Episode #26: Deathly Hallows Covers!
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.
You can listen to the podcast using the player below, or download it directly as an mp3.
March 28th, 2007 at 11:55 am
Love love the show! Thanks for the special book cover podcast! I have to say I love all the covers. But…the US version rocks!
If I was Harry I’d have little Felix Felicis in
that pouch around my neck.
P.S.
You guys should do an Office podcast, too.
March 28th, 2007 at 2:28 pm
Good podcast today. Greg talks over Penny but that’s my opinion and YOUR dynamic- i won’t go on about what works for you.
The UK adult cover looks very sophisticated- like the cover for a anthropology prose not a fictional novel.
The UK Children’s cover is kinda ugly. I can’t say what Hermione’s expression reminds me of, this is a public forum. Ron’s sortta does too, that’s just creepy. It took me a while to see the house elf but i notice the color difference between the sword hand and Ron’s right hand. The elf’s right hand and ear followed from there. Is it just me or does Harry kinda look like Ben Affleck? I am so glad I will only see the US jacket up close.
The US cover is stunning. I read alot how people thought the cover would look like Order’s, subdued color and dreary. This is bright with oranges and sun colors. I don’t see thombstones in the background, i see the head ‘n shoulders of 13 or 14 on lookers. Death Eaters? I though
the scene was in an outdoor ampitheater but you may be right, its within the ministry. Harry looks presentable in this cover (not some broad chined hack actor). I think his eyes are colored to contrast the sky, not necessarily for accuracy. I wonder if the pouch holds anything mentioned previously, Felix Felicis or a trinket: dehorcruxed, or none of these. Might this be something from Ginny? Or Alberforth and the Order. Maybe this is Ron’s Sneakescope he got Harry in Prisoner. Ron comment it was junk but it worked properly everytime in that book. If a DE was going to jinx me behind my back I would want to know about it! Harry looks like he is
summoning or reaching out for something while Voldemort is looking like he’s blocking it. Maybe Fawkes is bringing in another eleventh hour miracle like in Chamber?
TTFN
March 28th, 2007 at 2:41 pm
I haven’t heard the episode yet, but I’ve seen the cover and I think it’s GORGEOUS! But it’s also very intriguing as well, and it makes me even more excited for the book! It looks like he’s in a colosium (sorry for my misspelling) of some sort, and you can see spectators in the background, although they could represent the Death Eaters. The way he’s reaching up to the sky is very powerful.
*HUMONGOUS SQUEE* Deathly Hallows, come out now!!!
March 28th, 2007 at 5:30 pm
Observations and guesses about the book cover
particularly the children’s U.K. version
*There is a set of armor and the hat has a dragon decoration. Could this maybe have belonged to Godric Gryffindor and could be horcrux instead of the sword. Maybe it also ties in with references that have been made to Sword in the Stone parallels?
* Harry and Hermione have wounds on the same part of the arm. Not sure what if anything that means. Trying to destroy a horcrux?
* Robe colors. Ron is wearing Slytherin Green and Hermione has Ravenclaw’s blue (although it looks more purple).
* The archway is featured on the U.S. edition as several. This location is clearly significant, and as suggested the final battle location. The sky coloring is the same between both versions.
*Ron and Hermione seem like they’re being pulled back into the archway while Harry is going forward from the archway. Harry is also making similar hand gestures like on the U.S. cover and looking upwards. I think even the U.K. shows him looking up as we view from above. But the angle we see Ron and Hermione is different, straight on.
*Interesting that Dobby should be in the plot again, even he is not fully viewable on the cover. Maybe there will be that rise of the house elves after all. Just kidding.
OMG, I just had something dawn on me for a theory. Here, it is off the cuff. Okay, so we are speculating that Harry’s open hands might be mean he is doing wandless magic. Well remember in the Chamber of Secrets movie (I will have to check how this happens in the book) at the end when Doby conjures a spell on Lucious Malfoy with an open palm like that. Maybe Harry will learn wandless magic from Doby. House elves are supposed to have magical powers of their own, but aren’t supposed to use them. Doby was freed and then could use magic and can teach Harry.
Hope you like my thoughts and ideas. And you’re right. Harry Potter is not just for kids.
