Will the end of the Harry Potter series bring about a publishing apocalypse? Several news sources around the world, while not suggesting that, are certainly wondering what publishers will do once the series ends this July.
Take this snippet from a recent USA Today article: “‘I don’t know if we are ever going to see anything like Harry Potter again in children’s or even adult books,’ says Paul Crichton of Simon & Schuster Children’s Books. ‘Harry will be missed like there is no tomorrow. But publishers have to forge ahead and move on. What Harry Potter and J.K. Rowling have done is incredible. To lose something that strong is going to have an impact.'”
Any thoughts on this?
It will indeed be the end of an era when Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows comes out on July 21, 2007. It can arguably be said that there are better written books out there, (at least technically speaking), but no other series in recent memory has a series of books inspired such passion and devotion from both adults and children. Jo Rowling’s characters seemed to walk off those pages and become part of their fan’s lives. We have laughed with them and, yes cried for them as they’ve grown up. Now comes the ultimate battle between good and evil where we are all left wondering who will survive. Being a children’s librarian I have read and enjoyed many children’s books over the years and I’m sure I will continue to do so. There are so many talented writers with incredible imaginations that I feel quite confident that while the Harry Potter series will have a permanent place in history, there are more “unknowns” to come.
That’s a great way to sum everything up, Kim! I think it’s actually more exciting to anticipate something that will catch and hold the imagination like Harry did, rather than think that nothing else ever can or will.