# New/Last Harry Potter book to be 1500 pages long??! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 10, 2006, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-last-harry-potter-book-to-be-1500-pages-long/372116 "2006-09-10T00:54:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-last-harry-potter-book-to-be-1500-pages-long/372116/1 "2006-09-10T00:54:09Z")
It’s from a tabloid, but it does claim a direct quote from Rowling both that she is half the way done, and has 750 pages so far. Maybe she means that lots of editing down is to come, or that editing is half the work, but in the past it seems more like she adds thing in edit rather than subtracts them (hence the length of GOF). So, (2 x 750 = ) 1500 pages, no? Frankly, that’ll probably be to short for me. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-last-harry-potter-book-to-be-1500-pages-long/372116/2 "2006-09-10T01:06:48Z")
That’s probably 700 pages of **manuscript**. I’m sure one of our published authors on the board can tell you that it translates to about half as many printed book pages. ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-last-harry-potter-book-to-be-1500-pages-long/372116/3 "2006-09-10T01:19:51Z")
Plus JK is notorious for fleshing out background for characters and events. She’s literally got boxes full of notes. “750 pages done” might mean “750 pages of material done” rather than 750 actual, editing-ready pages. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-last-harry-potter-book-to-be-1500-pages-long/372116/4 "2006-09-10T02:16:02Z")
Well, a man can hope. It feels like there is a heck of a lot that has to be covered. Harry has to visit Godrics Hollow, go to a wedding, find 4 different horcruxes, get revelations about Snape and Dumbledore and do something with Malfoy, confront Voldemort, deal with two different love stories (three if you bother with Lupin the First), do something with Neville, do something with the Ministry, probably return to the school (you really think this is the one book that wouldn’t deal with events at the school? No wai!) We’ve got Hagrid’s plot line with his brother and Maxime, the Order, Numer 12 to revisit, and Wormtail to do… something. Plus whatever other new characters and elements she’ll introduce. ---
**Author:** ![LVBoPeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/858c86/32.png) [@LVBoPeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LVBoPeep)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-last-harry-potter-book-to-be-1500-pages-long/372116/5 "2006-09-10T02:46:57Z")
[QUOTE=Apos] Well, a man can hope. It feels like there is a heck of a lot that has to be covered. Harry has to visit Godrics Hollow, go to a wedding, find 4 different horcruxes, get revelations about Snape and Dumbledore and do something with Malfoy, confront Voldemort, deal with two different love stories (three if you bother with Lupin the First), do something with Neville, do something with the Ministry, probably return to the school (you really think this is the one book that wouldn’t deal with events at the school? No wai!) We’ve got Hagrid’s plot line with his brother and Maxime, the Order, Numer 12 to revisit, and Wormtail to do… something. Plus whatever other new characters and elements she’ll introduce. [/QUOTE] \>\>\> Did anyone else read this and think he might also have his bride to kill and Guilder to frame for it? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-last-harry-potter-book-to-be-1500-pages-long/372116/6 "2006-09-10T04:33:47Z")
> [@](#): > > Well, a man can hope. It feels like there is a heck of a lot that has to be covered. Harry has to visit Godrics Hollow, go to a wedding, find 4 different horcruxes, get revelations about Snape and Dumbledore and do something with Malfoy, confront Voldemort, deal with two different love stories (three if you bother with Lupin the First), do something with Neville, do something with the Ministry, probably return to the school (you really think this is the one book that wouldn’t deal with events at the school? No wai!) We’ve got Hagrid’s plot line with his brother and Maxime, the Order, Numer 12 to revisit, and Wormtail to do… something. Plus whatever other new characters and elements she’ll introduce. I know she swears that the seventh book is the end, but I don’t see how it’s possible. Besides, she’s clearly set Harry up for another 3 years of post-grad Auror training. 1 senior year + 3 auror years = 4 horcruxes. I’m just saying. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-last-harry-potter-book-to-be-1500-pages-long/372116/7 "2006-09-10T13:12:58Z")
I think it will end with Ron embracing Hermoine as they overlood the burned ruins of Hogswort’s, and Ron will say “It’s time to go back to the world” as he traces the Sign of the Scar into the space before him. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-last-harry-potter-book-to-be-1500-pages-long/372116/8 "2006-09-10T13:20:36Z")
