The End of Harry Potter? An Unauthorized Guide to the Mysteries That Remain

#49Title: The End of Harry Potter? An Unauthorized Guide to the Mysteries That RemainAuthor: David Langford
Publisher: Tor
Year: 2007 (paperback revision)
Genre: Literary Criticism
197 pages

Though the title is a bit misleading (much of the book is not about "the mysteries that remain"), this is a nicely-written and often humerous exegesis on Harry Potter. As was the case for Orson Scott Card's section of The Great Snape Debate (reviewed earlier this month), this book was written by a science fiction writer who is very familiar with the conventions of the young adult fantasy/sf genre and can give meaningful examples for comparison and contrast. Langford often directs the reader's attention to Rowling's methods, suggesting ways to read clues and plot points in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows when it is published this summer.

Langford is enjoyably literate and his jokes often are both complex and elegant. His tone is jocular, not hip or snide. He over-relies on ellipsis at the end of his thoughts, but, well....

Langford and I have reached similar conclusions about a number of pending resolutions, so of course I admire him for that (we are in agreement that Harry is a horcrux for Lily, not for Voldemort; we agree that Snape did not actually kill Dumbledore with Avada Kedavra but rather that he and Dumbledore have conducted an elaborate ruse). Though I appreciate the conclusions about the possibility of Harry's death that he draws from other children's literature, I do think it's possible that Harry will die (though I am leaning more toward Snape dying at the moment). I've recently read a young adult fantasy series where the protagonist sacrificed himself; in addition, Harry-as-interrex may need to die or at least lose his magic. We will know soon enough.

Of the "What Will Book 7 Bring?"-style books I've read thus far, this is the best. It may inspire me to read more of Langford's own science fiction.