March 28th, 2007 at 7:16 pm
Elizabeth- those are some great observations!! I agree that it looks like Ron and Hermione are moving in a different direction than Harry, who I hypothesize is taking a trip into the veil on his own. I think that this event may prelude the scene we see playing out in the U.S. cover with a final confrontation of sorts between Harry and Voldemort. I think that the colloseum may be an ante-chamber of sorts, with both of their fates intertwined as they both seem to be appealing to some higher power possibly, which I find fascinating. What I like about the U.S. version is that it has a much more cerebral tone and that probably means that it reflects the broader tone of the book as a whole. The scene detected on the U.S. cover seems to be reflective of one of the central themes of the book: choice (Harry is seen beckoning towards the sky while Voldemort takes a more submissive role and seems to be rejecting/repelling some mysterious force). The UK versions, while informative and dynamic, do not seem to reflect the emotional tone of the books they represent, which I find a bit frustrating.
Is there any way we could have a show on how the ancient world (Ancient Greece, Egypt, Rome, etc.) conceptualized the afterlife? It seems that Rowling might be drawing on some of that imagery and ideology- especially with the use of the ancient ruin… maybe it could help us make some prognostications about what might be playing out on the U.S. cover.
March 28th, 2007 at 8:01 pm
Another great show with awsome timing again. You both sound so thrilled and excited. Penny I think you actually out talked Greg this time. But ok here it is Spoiler warning do not read if you have not read Deathly Hallows yet. After developing my own occlumency skills I have managed to Penetrate the mind of JK Rowling herself and have discovered the entire plot and crucial happenings in her final Harry Potter novel. The final battle is in the minestry of magic. The wands used to attack do that thingie again but this time it is allowed to complete it’s full cycle. As the apparitions appear in this duel as in the last I was surprised to see they included Severus Snape(killed by Voldemort himself while protecting Harry) Harry sees the true side of Severus Snape only after the half blood princes demise. Alistar Moody killed by Greyback, Percy Weasly killed fighting along side his father and siblings and I was surprised to see Draco Malfoy who was killed taking the hit that Voldemorte meant for Lucius. Every remaining Horecrux leads to a least one horrible event. None are destroyed without cost from the wedding to the fireplace all are a climactic scene within themselves. Dumbledore was terminal with the black hand already. The potionin the cave was of little concern as he was a goner already. Severus had prolonged his life but not indefinately. He was dead before The Snape killing curse ever hit so Snape did not kill Dumbledore just messed with the body. In the end the wands neutralize each other kinda sparking themselves away leaving both Harry and Tommy behind the veil of no return. Not alone there are the above mentioned spirits that now have voldemort on equal terms and kill his soul with the love each shared for Harry.Of course the epic struggle and exciting fight leave the place in flaming shambles. Gregs theory comes into play when Belatrix attempts to finish the job on Lucius Malfoy and Draco’s sacrific boomerangs her curse right back into her kinda explaining what happened at Godrics hollow. Neville turns Negini snake to stone as Trawlawny has shown harry in the crystal ball but not before beinging severely wounded by the snakes venom. Hermoni and Ron also get pretty beat up but survive. In the end it is just Harry and Vlode behind the veil and even though the spirits preety much destoy him Harry is also trapped in deaths grip. After a short hokey reunion with parents Srius , Severus, the longest is with Dumbledore He is brought back thru the veil by the only thing that defeats death everytime. The phoienix who’s new owner is Ginney( I kinda thought it would be Harry) Ok I said this in a deep scary voice and now did I say something? I remember none of it.
March 28th, 2007 at 8:14 pm
I’m a little shocked at the British cover. I’ve usually thought them to be more realistic and sophisticated than the US editions, but this time the British seems childish in the extreme. The more I see the US cover though, the more impressed I am. I was suprised at the light color and the sparseness of it, but it works beautifully. There’s a sort of majesty about it, grim yet hopeful at the same time. (And I’m with Penny, horcrux-hunting agrees with Harry!)
I don’t like to speculate too firmly as I’d like to know as little solid information as possible, but… I don’t know whether it’s possible to tell if the shapes in the background are Death Eaters, graves, arches, or whatever they may be. Also, the locket is an interesting addition. I’m starting to fall in love with the Hogwarts/Veil/Grimmauld clues we’re getting.
