December 28, 2005
Rowling about to embark on Book Seven

JK Rowling will begin work on the last Harry Potter novel on January 15.


2006 will be the year when I write the final book in the Harry Potter series. I contemplate the task with mingled feelings of excitement and dread, because I can't wait to get started, to tell the final part of the story and, at last, to answer all the questions (will I ever answer all of the questions? Let's aim for most of the questions); and yet it will all be over at last and I can't quite imagine life without Harry.

However (clears throat in stern British manner) this is no time to get maudlin.

I have been fine-tuning the fine-tuned plan of seven during the past few weeks so that I can really set to work in January. Reading through the plan is like contemplating the map of an unknown country in which I will soon find myself. Sometimes, even at this stage, you can see trouble looming; nearly all of the six published books have had Chapters of Doom. The quintessential, never, I hope, to be beaten Chapter That Nearly Broke My Will To Go On was chapter nine, 'Goblet of Fire' (appropriately enough, 'The Dark Mark'.)


Despite all her protestations, I can't quite see this as being the true end of the Harry Potter universe. Even if the series ends in a way that would preclude further sequels (for example, if Harry dies, or if Book Seven has a coda that takes us through the adult lives of the main characters), I suspect there will be a strong demand for stories involving just about any other characters of interest. People still buy "Star Trek" novels and comics, after all. The main question is what will Rowling allow to happen to her intellectual property, since Lord knows she won't need the money. But first, we need to see how this plotline ends. Stay tuned.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on December 28, 2005 to Books | TrackBack
Comments

What? She's only starting NOW? "Half-Blood Prince" went on sale in June 2005! What's she been DOING?

Ahem. Sorry. ;)

Posted by: Linkmeister on December 28, 2005 2:09 PM

Opening scene: Lord Voldemort is sitting down and talking with Mohammed El-Baradei...

You know how it ends.

Posted by: Laurence Simon on December 28, 2005 2:47 PM

It's going to be weird the last book is written. The Harry Potter series is, basically, the Michael Jordan of children's (and adult) popular fiction. A decade-long winner.

There's huge build-up to the release of a book (championship title), constant awe and amazement at the writing (Jordan's ability), and, hopefully, a magnificient ending in book seven (Jordan's shot against Utah in Game 6). Years down the road, I'll be buying these books for my kids, telling them about what it was like when I got to read them for the first time (just as I'll tell them about all those Jordan championship teams I used to root for).

Though there will certainly be spin-offs (a series featuring Ron and Hermione, possibly, that is similar to Jordan's years with the Wizards -- fun to see them one last time, but far from the original), nothing will be like watching the real thing.

Posted by: Phillip Martin on December 28, 2005 3:15 PM