# Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 17, 2010, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-methods-of-rationality/561004 "2010-11-17T18:27:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-methods-of-rationality/561004/41 "2014-02-10T00:19:24Z")
> [@Mr.Goob](#): > > Yes Harry vs. Voldy. But as I’m seeing it everything happens including the upcoming final showdown compressed in the first year. The author is dropping all sorts of references and things we learned in the next six years (books) backwards into the 101 chapters released do far. He said in the author notes after chapter 101; > > _The story currently has one more one-shot update left to go, > and after that the long final arc which will wrap everything up with no loose ends, > which I fondly hope to get done before the end of 2014._ Wow, he’s got an 11 year old prodigy up against the Dark Lord. I look forward to reading it. ---
**Author:** ![Tabby\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tabby\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabby_Cat)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-methods-of-rationality/561004/42 "2014-02-10T01:47:48Z")
This was great. I didn’t like the HP universe much, but I was absolutely glued to this fanfic. I can’t wait for the next updates! ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-methods-of-rationality/561004/43 "2014-02-10T04:37:31Z")
My wife and daughters were appalled every time I brought up events from this story, but I still like it. And regarding how far along it is – we’re over 100 chapters in and it’s not even done with Harry’s first year of Hogwart’s. ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-methods-of-rationality/561004/44 "2014-02-10T16:00:26Z")
> [@chorpler](#): > > My wife and daughters were appalled every time I brought up events from this story, but I still like it. And regarding how far along it is – we’re over 100 chapters in and it’s not even done with Harry’s first year of Hogwart’s. I enjoyed the series at first, but then I felt it dragged on and on without advancing the story. I’ve stopped. Should I restart? ---
**Author:** ![bldysabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@bldysabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bldysabba)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-methods-of-rationality/561004/45 "2014-02-11T10:19:49Z")
> [@chorpler](#): > > My wife and daughters were appalled every time I brought up events from this story, but I still like it. And regarding how far along it is – we’re over 100 chapters in and it’s not even done with Harry’s first year of Hogwart’s. True, but I also think that there is no intention of doing 7 years. I believe the story is on its final arc. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-methods-of-rationality/561004/46 "2014-02-11T14:44:20Z")
> [@sachertorte](#): > > I enjoyed the series at first, but then I felt it dragged on and on without advancing the story. I’ve stopped. Should I restart? I’m actually surprised that so many people were able to read it in one go. It really is more of an episodic series than a book. That said, it is always progressing, even if, at the time, you don’t realize the importance of what you are reading. The author follows a rather strict A + B leads to C formula. So, yeah, I’d suggest giving it another go. Though maybe you shouldn’t actually “restart” unless you are okay with skimming the stuff you already read. If you felt bogged down before, you’ll feel that way again. I’m actually curious–at what point did you get all bogged down, anyways? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-methods-of-rationality/561004/47 "2014-02-11T18:33:20Z")
I started in on this because of its mention in another Harry Potter thread, and I like the broad conceit – suppose instead of being a dopey kid, Harry Potter was a Mary Sue stand-in for the well-informed rationalist the reader likes to fancy his or her self. It uses the wizarding world as something to practice the wielding of rationalist tropes against, kind of like a Sophie’s World on somebody else’s intellectual property. But so far, up to chapter six, Potter is so goddamned obnoxious even when he’s discussing an interesting topic that I can scarcely stand it. It may be made worse because for the purpose of convenience, I have downloaded the audiobook version so that I can listen while I do household chores, and the person doing Harry’s voice is not a voice actor as he himself confesses, and his reading tends to exaggerate Harry sounding like an obnoxious little tit. ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-methods-of-rationality/561004/48 "2014-02-11T20:37:06Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I’m actually surprised that so many people were able to read it in one go. It really is more of an episodic series than a book. > > That said, it is always progressing, even if, at the time, you don’t realize the importance of what you are reading. The author follows a rather strict A + B leads to C formula. So, yeah, I’d suggest giving it another go. Though maybe you shouldn’t actually “restart” unless you are okay with skimming the stuff you already read. If you felt bogged down before, you’ll feel that way again. > > I’m actually curious–at what point did you get all bogged down, anyways? There was a part where they had some sort of battle game. Then they had another one. I think they were going to have more so I stopped reading. ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-methods-of-rationality/561004/49 "2014-02-11T21:19:03Z")
> [@Johnny\_Angel](#): > > I started in on this because of its mention in another Harry Potter thread, and I like the broad conceit – suppose instead of being a dopey kid, Harry Potter was a Mary Sue stand-in for the well-informed rationalist the reader likes to fancy his or her self. It uses the wizarding world as something to practice the wielding of rationalist tropes against, kind of like a Sophie’s World on somebody else’s intellectual property. > > But so far, up to chapter six, Potter is so goddamned obnoxious even when he’s discussing an interesting topic that I can scarcely stand it. It may be made worse because for the purpose of convenience, I have downloaded the audiobook version so that I can listen while I do household chores, and the person doing Harry’s voice is not a voice actor as he himself confesses, and his reading tends to exaggerate Harry sounding like an obnoxious little tit. I’m in the same boat (although I’m reading it rather than listening to an audiobook). Harry’s an obnoxious prick still at chapter 25. I still enjoy it though, as I don’t need protagonists to be likeable. ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-methods-of-rationality/561004/50 "2014-02-12T21:24:35Z")
> [@bldysabba](#): > > True, but I also think that there is no intention of doing 7 years. I believe the story is on its final arc. Aw, man, really? Is that official? I think I remember him mentioning that it would be in the final arc soon (and this was a few updates back), but I just assumed he was talking about the final arc _for this school year_\*. Is the whole thing really going to end soon? ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Goob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@Mr.Goob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Goob)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-methods-of-rationality/561004/51 "2014-02-12T22:21:44Z")
