Mr. Potter's contribution to fantasy literature

[jbcohen]

Has Mr. Potter done a service for fantasy litterature by exposing a greater portion of the book reading population to fantasy litterature?

 

[Rogue]

No, I don't think so.

Strangely I and a lot of other people think of Harry Potter as a kid's book and not as fantasy.

 

[Infinity]

IMO, the Harry Potter series has both the elements of kid's fiction and junior fantasy. However, even the adults can read it. So it could be said that it contributes to the development of adult fantasy fictional literature, too.

 

[Wabbit]

No, I don't think so.

Strangely I and a lot of other people think of Harry Potter as a kid's book and not as fantasy.

I think you are right. Most people will just think of Harry Potter as "kids book" even when they are adults and enjoy the book themselves. I don't think Harry Potter will do anything for the fantasy market apart from launch a number of "and me" books

 

[soxfan]

Funny thing is, Rowling didn't think she was writing a fantasy book until after she finished the Sorceror's Stone:

"That's the honest truth," she says. "You know, the unicorns were in there. There was the castle, God knows. But I really had not thought that that's what I was doing. And I think maybe the reason that it didn't occur to me is that I'm not a huge fan of fantasy."

http://www.time.com/time/archive/preview/0,10987,1083935,00.html

Which brought about this rejoinder from Terry Pratchett, in a letter to the Sunday Times:

"I would have thought that the wizards, witches, trolls, unicorns, hidden worlds, jumping chocolate frogs, owl mail, magic food, ghosts, broomsticks and spells would have given her a clue?"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/4732385.stm

 

[Robert]

This is very interesting. I never considered Harry Potter belonging to fantasy literature.

 

[Oberon]

You are aware, of course, that the "editor" who was asked to recommend publication of the Lord of the Rings was the eleven-year-old son of the publisher, right?

The Chronicles of Narnia are dedicated to C. S. Lewis's goddaughter ...

Whereever one's sense of wonder is entertained, you find that age matters little ...

 

[h_carnahan]

Who is HP dedicated to? Rowlings family?

 

[Ice]

TPS, OOTP and HBP were dedicated to her family - as for the others, I am unsure as to who the people are.

Edit: Here is a list of the dedications and the people behind them

 

[Billy]

You are aware, of course, that the "editor" who was asked to recommend publication of the Lord of the Rings was the eleven-year-old son of the publisher, right?

The Chronicles of Narnia are dedicated to C. S. Lewis's goddaughter ...

Whereever one's sense of wonder is entertained, you find that age matters little ...

So true.

When fantasy is written for kids it seems not to be considered fantasy, but just kid's stories. I find it interesting how many adults consider people who enjoy fantasy to be either immature or a little bit strange. I guess those same adults who read and enjoyed HP, would not like it to be classified as fantasy or else they, too, may be considered immature and a little strange.

 

[Jemima Aslana]

I am immature and more than just a little strange - and I'm proud of it too!

The first Harry Potter books were children's books, but from OotP they got so much darker and serious that I probably wouldn't read them to my 8 year old (had I had one). I don't know if we generally include teenagers' books in the children's book section, do we? If so, then yes, HP is children's books all the way through. If not - result should be obvious

I'm not sure about the impact though. I think what it might have done is to capture some kids who would not otherwise have gotten into reading at all. But we have a few splendid Danish writers who write fantasy for the younger audience (as in 9-14) so I think the Danish kiddies would have been caught up anyway.

But a contribution to fantasy literature in general? Whatever would that be? There's plenty of fantasy lit out there that's serious, mature and whatnot, as opposed to HP which is undeniably aimed towards a younger audience, and there's plenty fantasy lit out there that's aimed at the same audience as HP. The HP books have contributed with yet another long series, where you have to buy the additional 6 books to know how it all ends - quite in tune with how fantasy books so often have at least 2 sequels.

Any fundamental contribution? Nope, I really don't see what it would be.

 

[Bluraven]

I guess I would be in disagreement with the majority of you, for I think the Harry Potter series has indeed made a great impact upon fantasy literature. One evidence of this is the profusion of "imitations" or similar stories that have erupted as a result of the series' success. Imitation is the highest form of flattery, after all!

And, kind of going along the same lines, is the fact that Harry Potter has joined the Lord of the Rings and the Chronicles of Narnia as being the "standard" fantasies against which all others are judged. Many fantasy novels bear comparison to the LOTR or Narnia books (i.e., Eragon, Shannara, etc.), but few or no books are compared to them. There are, however, scores of books that are compared/contrasted with Harry Potter, "there are wizards!", "it has a typical boy hero who stands with his two friends...", "they went to a special school for..." and so on. Off the top of my head I can think of: The Keys to the Kingdom series by Garth Nix (check out the cover to Mister Monday, and note how Arthur looks like Harry holding a wand!); A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket; or, The Spiderwick Chronicles by Holly Black.

These books are wonderful, yet they smack of Pottery...(I think that's a good word to describe it? LOL ) Well...not to ramble on then...but that's what I think...oh, and how many other fantasy books here are getting their own "sub-forum"?