Comments on: Episode #26: Deathly Hallows Covers!

By: Dee

Dee — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 05:56:28 +0000

I like the UK cover because it fits in with the rest of the books that they sell over here.

By: Penny

Penny — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 22:57:14 +0000

Wow, Sam- that is interesting. I can’t believe we haven’t picked up on that symbol either. Thanks for all that research!!

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By: Momantai

Momantai — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 19:43:37 +0000

v) the horcux that is

gosh i really didnt make myself clear did i

By: Momantai

Momantai — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 19:42:41 +0000

v) i meant the circle & the cirle with the line

By: Momantai

Momantai — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 19:40:49 +0000

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

By: Kenzii

Kenzii — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 19:51:07 +0000

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!!!!!!!

By: Greg

Greg — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 16:32:26 +0000

Hey y’all! Penny and I were away for Passover; podcast should be up tonight. Including more cover speculations, and a new contest!

By: Sarah

Sarah — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 15:12:22 +0000

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

By: Penny

Penny — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 02:51:34 +0000

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.

By: Greg in Toronto

Greg in Toronto — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 22:50:43 +0000

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

By: Trace Paper

Trace Paper — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 20:05:05 +0000

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.

By: Andrea

Andrea — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 20:36:31 +0000

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.

By: Greg in Toronto

Greg in Toronto — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 04:02:58 +0000

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

By: Ben

Ben — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 02:13:01 +0000

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!

By: Aaron

Aaron — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 19:38:13 +0000

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.

By: Greg

Greg — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 16:52:12 +0000

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…

By: Jennilee

Jennilee — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 06:55:40 +0000

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?

By: Aaron

Aaron — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 05:22:43 +0000

Any body realize we went all day and no April fools jokes?

By: Dorien

Dorien — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 23:51:49 +0000

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.”

By: Aaron

Aaron — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 16:56:00 +0000

thanks

By: Spenser

Spenser — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 08:04:41 +0000

priori incantatum

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 05:00:25 +0000

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

By: Luvssnape

Luvssnape — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 19:07:18 +0000

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!!!

By: Aaron

Aaron — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 17:46:21 +0000

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.

By: Spenser

Spenser — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 02:21:41 +0000

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 , 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.

By: penny

penny — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 00:01:17 +0000

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?

By: Penny

Penny — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 23:49:56 +0000

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.

By: Dorien

Dorien — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 23:18:54 +0000

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?

By: aishel

aishel — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 22:24:27 +0000

If they’re not tombstones, then perhaps they are Death Eaters. We know that they gather in large circles.