extra-ordinary.
Christian extremists?
Oh, well, I guess there are extremists who will object to any kind of
"frivolous" book...
Randolph Fritz
They think the books are advocating witchcraft. Really.
Marty Helgesen
<SNIP>
>
>It needs to be in an isolated place. I think New York would feel wrong for
>Hogwarts even if they did Americanize it.
>
three-quarters in Grand Central Terminal or Penn Station. Have Diagon
Alley in Lower Manhattan Have Mr. and Mrs. Dursley (and Dudley) live in
New Jersey, within commuting distance of Manhattan.
Better, don't. Set the whole thing in England, where it belongs.
Incidentally, I just noticed your return address. My congratulations.
-------
Marty Helgesen
Bitnet: mnhcc@cunyvm Internet: mn...@cunyvm.cuny.edu
"Ever noticed how many people claim it's organized religion they
object to? Makes me wonder what's so great about incoherent
religion." Teresa Nielsen Hayden
Help outlaw spam. For further information see http://www.cauce.org/
Dave Weingart
>Christian extremists?
>Oh, well, I guess there are extremists who will object to any kind of
>"frivolous" book...
And ones who object to any depiction of magic and things/people
magical as "good/" and not the Spawn of Satan
Randolph Fritz
>In article 10043...@news.demon.co.uk, ali...@fuggles.demon.co.uk (Alison Scott) writes:
>>rand...@cyber-dyne.com (Randolph Fritz) wrote:
>>
>>>By the way, if it hasn't been discussed to death when I wasn't around,
>>>does anyone have an opinion on the popularity of the HP books? Is it
>>>simply that Scholastic Book Services distributed it at the right time,
>>>I've read seemed pretty good, but I just don't see anything in it that
>>>makes it extra-ordinary.
>>
>>completely non-pejorative way. You said "it seemed pretty good, but I
>>just don't see anything in it that makes it extra-ordinary".
>
>I agree that they don't break striking new ground, but they're
>very competent: the writing is good, the conception of the world
>is well thought out, and the themes are relevant to children. I
>think part of the appeal for kids is that the writing doesn't talk
>down to them.
>
I think you're both write, er, right, though I'd quarrel with your
arguments about the quality a bit. On the other hand, all the virtues
you list seem to be those of other books as well, so I'm still rather
puzzled.
>>
>>Pretty well *everyone* who reads these books has at least that good
>>a reaction. They just have a very broad appeal. They're gripping
>>page-turners that are competently written (so that individual
>>sentences don't irritate style snobs) and full of funny details (of
>>which my very favourite is Diagon Alley, but YMMV).
>>
>
>I like the owl mail delivery service myself.
>
I don't know JKR's history, however, it seems to me that the first
book, at least, is an early-career novel; it has some of that
roughness. Of course, I might be dead wrong. Personally, I found
those sort of things rather you are admiring rather arch, though
funny. Thinking cap, forsooth! :)
Randolph
Julie Stampnitzky
[Harry Potter movie]
> So what part of America do you think they'll be setting it in,
New England. People already know from other movies that NE is just full of
boarding schools. If you want to have NYC scenes, that's still possible
because it could be located a few hours by train from NY.
(That is, I *hope* they won't set in in any part of the US, but look what
they did to _A Little Princess_...)
--
Julie Stampnitzky "Lecture slides are the most important
Rehovot, Israel thing a scientist produces."
http://www.yucs.org/~jules -my thesis advisor
http://neskaya.darkover.cx
mike weber
Jan 2000 11:52:07 GMT,
:
>On Tue, 18 Jan 2000, Rob Hansen wrote:
>
>[Harry Potter movie]
>> So what part of America do you think they'll be setting it in,
>
>New England. People already know from other movies that NE is just full of
>boarding schools. If you want to have NYC scenes, that's still possible
>because it could be located a few hours by train from NY.
>
>(That is, I *hope* they won't set in in any part of the US, but look what
>they did to _A Little Princess_...)
>
Just tell me, as gently as possible, what horrors were perpetrated
upon it. Be kind -- i'm a bit weak at the moment.
Kevin J. Maroney
>The other thing I find encouraging about this, and that Spielberg doesn't
>get enough credit for, is that (please note disclaimer. here it comes:)
>=for Hollywood=, Spielberg actually has a record of being respectful to his
>source material. Empire of the Sun, Amistad, Schindler's List, The Color
>Purple, Jaws, these may have their problems, but they aren't travesties of
>the books they film, like so much Hollywood product.
I know people who would argue with you about _The Color Purple_ and
_Empire of the Sun_, but I can't do either.
I will point out that _Jaws_ got a chapter of its own in _The American
Monomyth_ about how the changes made to the story push it closer to
the "loner from the outside delivers a community from an exterior
evil" ur-storyline which dominates so much of American pop
storytelling.
Still, I think you're right that Spielberg, more than many directors,
approaches a novel with the question "How do I make this work into a
film" rather than the more typical "How do I make a film that cashes
in on the good name of this book?"
--
Kevin Maroney | kmar...@crossover.com
Kitchen Staff Supervisor, New York Review of Science Fiction
http://www.nyrsf.com
mike weber
Fri, 21 Jan 2000 13:14:49 -0500,
>Still, I think you're right that Spielberg, more than many directors,
>approaches a novel with the question "How do I make this work into a
>film" rather than the more typical "How do I make a film that cashes
>in on the good name of this book?"
>
And then there's "Hook".
Feh.
Mike Kozlowski
mike weber <kras...@mindspring.com> wrote:
>Kevin J. Maroney <kmar...@crossover.com> is alleged to have said, on
>
>>approaches a novel with the question "How do I make this work into a
>>film" rather than the more typical "How do I make a film that cashes
>>in on the good name of this book?"
>
>And then there's "Hook".
>Feh.
What, you think Spielberg corrupted the spirit of Terry Brooks' _Hook_?
Loren Joseph MacGregor
: Kevin J. Maroney <kmar...@crossover.com> is alleged to have said, on
: >Still, I think you're right that Spielberg, more than many directors,
: >approaches a novel with the question "How do I make this work into a
: >film" rather than the more typical "How do I make a film that cashes
: >in on the good name of this book?"
: >
: And then there's "Hook".
: Feh.
I liked "Hook." I also liked Altman's "Popeye," though.
-- LJM
Patrick Nielsen Hayden
<slrn88aku4....@open.thedoor.nom>:
>By the way, if it hasn't been discussed to death when I wasn't around,
>does anyone have an opinion on the popularity of the HP books?
Yes, I do. They're enormously popular, despite some flaws, partly
because they're charming and funny, but specifically because of their
fabulously well-controlled pace of revelation.
In a Harry Potter book, you always learn about new, exotic, magical
stuff to exactly the degree you need to know about it. You are neither
left behind to figure it out, nor told more than you need to know.
Genre fantasy readers are deeply inured to poor pace-of-revelation.
Learning to read and enjoy fantasy (and SF) is in large part a matter
of learning to deal with this. Rowling's expository pacing is far
better than that of even some very fine writers inside the genre. And
that's why millions of people who don't normally like fantasy,
nonetheless like her.
--
Patrick Nielsen Hayden : p...@panix.com : http://www.panix.com/~pnh