March 28th, 2007 at 8:49 pm
Joye Beth was so excited about the cover art, that when she called me in a frenzy, I didn’t know what she was referring to, until she broke the news to me! Woo!
So, I’m very happy that you all did a great podcast on the cover art today, impeccable timing! I totally had the cover art up whilst you all were analyzing the covers, which you all pointed out some stuff which I never thought about before, so nice job!
Now, onto my observations: I’m glad that Michal mentioned the whole background thing in the US cover. When I first was looking it over, I thought the shapes in the background were actually spectators in the background. But when you two mentioned that you believed it to be tombstones, I never thought of that before. But– if you look at the ones to the left near Voldemort, they look to be in the shape of faces in my opinion. So, they could be Death Eaters, or Ghosts, or people who possibly went beyond the veil. Which brings me to my second hunch. If you look at the children’s UK cover, you see behind the trio underneath the veil, a specific color, which looks uncannily like the Orange Sky in the US Cover! So, maybe they are passing through the arch, and on the US cover, Voldy and Harry are doing their thing while inside of that realm. So maybe the scene taking place in the US cover is after the children’s UK cover, if that makes sense. For some reason I believe that Harry might be seeing Sirius again…
But anyway, great podcast, and yay for Penny and Greg both working things out together, you all make a great duo in figuring things out! =D
And I laughed so hard when you said how fat Hermione looked, just the disgust in your voice was hilarious! haha
the more and more I look at the US cover, the more I’m liking it!!
I”m so excited!!!!!!!!! -dies-
March 28th, 2007 at 10:05 pm
We really like your podcast because it leaves a lot of good questions for Harry Potter fans. But please, lose the TV talk!!!!!! Most Harry Potter fans are book rather than TV fanatics. Like us. We also have an idea on the Horcrux subject. (We disagree as to whether you brought this up exactly this way.) We think that Harry may be a Horcrux himself. Back to the TV subject. I know you love 24, Lost, and all those other shows, but after the 5th mention, it gets darned annoying. So please please please please please stop with the TV talk.
March 28th, 2007 at 10:07 pm
THE MIRROOOOOOOOOOOOOR!!!! HARRY HAS THE MIRROR IN HIS NECK!!!! ………I think…………
March 28th, 2007 at 10:10 pm
Two more ideas for podcast subjects:
(1) Animals, both magical and not, in Harry Potter’s world. Fawkes, Buckbeak, etc. - their roles in the story so far and in the end of the book
(2) Muggles. Will the wizarding world only successfully defeat Voldemort by enlisting the help of the Muggle world? Or will the worlds never collide?
March 28th, 2007 at 11:43 pm
Inneresting thoughts everyone; I’m starting to think that the UK cover is a 90 degree rotation from the US cover; meaning, the orange sky in the US cover IS the portal that they are falling through in the UK cover…no, actually that doesn’t make any sense, cuz then the gold would be floating in the air….how long till July?
March 29th, 2007 at 8:18 am
All this excitement and we are still a painful 113 days away from being able to read it for ourselves!! Keep up the good work making our waiting somewhat bearable.
March 29th, 2007 at 8:38 am
The interesting thing about the US version is that the tombstones are all in the outer area of this open “room.” Meaning, the tombstones make up an outer ring. To the right of Harry is another tombstone, and judging by the curtains, he’s on the opposite end of the open “room.”
(and his scar does show in the US version, you just have to look carefully)
March 29th, 2007 at 10:12 am
Considering I always take the dust cover off a book before I start to read it..
I enjoyed the pod cast today.. Way to go Penny!!!
I am on my own countdown to the next Evanovich Stephanie Plum Book.. I am all excited about that.. can’t you tell.. I wait with baited breath to see the cover…..Lean Mean 13!! APRIL 3rd..Closer than waitin on that potter thingie.. considering I am on chapter 11 of OofTP lol…
Dee
March 29th, 2007 at 10:14 am
Oh, and one more thing about the UK cover Penny… Hermione has not gained weight over the summer!! Its simply her big, purple, billowing mumu-like robes that are creating that effect, lol
I think she actually looks quite nice and im glad to see the trio on the cover. I really do wonder though what the hell Ron and Hermione are doing with those mumu wizrd robes on, could they be ceremonial?
