In 1990, Jean Auel published “The Plains of Passage,” the fourth book in her “Earth’s Children” series about Stone Age people. The first, “Clan of the Cave Bear,” was wonderful, and even the next three, although lacking in plot and characterization compared to the first, were still very good. But then she made us all wait OVER TEN YEARS FOR THE FIFTH BOOK!!! And when it came out ("Shelters of Stone’), well… let’s just say that a lot of fans were disappointed. Now, of course, J.K. Rowling is not coming out with the fifth book when she said she would. Oh sure, it’s supposed to be next summer… but I fear the dread curse of the fifth book!! Help!
Goblet of Fire came out what, 2 years ago? I don’t think they’ve released it in paperback yet because it’s still selling like mad.
Would you rather have Rowling do a good job and be happy with the knowledge that the book that is coming it is the book SHE wanted or would you rather have her rush it all up and get it out to the fans?
I know which one I’d choose.
I know I’d rather Rowling write a great book and be happy with it, rather than being pressured into releasing before she’s ready…
but jeez, I’m getting impatient… I WANNIT NOW!!!
That might depend on where you are; my copy of Goblet of Fire is paperback.
All right, listen up, JK Rowling; between you, Robert Jordan and Stephen “the next Dark Tower book is coming soon, I promise” King, I’m dying here! I don’t care which one of you it is, but someone! Release a goddamned book already!
Yeah, I know, but the Jean Auel incident left scars that may never heal. One good thing, though, is that the Earth’s Children really kind of went downhill after the second one, and J.K. just keeps getting better and better, so that must be a good sign…
Yeah, like book four wasn’t a rush job. Did it have any editing at all?
“Ron, a fourth year student at Hogwarts, was in his fourth year, quite enjoying things from the perspective of a fourth-year student at Hogwarts. His best friend Harry, with a scar on his forehead, asked Ron how he was enjoying being a fourth year, seeing as he had no scar on his forehead like Harry did. Harry was also a fourth year student, except he had a scar. On his forehead.” (continues for 700 odd pages)
Don’t get me wrong, it was good, but it had more padding than a six-part Doctor Who.
-fh
According to Stephen King’s website, the next Dark Tower novel, which is titled Wolves of The Calla is done as is the 6th book, which is called Song of Susannah and the 7th and final novel called The Dark Tower is about 1/3 of the way done. Apparently King is looking at a late 2003 publishing of book 5, with the other 2 volumes following at 3 month intervals.
That is if EVERYTHING falls into place.
I’m getting rather bored with them.
They’re becoming the regular old English mystery. The characters are developed the magic schtick is used up and it seems that you-know-who will attack in each book only to escape for the next one.
I hope I am mistaken.
I have to say, though, that it was a real treat to see such a long children’s book (well, sort of a children’s book anyway.) I went through a sad odyssey with my own children’s book a few years ago. “It’s too long,” was all I heard from publishers and my agent. I kept cutting it and cutting it and the age range it was meant for kept going down. I think it was down to 35,000 words and 8-10 year olds by the end. The process did come to an end before it became a nursery school picture book.
Try and publish it now. There is a precedent. Go for it.
I just know that unless there is something after book seven, I am going to be a very, very sad person.
Sure, the standard mystery part of it gets old, but what keeps me waiting is the whole major story mysteries; mainly:
*Story behind Lily and Petunia’s family (I still think Petunia is a Squib)
*Why is Harry the only Potter left? What happend to his grandparents and all the other people he saw in the Mirror of Erised?
- Which character will die, that Rowling said was sad to write? (I say Neville Longbottom)
*And perhaps the biggest mystery: Why did Voldemort want Harry dead?
All valid questions, but easily answered in two or three books.
No way, man! Longbottom forever!!! Dumbledore’s gonna die, but when Voldemort strikes him down, it will only make him more powerful than you can possible imagine.
Ron Solo-, er Wesley:I don’t know, i can imagine alot!
Dumbledore will be named by the Boston globe in a scandal dealing with underage house elves.
I thought that was already taken care of in book 4. I remember speculating about that (my guess was one of the Weasley twins). I didn’t know more people were going to die in book 5.
Rowling in interviews has said that somebody very close to Harry is going to die in book 5… My guess is Hagrid.
As far as the OP-- book 5 can’t be bad. It just can’t. There’s no way. <crossing fingers>
carniverousplant-- I think there are more than enough angles to cover in the next 3 books.
There is still a lot to be learned about Harry’s family. The wizarding history in general. (Snapes history as a death eater for example.) Voldemorts obsession with killing the Potter family off for good.
Along with all of this, the wizards seem to be setting up for for a full scale war. Rowling says she is not even sure that Harry will survive through the 7th book.