Prof Dawkins vs Prof Dumbledore – AND ONE MUST DIE!

Apparently Richard Dawkins thinks that Harry Potter damages children. Except he doesn’t. Dawkins’ views on Harry Potter remain to be seen. Personally, I think the politics of Potter are slightly iffy (being a paean to meritocracy in which the bad old elitists get their comeuppances while the good new elitists get to inherit the earth… Continue reading Prof Dawkins vs Prof Dumbledore – AND ONE MUST DIE!

Evening Standard piece on JK Rowling

This was published in the Evening Standard on Thursday, slightly edited: The Harry Potter series is one of the most derivative works of fiction ever devised, from its boarding school setting (The Four Marys, Billy Bunter), magical theme (too many to mention) and even its plot (drawing from the same well as Star Wars and… Continue reading Evening Standard piece on JK Rowling

Is J.K. finding it hard to let go?

Can anyone spot the inconsistency between the following two statements? There will be just seven volumes of The Tales of Beedle the Bard and they will not be published. One copy will be auctioned to raise money for her charity, The Children’s Voice, and the author will give away the rest of them. She said… Continue reading Is J.K. finding it hard to let go?