March 29th, 2007 at 10:20 am
The thing I notice is in the arches in the background of the US cover. Specifically, the arch behind Voldemort’s left hand. The two sides of that arch, and some of the other arches have this feature as well, look like they have curtains like whole picture does. Here’s my theory: With Greg’s Deathly Hallows Theory as a general foundation, I have to agree with the general consensus that this scene is inside of the mysterious veil. I think that inside the veil their are more veils, I know it’s mind boggling. But it makes sense, its just like HBP, the room of the rotating doors.
I believe that Harry is summoning a Horcrux in this picture. Voldemort has hidden the final horcrux somewhere that he always dreamed he would go–beyond death. To Voldemort, that would be a huge boost of his mystique. To say that he had not only (approx. quote) “gone farther down the road towards immortality than anyone else,” but also crossed the line and used it to his advantage would be huge. Voldemort would have placed this horcrux as a fail safe. This horcrux was the one he never imagined having the remotest chance of being destroyed.
Not only is it behind the veil, but we have to remember that it is also past death. This brings me to by other prediction. The people in the backgroud of the cover. They are not just watching. Some, most specifically the ones on Harry’s side, are not evenly spaced. This leads me to believe that something is going on. I think it’s a fight: Dead people can do things while behind the veil, but they cannot leave veil-land. That explains the voices Harry and Luna hear.
On to my final prediction: Harry comes into the middle of this fight in the veil. Dead people are emerging from the various sub-veils to support Harry or Voldemort. This fight was started by the well informed Dumbledore, who will reappear, but who will not be able to cross back out of the veil like Harry and Voldemort. The only way to destroy this horcrux, as cleverly planned by Voldemort, is to die while holding it in some way/shape/form. Voldemort fears death, and believes that no one who had the immense power to travel into the veil unharmed would not want to live to tell the tale like Lockhart tells all his tales. Harry commits his sacrifice (and is now stuck behind the veil for all eternity WILLINGLY) and destroys the final horcrux by allowing an Avada Kedavra spell by Voldemort to hit him.
Voldemort, who is at that time still fighting Dumbledore, thinks he has succeeded and toys with the remaining veil-fighters. However, the Deathly Hallows comes into play. Because of his mother’s protection, Voldemort can never fully kill Harry. Harry was only sent back a few layers farther into the veil. After navigating his way to the outermost layer of the veil where the fight is going on, Harry kills Voldemort once and for all.
I wonder what Greg and Penny will think of this?
March 29th, 2007 at 10:25 am
Oh! I forgot one thing. The horcrux that Harry is summoning? My prediction is that it’s Slytherin’s Locket since that’s the one on the UK adult cover.
March 29th, 2007 at 10:26 am
Greg: A show on ancient ideas of the afterlife and how it applies to HP would be really intersting. I do know a bit about Egyptian mythology, I used to be completely obsessed with anything Egyptian when I was younger, so if you guys needed help with it (if you decide to do it) just drop me a line! =]
March 29th, 2007 at 11:05 am
I agree with above statements, a discussion on death in Harry Potter might be interesting. I’ve always been curious on the differences between portraits, ghosts and the like, as well as the attitudes towards death that various characters espouse and demonstrate.
And I still want a Marauders podcast
March 29th, 2007 at 11:47 am
Great podcast, and totally beat everybody else to the scoop. Great job!
Some random thoughts — mostly on the US cover:
I think the US cover is gorgeous, with Mary Grand Pre’s usual superior art. The UK cover looks cartoonish to me, although it looks to contain plenty of clues.
Here’s what Scholastic has to say about the US cover:
“The front cover of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows features a dramatic sky of oranges and golds. It depicts 17-year-old Harry with arm outstretched, reaching upward. The structures around Harry show evident destruction and in the shadows behind him, we see outlines of other people,” said David Saylor, Scholastic’s Vice President and Creative Director who has designed all seven Harry Potter covers.
It looks (and sounds) to me like the figures are people, not tombstones. I think they’re either beyond the veil OR at the Ministry — the room may have been devastated by their epic magic battle. I lean toward the idea that these figures are the dead, but they could be Death Eaters, OotP, or even all three, I suppose.
