Attention: Harry Potter Fans!

[Gryffindor_Bookworm]

Regarding the Harry Potter group that some of you signed up for: The admins want the group to be broader than just Harry Potter. I'm trying to see if we can call it the "Harry Potter and Other Fantasy Literature" Group.

How does this sound for the Mission Statement?


The purpose of this group is to discuss literature in the genre known as "fantasy." Its especial focus is the Harry Potter universe, in both its canon (the novels themselves) and non-canon (the movies, the product spin-offs, and fan fiction) forms. However, discussion of other books in the genre is welcome and encouraged.

EDIT: I have asked one of the admins to weigh in on this thread. It is my sincere belief that there are more than enough people interested in Harry Potter alone to carry a group, and I think that would be best. I posted this in ATA. With luck, one of our Solomons will come down and settle things.

Thanks, all. :hi:

[gollygee]

1. That would be great

It would give me a place to get ideas about other books to read!

[Quetzal]

2. Harry Potter and Anne Rice fans?

[Gryffindor_Bookworm]

4. LOL

I wanted just Harry Potter -- I think the plethora of fan communities on the web easily proves that the Potterverse will carry a group of its own -- but our fearless leaders want it broader than that.

So, um, yeah, I guess Harry Potter and Anne Rice fans. :D

[Phillycat]

3. That works.

Although I don't think they know just how many or how rabid Harry Potter fans are. I think we could easily fill up a group. :)

[Gryffindor_Bookworm]

5. I agree!

Most Potter fans I know don't think of it as "fantasy" (like a lot of Star Trek fans don't think of it as "science fiction") -- but this is Skinner's house, I just play here. :shrug:

[SOteric]

6. That ~is~ awfully broad.

If the intention is to discuss other works of the phantasie genre, technically works like Tolkein's "Fellowship of the Ring," Robert Jordan's "The Wheel of Time" and miscellaneous works by Terry Pratchett would qualify as well, and might have more of a following than even the Harry Potter books.

[Gryffindor_Bookworm]

7. I don't know how else to phrase it???

I don't know anything about any "fantasy" except Harry Potter. Feel free to suggest something???

[SOteric]

9. Well, - if the intention is to keep it broad for a wider appeal

(and remember, the more users of the group, the more likely it is to stay active), then "Phantasie Fiction" should do the trick.

If it's to narrow the field, (and it looks like Admin are wanting something more encompassing) then "Sorcery and Witchcraft Phantasie Fiction" seems to narrow the broad field.

[Gryffindor_Bookworm]

10. um.........

I don't know what to do. I don't know anything at all about any "fantasy" literature other than HP, and I don't know anybody in real life who does, so ???????

I really think HP can stand alone as a group; I am trying here to broaden it into something that I don't really understand.

[SOteric]

15. I think, if I may suggest then,

the broader category "Phantasie Fiction" is the one to think about. You'll likely find many more works that you enjoy, and those who'd like to post about Watership Down, The Lord of the Rings, The Wheel of Time, and other topics, can do so as well.

[hyphenate]

14. There is indeed a lot of fantasy work out there

Even more now than there was 50 years ago, for example. Back then, most "genre" work was in SF--it was a far more broadminded category then, however, there are many writers who took fantasy and turned it into a "world of its own" in many ways.

For instance, beyond Harry Potter, there would of course be the Lord of the Rings trilogy and other novels by J.R.R. Tolkien. Further, there is the series of novels by C.S. Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia, which are in some ways an allegory of Lewis's religious beliefs. He was a Christian, but the Narnian books explore a world where children dominate the scene and are the protagonists in a world where both good and evil exist, and the "lord" overall is the kindly lion, Aslan. I read the books as a child myself, but the religious theme is not dominating in them--they work perfectly well as fantasy novels, and are quite well written.

Over the past fifty years, some themes which would have been classified as SF in the past are now considered more fantasy. Among these themes, time travel is more fantasy than SF, simply because currently scientists are convinced that time travel is impossible. Indeed, many things which might be considered de riguer in SF are really elements of fantasy because the likelihood of them ever happening are at such a high percentage of impossibility that they could never be true.

In fact, almost anything you ready which concerns alien life as being as humanoid as Terrans is near impossible, unless the human race were propagated on different worlds by someone else; anything to do with magic, witchcraft, elves, fairies, orcs, trolls, dwarves, etc. are considered fantasy.

As someone already mentioned, there are many series of books out there that are devoted to fantasy--far more than SF. Writers who write fantasy tend to create an entire working "world" of their own to accompany their stories, so you inevitably end up with trilogies and more multiple sets. The ones you might be familiar with as well as Christopher Stasheff's Warlock series, Piers Anthony's Xanth series, Marion Zimmer Bradley's series on Darkover, John DeChancie's Castle series, Terry Brooks's series, etc. These all qualify as fantasy.

I think. overall, you will find fantasy a very rich and fulfilling topic forum. There are a lot of fans of fantasy out there!

[Kellanved]

8. please don't do it

Call it "Fantasy Group"; please don't use just one series in particular to brand the only "Fantasy Group" we'll ever get. I don't see why Harry Potter should get recognition that the "Lord of the Rings", the "Malazan Book of the Fallen" or any other better fantasy series doesn't.

[Gryffindor_Bookworm]

11. See post 10

and please suggest something -- other than that a lot of people like you feel that Harry Potter is a sort of red-headed stepchild (not trying to start anything, just making a point) I know NOTHING about other "fantasy" literature??

[crispini]

12. Start it as just a Fantasy Group

and I'm willing to bet that the HP traffic will soon overwhelm the group and prove that it merits its own forum. In a few weeks you can go back to Skinner and go "seee..... 3 out of 4 threads in here are about HP."

I read both, FWIW, and agree that the HP fandom doesn't have much in common with more "traditional" types of fantasy, but (I read your post on AA), if that's what the owners want, hey, who's to argue?

Put me down as a star-ownin' member for either / both. :D

[Gryffindor_Bookworm]

13. This is a good point.

I'd guess it will be more like 9 out of 10 in two weeks. LOL.

[outraged2]

16. HP

I know I am fresh out of lurkdom and my opinion doesn't much matter, but oh please please I am dying for a place to talk about Harry Potter. :)