Yeah, there’s a whole buttload of things for her to deal with, and frankly 1500 pages might not be enough for me, either. [QUOTE=Smokinjbc] \>\>\> Did anyone else read this and think he might also have his bride to kill and Guilder to frame for it? 😉 [/QUOTE] You win! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-last-harry-potter-book-to-be-1500-pages-long/372116/9 "2006-09-10T15:23:29Z")
[QUOTE=Merneith] I know she swears that the seventh book is the end, but I don’t see how it’s possible. Besides, she’s clearly set Harry up for another 3 years of post-grad Auror training. 1 senior year + 3 auror years = 4 horcruxes. I’m just saying. [/QUOTE] Why does he have to destroy only one Horcrux per year? That isn’t enough plot material for a whole year, and it would rapidly become repetitive. Rowling has said there will be seven books, and seven books there will be, possibly with a line or two in the epilogue to the effect that “and then Harry became an Auror, married Ginny, and spent the rest of his life catching Dark wizards.” There’s no earthly reason why she has to _describe_ the three years of Auror training in any level of detail. Anyway, as much as I like the idea of a 1500-page book, I think she _probably_ means she has 750 pages of double-spaced and unedited manuscript, which will probably work out to considerably fewer “book pages” in the final version. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2006, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-last-harry-potter-book-to-be-1500-pages-long/372116/10 "2006-09-11T13:56:11Z")
[QUOTE=FriarTed] I think it will end with Ron embracing Hermoine as they overlood the burned ruins of Hogswort’s, and Ron will say “It’s time to go back to the world” as he traces the Sign of the Scar into the space before him. 😃 [/QUOTE] OK, I should have had Ron say “It’s time to go back to the Muggles”, but come on, this is funny! ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2006, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-last-harry-potter-book-to-be-1500-pages-long/372116/11 "2006-09-11T14:06:08Z")
[QUOTE=Smokinjbc] \>\>\> Did anyone else read this and think he might also have his bride to kill and Guilder to frame for it? 😉 [/QUOTE] Me! I thought so. Add me to the list of people who want the book to be longer and longer and longer…there’s so much left unresolved! ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2006, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-last-harry-potter-book-to-be-1500-pages-long/372116/12 "2006-09-11T14:37:34Z")
[QUOTE=Anaamika] Add me to the list of people who want the book to be longer and longer and longer…there’s so much left unresolved! [/QUOTE] I’m probably the only one who reads the Potter series _and_ thinks the books would do better kept to a more manageable length. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2006, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-last-harry-potter-book-to-be-1500-pages-long/372116/13 "2006-09-11T14:39:42Z")
[QUOTE=ShibbOleth] I’m probably the only one who reads the Potter series _and_ thinks the books would do better kept to a more manageable length. [/QUOTE] What’s manageable? I mean, sure, I understand the desire to have books shorter I suppose, but _Shogun_ for example, would not have been the stellar classic it was if it was any shorter. Then again, both _The Stand_ and _Gone With The Wind_ would have been better with about 200 pages lopped off. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2006, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-last-harry-potter-book-to-be-1500-pages-long/372116/14 "2006-09-11T15:31:11Z")
ShibbOleth writes: \> I’m probably the only one who reads the Potter series and thinks the books \> would do better kept to a more manageable length. I’ve read them all and I certainly think they would be better if they were shorter. I also don’t think that it’s nearly as good a series as its fans think. I’ve read them all so far because it’s pretty much a requirement now for anyone interested in fantasy to read them all and because many of my friends read and discuss them, so I don’t want to be left out of discussions. As I’ve said before in other threads, I can name at least fifteen other children’s fantasy series that are better than the Harry Potter books. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2006, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-last-harry-potter-book-to-be-1500-pages-long/372116/15 "2006-09-11T15:39:22Z")