I liked Penny’s idea that the object around Harry’s neck is the fake horcrux that he’s holding on to for inspiration. But I also thought it would be cool if Harry showed up for the final confrontation with Voldy, who’s all cocky ’cause he thinks Harry can’t kill him because of the horcruxes. Then Harry casually nudges aside his robe, revealing an ex-horcrux, and Voldy has a horrible gutsucking moment of, “Oh, CRAP….”
March 29th, 2007 at 12:02 pm
Ok, I don’t have time to read through all the comments right now, but I just finished listening to the podcast and wanted to share my thoughts about the covers. Hopefully, I’m not repeating what others have already said.
First, I have to say I’ve loved all the US covers, but this one is by far my favorite. And it’s way better than the two UK covers (just my opinion). The kids UK cover gives a lot of detail but doesn’t have the same exciting feel for me.
Anyway, I haven’t had time to look too much into this but could the “colesseum” type arches in the background be Roman aquaducts found in Britian?? I thought there were some still standing. My first impression of the figures behind Harry were that they were gravestones. I’ve heard on other podcasts that they thought they were people, but this doesn’t make sense to me. I think Greg is right when he says this may be the graveyard they were talking about in relation to the 3rd movie being made. I also like the idea that the curtains on the side are an echo of the 1st cover. Since this is the close of the story, the curtains are closing on it. It makes sense. From the description of the veil in the Ministry of Magic, I don’t think it fits. It doesn’t look grey and “hoely” or tatered like I imagined the veil. Personally the thing I think Harry is calling to or summoning could be Fawkes the Phoenix which is why Vold. looks scared is trying to keep it back. I think that is probably one thing that Vold. could be scared of since the wands are related and because it was Dumbledores.
UK kids cover: I think the figure behind Harry is either Dobby or Kreacher, but I’m putting my money on Kreacher. Harry has more control over him and he knows information about RAB (possibly) and Dark Magic. He could be useful. I would like to think the castle is Hogwarts, but it could possibly be Durmstrang, Jo has said we will see Victor Krum again… Also, I think the image of the snake inside the back cover flap is representing a prediction that Prof. Trelawny will make in her crystal ball re: Nagini. I don’t know why or how Nagini could literally be trapped in a sphere like that and the first thing I thought of when I saw it was “Crystal Ball”. Trelawny has had a lot of importance in the last few books with her predictions. She’s been right about most things.
UK adult cover: Interesting idea I heard, the locket they found at #12 Grimmald (sp? sorry for my mistakes, I’m writing this fast) Place was silver right? If this locket represents the Horcrux that is/was Slitherins locket, then the one at #12 wouldn’t be it, which would be lame, because I was banking on that clue!!
Anyway, these are just my quick thoughts on the covers. Thanks for the great podcast! I’ll keep on prognosticating and can’t wait til I can read through everyone else’s ideas!
March 29th, 2007 at 12:17 pm
The thing around Harry’s neck is possibly the fake horecrux taken from Dumbledores body. He was keeping it as a reminder to the task ahead. Kinda like in Rambo III when satallon put on the Jade necklace of his dead girlfriend. Harry wears this cuz it’s time to get Clint Eastwood on Voldemort!
March 29th, 2007 at 12:48 pm
The children’s UK cover is way too cluttery, but it reveals the most secrets, I think…
First, the odd robes are clearly dress robes, and the trio is most certainly in a Gringotts vault. Hagrid told Harry in book 1 that intruders at Gringotts get “sucked into” the vaults and are never heard from again, which is what the UK kids cover seems to show. So, I bet Harry gets a clue at Bill and Fleur’s wedding which prompts the trio to leave immediately for Gringotts to look for a horcrux.
The vault seems to contain goblin-wrought armor, which may indicate it is one of Hepzibah Smith’s vaults. Thus, the house-elf on Harry’s back might be Hokey. Perhaps Hokey attended the wedding with a descendant of Hepzibah Smith’s, and Harry recognized her from the pensieve memory.
