Just when you think you’re out of topics to podcast about, along come The Deathly Hallows covers!  Scholasitc and Bloomsbury today released images of the covers for Harry Potter Book 7, and we’re on the scene with our first impressions as to what is going on.  What is around Harry’s neck?  Who’s holding the Sword of Gryffindor?  Will Bloomsbury the Dog save the day?  Tune in for our gut reactions.

Check out:

• Scholastic’s interaction version of the US cover. 
• Bloomsbury’s UK covers.
• Large hi-res versions of the covers, courtesy of HPANA.

In other news:

• The Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Audiobook will be available on July 21- pre-order is available.  
• The Golden Trio will stay the same in the Potter films. 
• The soundtrack for the OoTP film now available for pre order through Amazon- will be released on July 10 in the U.S.
• Hogwarts Express has been vandalized.

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Sure, they’re the bad guys (well, not the bad guys, but they certainly get a bum rap), but are they really all that bad? Maybe they’re just misunderstood. What are the essential characteristics of the Slytherins, is there anything at all redeemable about them, and how will they figure in the final showdown with their sometime-Master, Lord Voldemort.

In the News:

• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be 784 pages and green (that isn’t the color of the cover though)
• OoTP video game seems pretty cool.
• Greg won’t be able to fulfill his dream of playing Hermione Granger in the sixth and seventh Potter movies.
• Potter contest for kids in the U.K.

The blog post of the week goes to our friends over at Sirius Discussion, a brand new Harry Potter podcast. Make sure to check out their first episode!

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Scholastic Books sent out a press release talking about the recycled paper that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be printed on. In this press release, it was revealed that the US Hard Back Edition of the final Potter book will be 784 pages. Here is the press release:

All 12 million copies of the U.S. edition of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be printed on paper that contains a minimum of 30% post-consumer waste (pcw) fiber. Moreover, 65% of the 16,700 tons of paper used in the U.S. first printing will be certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), the global standard-setter for responsible forest management. This historic commitment is the largest purchase of FSC certified paper to be used in the printing of a single book title. The vast amount of paper needed to print 12 million copies of the 784-page Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows makes the decision by Scholastic to invest in environmentally preferable paper a significant step in the company’s ongoing commitment to responsible environmental stewardship.

Thoughts?

It’s our 24th episode, which means were going with the whole 24 theme. And in that vein, we’re discussing what it takes to be a hero. Jack Bauer is a hero, but so is Harry Potter. What are the key elements that makes Harry a hero? What does he need to do to ensure victory over evil in the coming finale? All this in our 24th episode on heroes.

And the news:

• Scholastic is doing some cool things to celebrate the release of HP and the Deathly Hallows
• France put out Harry Potter Stamps. They also have a cool contest.
• Time Magazine just figured out the Harry Potter is ending
• Apparently a lot of people in England don’t know that Cedric died
• David Yates gave a new interview.

And the blog post of the week, from the latest blog posts on Harry Potter: the Gryffindor Gazette lists a few easter eggs in the Harry Potter books. If you have suggestions for a blog post, please let us know.

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One of the cardinal rules of any story, be it in movie or book form, is that once you introduce time travel, all bets are off.  Once you start to “bend-a time and space,” you can do pretty much anything.  Of course, if you do it right, this makes for a great story.  But beware the paradoxes of time travel, such as the predestination paradox.  To whit: how could Harry save himself from the Dementors, if, if not for Harry himself, he would have died?  It’s enough to tie your brain in a knot, but there might just be a way out.  In this episode, we do our best to outline two different theories of time travel, and discuss which one best fits with the events of Book 3.  It gets a bit confusing at times, fortunately, you can always rewind the podcast and listen to it again!

In the news:

• Daniel Radcliffe signs on for last two Potter flicks.
• JK Rowling named one of Scotland’s most influential women.
• Vote for Potter for a Nick Kid’s Choice Award.

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Harry’s first Hogwarts experience has proven to be an essential moment in his life. When presented with Gryffindor or Slytherin, Harry must make a choice that will forever shape his destiny. The Sorting Hat played an important role in helping Harry defeat Voldemort in the Chamber of Secrets. What else lies in store for the Sorting Hat? As the years have gone on, his songs have become more and more informative, perhaps foreshadowing the task that lies before our heroes. Tune in as we discuss the Sorting Hat!

Make sure to check out the Sorting Hat page on the HP Lexicon.

• Scottish Doctor’s vs. JK Rowling. Winner: Rowling.
• eBay vs. JK Rowling. Winner: Rowling.
• NECA photos of HP action figures.
• Philosopher’s Stone beats Chamber of Secrets and Azkaban as British kid’s favorite movie.
• New Potter Game.
• Movie 6 to be filmed in Ireland.

You can listen to the podcast using the player below, or download an mp3 directly.

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