The world's best-known teenage wizard, possibly, and lead character in a series of books by new author JKRowling. Characterised as being small, meek, dark of hair and possessing a lightning-bolt scar on his forehead. Not conspicuously afraid of spiders. For further details, well, _just read the books, fools_ . Beware of fakes, pastiches and dubious Chinese knock-offs. - Harry Potter and the Philosophers' Stone (Known as Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone in AmericaLand, since apparently publishers doubted the US audience would know what a Philosopher was. D'oh.) - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Winner of the 'title most inviting lavatorial humour' award.) - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Long, and possibly frightening for the children. _Yay_.) are the four books released so far, although the fifth, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is apparently due out on 21st July, after an extremely long gap. These children's books caught the public imagination when first released, and became an overnight phenomenon, however time and the vast (apparently Writers' Block induced) gap between books four and five have now greatly reduced Harry Potter mania. The first two books have been filmed with a cast including the late RichardHarris as Albus Dumbledore, MaggieSmith as Minerva Mc__Gonagall, and DanielRadcliffe as Harry Potter. Along with the Peter Jackson films of LOTR, the HarryPotter films seem to be competing for the CinemaEconomyClassFlightSyndrome award. Mind you, in the case of book four, the books aren't doing too badly either. The fifth is reputedly to be even bigger than the fourth. Responsible for large numbers of film crews invading Oxford every summer or whenever the students aren't there. Also responsible for large numbers of tourists invading Oxford at any time of year. To judge from the scenes on film of Harry and chums lazing around in Magdalen Cloisters, Hogwarts must be located somewhere in MagdalenCollege Deer Park. There is probably room. The fifth book will be out in a few months, we're told, and will be called the "Order of the Phoenix". AmericaLand__ians may have some difficulties though... : As things stand, first editions of the second book (albeit signed) are still selling like hot uranium cakes in North Korea. _(Hm. With Richard Harris having succumbed to cancer, and Daniel Radcliffe - Shock! Horror! - growing up, and a change of director in the offing, the fourth book likely to have to be two films, and the fifth book even bigger than the fourth, how much longer will this last? --TL)_ - Update: apparently MichaelKitchen has been sought out for the Dumbledore role. Are they off their heads?? --TL -- Updated Update: it's MichaelGambon, so possibly not as mad as first appeared. -- WJR Around Christmas 2002, Stephen Fry seized control of the radio for a marathon recital of the entirety of "Harry Potter and the Philosophers' Stone". Rumours as to whether he has managed to speak since are unsubstantiated. _This page restored from vandalism attack on 2/04/03 at 10:08am by WJR. Pre-defaced version now scavenged and assimilated._ CategoryBook CategorySFMovie (times three) CategoryRadioProgramme