Either way, it’s a good thing the trio have a house-elf with them, since their magic operates differently than wizard magic. Dobby could apparate in and out of Hogwarts, which is even more protected than Gringotts. So the house elf with the trio will probably be key in getting them out of that vault!
March 29th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
Chris: Good ideas. the only prob. with your theory is that Hokey died in Azkaban, she was convicted of the murder of Hep. Smith. Dumbledore retrieved the pensive memory from her just before she died. But I def. agree with you that it’s a house elf and not a goblin. I didn’t remember that detail about the vaults sucking you in. Really cool!
March 29th, 2007 at 5:24 pm
If they’re not tombstones, then perhaps they are Death Eaters. We know that they gather in large circles.
March 29th, 2007 at 6:18 pm
I seem to remember that Dumbledore talked about a room full of gold and gems somewhere in the castle, didn’t he? He said he ended up there once when he was taking a walk. What he didn’t know, was how he got there, or how to access the room again. He says he thinks that maybe this particular room can only be accessed at a certain time of day. Maybe the location of the cup?
I don’t remember which book that was in… Can anyone help me out?
March 29th, 2007 at 6:49 pm
Wow. I love all the theories everyone has. I have to go back and look at the covers again. I am still dissapointed that Hermione let herself go though.
Dorien- I believe Dumbledore was talking about the Room Of Requirements. This was in the fourth book and he said something to the effect of “one night I was walking and needed to use the bathroom (although I doubt Dumbledore used such crude terminology) and I found a door and inside was a room full of chamber pots”. I have heard speculation about this and most think this was just JKR (and dumbledore) introducing the idea of the RoR to the readers and Harry.
Will converse more later.
March 29th, 2007 at 7:01 pm
Wait, although Dorien, now you have gotten me to think. Remember in HBP when Harry was looking for a place to hide the HBP’s Potions book and he asked the room of requirements for a place to hide it? Well he went in there and there were all sorts of treasures and items that were hidden there. Perhaps some of these things found on the UK cover could have been there?
March 29th, 2007 at 9:21 pm
Yeah, the quote Laura W supplied I was about to give, showing that it’s people, not tombstones. I thought that before I saw the quote, but you know. So, I’m doubting it’s a graveyard, and I do believe they are either death eaters, or people who have gone beyond the veil (i.e. Sirius, ghosts, etc). But why would they be standing and watching is the question– of course if they are Death Eaters, we’ve seen them do that before.
Good point on Voldy hiding something beyond the veil.. I mean, if people can’t return from it (as far as we know), then it would be awfully nifty for Voldemort to just toss one in there like a football :D, and whistle his way as he walks out of the Dept haha
For some reason I don’t think it’s a gringott’s vault… I think that’s really too obvious for some reason… I mean, how did they get in there in the first place, and I don’t think that’s getting them “sucked in”, because why would it be an archway? Since JK’s already used the archway inside the department, I believe it all has to do there.
March 30th, 2007 at 12:46 pm
Maybe in the book that wand thingie what was that Dumbledore called septum deviatus?, Nova scotia? You know the thing where the wands linked! Well maybe it glows orange instead of ice blue and the wands have flown from there hands. They both kinda have that “awe crap ” look on there faces.
March 30th, 2007 at 2:07 pm
Awesome podcast! I would have never looked close enough to see the house elf if it weren’t for the two of you!
Also I have heard that a theory that perhaps on the U.S. cover Harry and Voldemort are looking at Snape for something. Perhaps he has one of the horcruxes and has to choose whom to throw it to???
I love Snape so I have to throw him in there somehwhere! Anyways I am so excited for the book to come out!!!
March 31st, 2007 at 12:00 am
i have i kinda weird/ ironic idea, about the US cover, it looks like its the roman collesseum, and in the 5th book i believe that harry said he wanted to go in the ‘arena’ with his head held high, i aslo think that in the 7th book that they find the tomb of godric gryffindor, because it was stressed that the sward and the hat were the only KNOWN relics of godric gryffindor…yust my thoughts ttyl
March 31st, 2007 at 3:04 am
priori incantatum
March 31st, 2007 at 11:56 am
thanks
March 31st, 2007 at 6:51 pm
I’m sure i’m on the wrong track once again, or it has been said before or something, but the symbol on the UK version looks like the triangle of art. I knew i’d seen it somewhere; the only thing is that it seems to be split in two…
From About.com:
“The triangle of art is the protected space outside the magic circle, into which spirits are compelled to appear in Solomonic ritual magic. Typically, the central circle is inscribed with the sigil (seal) of the spirit to be invoked. The usual form is of a triangle, circumscribed with various words of power, containing an inner, blackened circle.
