A QUICK GUIDE TO THE HARRY POTTER SERIES

For the benefit of those who are not experts in the Harry Potter series, here is a list of the Harry Potter books and films.


1- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
>Film directed by Chris Columbus (2001).

2- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
>Film directed by Chris Columbus (2002).

3- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
>Film directed by Alfonso Cuarón (2004).

4- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
>Film directed by Mike Newell (2005).

5- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
> Film in pre-production

6- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

The author of the books is J.K. Rowling, and Mary GrandPré is the illustrator.

There has been noticible inflation. The first book, published in September 1998, was 309 pages and weighed in at 1.6 pounds. The most recent book, published in July 2005, was more than double the size at 652 pages, and weighed 50% more than the first, at 2.4 pounds. (A little wizardly algebra suggests the cover accounts for almost a pound of the weight in both books.)

#5, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, is currently in pre-production. The main cast is still intact. Daniel Radcliffe continues to play Harry Potter, Emma Watson remains as Hermione Granger, and Rupert Grint is still Ron Weasley. David Yates, a newcomer, whose recent work has been mostly in TV, will be directing.

Up to now, both students and teachers have stayed in the same roles (with the notable, unfortunate, exception of Richard Harris, who brought exceptional gravitas to the role of Proessor Dumbledore, but sadly died in 2002 after the second film). It would be quite extraordinary if the series can continue to follow these actors as they grow from children to adults, along with their characters.