[QUOTE=Wendell Wagner] I’ve read them all and I certainly think they would be better if they were shorter. I also don’t think that it’s nearly as good a series as its fans think. I’ve read them all so far because it’s pretty much a requirement now for anyone interested in fantasy to read them all and because many of my friends read and discuss them, so I don’t want to be left out of discussions. As I’ve said before in other threads, I can name at least fifteen other children’s fantasy series that are better than the Harry Potter books. [/QUOTE] :dubious: I don’t think books or series should be measured by how they stand up to other books or series! Do they have merit on their own? No, they’re sure not LOTR but they are entertaining and have a little depth, although not much, and they’re fun. That’s all I ask for out of some books. ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2006, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-last-harry-potter-book-to-be-1500-pages-long/372116/16 "2006-09-11T15:40:31Z")
> [@](#): > > I can name at least fifteen other children’s fantasy series that are better than the Harry Potter books. Please do. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2006, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-last-harry-potter-book-to-be-1500-pages-long/372116/17 "2006-09-11T15:46:31Z")
[QUOTE=Gadarene] Please do. [/QUOTE] Dame Edith Nesbit Edward Eager JRR Tolkien (OK, only one “Kids” book) Terry Pratchett (3 “YA” books so far and another due out) Susan Cooper John Bellairs (quality varied wildly) Singletons: Wind in the Willows The Phantom Tollbooth ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2006, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-last-harry-potter-book-to-be-1500-pages-long/372116/18 "2006-09-11T15:56:25Z")
Well, how’s this? Phillip Pullman - His Dark Materials Garth Nix - the Abhorsen books Tamora Pierce - Song of the Lioness quartet (plus plenty of others if you like) Madeline L’Engle - A Wrinkle in Time and sequels Garth Nix - Keys to the Kingdom Susan Cooper - The Dark is Rising Lloyd Alexander - Prydain series Diana Wynne Jones - Chrestomanci books, plus Howl’s Moving Castle has a sequel if you count that as a series, and the Dalemark books Patricia C. Wrede - are they called hte Enchanted Forest books? Suitable for younger readers John Christopher - Tripods series - really more SF Diane Duane - Young Wizards Ursula K. LeGuin - Earthsea, appropriate for older kids C. S. Lewis - Chronicles of Narnia Patricia McKillip - Riddle Trilogy Jane Yolen - Dragon trilogy There’s fifteen, all of them at least trilogies, off the top of my head, all arguably better than Harry Potter. (Didn’t even mention Redwall.) I mean, I like Harry too, but there’s a lot of really, really good stuff out there. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2006, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-last-harry-potter-book-to-be-1500-pages-long/372116/19 "2006-09-11T16:02:40Z")
Potter beats Narnia silly. Earthsea and Prydain and pretty incomparable though. Oh, and as authors who have written themselves into a huge mess insofar as they will need a huge final book, no one has done worse than Robert Jordan. He has only one book to go, and has dragged his feet so much on the plot that it’s going to take several thousand pages alone to even describe all the braid tugging that’s going to go into planning for the Last Battle, let alone the Battle itself. ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2006, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-last-harry-potter-book-to-be-1500-pages-long/372116/20 "2006-09-11T16:05:59Z")
> [@](#): > > There’s fifteen, all of them at least trilogies, off the top of my head, all arguably better than Harry Potter. (Didn’t even mention Redwall.) I mean, I like Harry too, but there’s a lot of really, really good stuff out there. “Arguably” is fine. I’m not arguing with arguably. **Wendell Wagner** appeared to be making some sort of definitive statement of quality, which I’m _not_ ready to go along with – not least because children’s fantasy series can be different in so many ways that to pronounce one as conclusively “better” than another almost has to mean that there’s a stark and glaring disparity in the quality of the writing or the plotting or the characters or what have you. I mean, most of the series you name simply aren’t my cup of tea, but I certainly wouldn’t impose a value judgment that Harry Potter is “better” than them. (Although I do find Garth Nix’s books abominably written.) I just object to blanket, absolute statements. Also, **DrDeth** , only about half of the authors you mention actually penned children’s series. I do love E. Nesbit and Edward Eager, though for completely different reasons than I like Harry Potter. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-last-harry-potter-book-to-be-1500-pages-long/372116.md?page=2)