The purpose of the triangle is to contain the manifested entity. In some cases, the triangle is created as a physical object; sometimes, the central circle is replaced with a black scrying mirror.”
April 2nd, 2007 at 12:22 am
Any body realize we went all day and no April fools jokes?
April 2nd, 2007 at 1:55 am
do y’all think that Harry will continue to do a lot of searching for memories and using the Pensieve in DH? Since Jo said that 6 & 7 are essentially the same book, it seems that looking into Voldemort’s past, Snape’s past, the nite at Godric Hollow, etc. will continue to be important. What do you think?
April 2nd, 2007 at 11:52 am
Aaron: Penny pleaded with me to do an April Fools joke, but I just couldn’t do it, so blame me. She wanted to, but for various reasons (mostly due to the fact that we’re going away for Passover for a few days and I had some work to finish up), we didn’t get around to it. We’ll talk about what we were thinking of next time…
April 2nd, 2007 at 2:38 pm
Oh yeah Penny said she made like 100 Matza balls for that. I can imagine you taking the family on a road trip with 3 screaming kids while playing punch buggy and eating matza balls. Funny how we have to do extra work to enjoy moments like that. I worked like 144 hours over the last 2 weeks so it was over with before I realized it. Hope you had a good holiday.
April 2nd, 2007 at 9:13 pm
I think you guys should compile a list of all the Podcasts that Greg has suggested. The ones I can think of off the top of my head are a 24 podcast and a Bloomsbury the dog podcast. If they’re half as good as the HP podcast, you guys will be set!
April 2nd, 2007 at 11:02 pm
I have a crackpot theory that Greg will probably enjoy: In the final pivotal moment of Deathly Hallows when Harry is battling Voldemort, Eleanor Columbus, er, sorry, Susan Bones will come in riding Bloomsbury the dog (who is actualy Regulus Black(R.A.B.) in animagus form), remove the golden arrow from his mouth and unleash the death blow on Voldemort, after cursing him for murdering most of her family, thereby saving the entire wizarding world and leaving Harry completely stunned. Harry realizes that he has underestimated Susan completely, falls in love and leaves poor Ginny Weasley by the wayside. The movie version of this book, will, ofcourse be directed by our favourite director Chris Columbus
April 3rd, 2007 at 3:36 pm
Hey, It’s Andrea from France. A few months later, just wanted to say thanks for acknowledging me in one of those podcasts where you talked about different translations and names of characters. Snape=Rogue, Mme. Pomfrey=Mme. Pomfresh Crookshanks=Pattenrond, Hogwarts=Poudlard, etc.
As far as the new covers go, I just wanted to say that in Harry’s glasses in the UK kid’s version there is a reflection of a face at the top of his glasses. Now can we correlate that cover to the American cover and say that Harry is invoking someone that Voldemort is not too happy about? I don’t know.
By the way, I’m not sure if anyone’s addressed WHY Dumbledore would have chosen death, if it was indeed his will. Any ideas there? That’s an awfully big sacrifice to have made consciously, and I don’t know what would make him see that as the best option.
April 4th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
What I’m about to say isn’t going to be terribly well thought out nor will I fully formulate my argument, but here I go: I read an article (somewhere on Mugglenet sometime ago before your podcast was alive and kicking) which proposed that the books may be “mirrored”: 1 to 7, 2 to 6, 3 to 5 and 4 being in the center / book of transition. I really liked this theory and have also looked for supporting instances as I’ve read the books. Well, it just so happened that I started re-reading the first book the day the cover for book 7 came out. And I was surprised to see some similarities: both have curtains (or veils) on the inside covers, both have columns / arches. I thought these were interesting parallels. Perhaps the curtains are just ways to mark the opening and end of the story, like in the theater. Or perhaps it has more meaning…?