Here is a quote from the author after chapter 101; > [@](#): > > The story currently has one more one-shot update left to go, > and after that the long final arc which will wrap everything up with no loose ends, > which I fondly hope to get done before the end of 2014. At the author notes page he said; > [@](#): > > Currently 3,341 words into Ch. 102. I don’t know if I’ll post this chapter immediately upon its completion; after that starts the Final Arc which may take a while to write, so I may save 102 as a brief interlude during that long drought. (Ch. 102 is shaping up to be short. But not boring, rest assured.) ---
**Author:** ![bldysabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@bldysabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bldysabba)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-methods-of-rationality/561004/52 "2014-02-12T22:41:12Z")
> [@chorpler](#): > > Aw, man, really? Is that official? I think I remember him mentioning that it would be in the final arc soon (and this was a few updates back), but I just assumed he was talking about the final arc _for this school year_\*. Is the whole thing really going to end soon? ☹ Author’s note > [@](#): > > One more one-shot arc (probably one shorter chapter) remains to be written before I start work on the Last Arc of HPMOR which will wrap up all dangling threads and close all open parentheses. This is not impossible when you have planned everything out in advance. So yea. Final Arc is final. If you’re looking for something else to read, read Worm. It’s a superhero themed serial that’s fairly dark, yet entertaining in the sense that it’s episodic and keeps building up and you keep wanting to read more. It was posted by Yudkowsky, and I repeat his warning. Do not start reading until you have a lot of free time. My note - read it if you have the ability to stop/pick up at will episodic fiction that has hooks which keep making you want to read _just one more chapter_. I don’t have that sort of control. I read for five or six days straight without doing anything else, and I read about as fast as anyone I know. I was experiencing some fatigue towards the end, but overall I’d say it’s worth a read. > **[1.01 – Worm](https://parahumans.wordpress.com/category/stories-arcs-1-10/arc-1-gestation/1-01/)** > > Posts about 1.01 written by wildbow ETA: Forgot to mention, big plus, it’s a completed story. ETA: Ninya’d ---
**Author:** ![Astral\_Rejection](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/258eb7/32.png) [@Astral\_Rejection](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astral_Rejection)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2014, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-methods-of-rationality/561004/53 "2014-02-13T01:39:03Z")
I was just about to post a thread about Worm. Might still do it. It’s an incredible story, well worth anyone’s time. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2014, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-methods-of-rationality/561004/54 "2014-02-13T02:34:59Z")
> [@lisiate](#): > > I’m in the same boat (although I’m reading it rather than listening to an audiobook). Harry’s an obnoxious prick still at chapter 25. I still enjoy it though, as I don’t need protagonists to be likeable. Yeah…but in the JKR version, I’m finding that Harry is a rather obnoxious little pratt in many ways - much of the things he does, and the way he behaves I would certainly punish. And he seems to get a lot of indulgence from the authority figures around him. ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2014, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-methods-of-rationality/561004/55 "2014-02-13T02:49:07Z")
Thanks, I did see that, but I assumed it was just referring to this part of HPMOR, for some reason. Oh well, as long as it really wraps up everything, I guess it will be okay. I did see him mention that **Worm** story, and I started to read it, but as far as I could tell, there’s no epub/mobi version and no podcast version, which makes it a lot less convenient to read – I “read” most of HPMOR using the audio version while driving or working (I listen to audiobooks while coding), and much of the rest was read on my Kindle, often while out of wi-fi range, so the epub/mobi offline versions were extremely handy as well. **Worm** does seem pretty cool so far, though. If you do start a thread about it, **Astral Rejection** , please post a link in this thread so we can follow up there. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![FlyingDragonFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c89c15/32.png) [@FlyingDragonFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingDragonFan)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-methods-of-rationality/561004/56 "2014-02-19T15:22:13Z")
> [@sachertorte](#): > > There was a part where they had some sort of battle game. Then they had another one. I think they were going to have more so I stopped reading. This is where I almost gave up, too. All the twists and turns and traitors and double-crosses in that section got overly complicated to me. But I stuck with it, and it gets better again after. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-methods-of-rationality/561004/57 "2014-02-19T15:42:16Z")
> [@bldysabba](#): > > ETA: Forgot to mention, big plus, it’s a completed story. Thanks for this. I swear, the next person that gets me hooked on a great story that’s still “in progress” will be beaten severely with a ream of blank paper. Love the story, hate the wait. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-methods-of-rationality/561004/58 "2014-02-19T17:00:36Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Thanks for this. > > I swear, the next person that gets me hooked on a great story that’s still “in progress” will be beaten severely with a ream of blank paper. > > Love the story, hate the wait. I’m with ya, man. According to George RR Martin’s publisher, the publication date of _The Winds of Winter_ is “certainly not 2014”. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2014, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-methods-of-rationality/561004/59 "2014-03-06T20:08:46Z")
> [@sachertorte](#): > > There was a part where they had some sort of battle game. Then they had another one. I think they were going to have more so I stopped reading. Meh, the specifics aren’t that important there. And they mostly stop after Christmas. You can definitely skim those parts. I sure didn’t read them with close attention the first time, and I was fine. ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2014, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-methods-of-rationality/561004/60 "2014-03-06T20:30:48Z")
If someone can tall me which chapters the battles begin and end on, I’d give it another shot. As it is, I have no idea which chapter I gave up on (and I don’t really want to re-read the whole thing). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-methods-of-rationality/561004.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-methods-of-rationality/561004.md?page=4)