And following up on my one and only other post, I guess I had sort of forgotten Greg’s theory about how Voldemort dies because I don’t agree. But you definitely did cover that topic.
April 4th, 2007 at 5:50 pm
Hey, I dug up these links on the Bloomsbury site where Jason Cockcroft (the UK illustrator of the Harry Potter books) described his process for creating the cover art for the Half-Blood Prince- I thought it was interesting… the clips are short but informative
Jason Cockcroft discusses the mysteries in the cover artwork:
http://www.bloomsbury.com/media/jason_mysteries.mov
Jason Cockcroft discusses the front cover
http://www.bloomsbury.com/media/jason_front_cover.mov
Jason Cockcroft discusses ageing Harry
http://www.bloomsbury.com/media/jason_aging_harry.mov
April 4th, 2007 at 9:51 pm
Welcome to all the new commenters. WE are really happy to hear from you all! All of these theories and observations about the covers are fantastic. Keep em coming!
Ben- I think we also proposed a Lost, WonderPets (yes, that is a show on Nick Jr.!), Office and Heroes podcast.
Greg from T- if Chris Columbus directs the last movie, I might have to boycott.
Andrea- welcome back!
Trace P- I had heard that topic discussed on mugglenet. It is definitely interesting and the curtains might be symbolic of that.
April 5th, 2007 at 10:12 am
i poop on chris columbus…anyways i think the things in the background are shadows,not gravestones, i think they might be of both sides fighting the ‘final’ battle…its thursday where is the new podcast…jk…actually i am leaving to go to my grandma’s house and there is no internet…so PLEASE
keep up the good comments every one
April 5th, 2007 at 11:32 am
Hey y’all! Penny and I were away for Passover; podcast should be up tonight. Including more cover speculations, and a new contest!
April 10th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
I agree with you guys on most things except the thing that greg said about the graves in the background of the Scholastic edition. I think that those are people and not headstones. That’s all I’ve got to say… and that I love your show!!!!!!!
April 20th, 2007 at 2:40 pm
hya guys
i just recently listened to this podcast and couldnt believe u failed to pick-up on the rune lyk symbol at the top of the spine on the uk edition, obviously this is of great importance, has it has on the spine of the other books with the pheonix feather and the ring.
So, i’ve bin doing some research into it and unfortunatly i can not find an identical symbol but have bin able to find different means for parts of the symbols.
i) The triangle and circle represent the Divination of the union of body, mind, and spirit. In ceremonial magic the spirit summoned by the magician is contained within this symbol. Thus this symbol is one of protection and power, the integration of personality.
Hmmmm, sounds alot lyk a horcux.
ii) The triangle popularly represents one of the 4 elements, fire.
Hence, the orange/red backgrounds on both us and uk editions.
iii) The triangle is also a symbol for power and, as such, related to danger. But according to the law of the polarity of meanings of the elementary graphs, it also means safety and also sometimes success and prosperity.
Does this mean that harry will go through great perels and may come close to death but will triumph and survive,lol.
iv) In Western ideography the circle is a general symbol for the eternal, the endless, that which is without beginning or end, all possibilities. According to the law of the polarity of meanings of elementary graphs it can also mean nothing, no possibilites at all.
This so shows voldemorts quest to obtain immortality but in his vain atemps it amounts to nothing
v) The popularly represents one of the 4 elements, air.
meh i got nothing on that, oh but maybe that is why harry and voldemort are reaching 4 something on the us edition cus its airal, floating.
vi) The circle with a line through it is closely associated with the idea of lightning.
Wow (sarc), related to harry’s scar.
Overall) There is obviously no mistake for the placing of this symbol on the cover as i believe it is the symbol on the last horcux.
omg, essay.
lol
much luv
-sam
April 20th, 2007 at 2:42 pm
v) i meant the circle & the cirle with the line
April 20th, 2007 at 2:43 pm
v) the horcux that is
gosh i really didnt make myself clear did i
April 26th, 2007 at 7:23 am
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April 26th, 2007 at 5:57 pm
Wow, Sam- that is interesting. I can’t believe we haven’t picked up on that symbol either. Thanks for all that research!!
July 21st, 2007 at 12:56 am
I like the UK cover because it fits in with the rest of the books that they sell over here.