Harry Potter and the evil author

Thursday, August 03, 2006 21:24 IST

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Author Stephen King, whose works scare the wits out of readers with their descriptions of horror, is afraid of death.

Not his own, but that of the world's most loved teenager, Harry Potter. Not that Harry is dead, or even dying, but just the possibility that his creator, JK Rowling, might bump him off in the last book of the seven part series has prompted King, and another author, John Irving, to issue a plea for clemency.

Please don't kill Harry, they told Rowling at a public reading, echoing the unspoken sentiments of millions of readers, young and old, around the world.

She is coy whether Harry will be sent to the next world — well, actually, to the world beyond the next world — but she has dropped hints that she wants to end the series in such a way that no other author can pick up the characters later and create phoney sequels.

This fear isn't as far fetched as it seems. The estate of Margaret Mitchell recently allowed another writer to write a follow up to 'Gone with the Wind' and several new novels starring James Bond have made an appearance long after Ian Fleming died.

Rowling has also shown no compunctions in killing off characters. A major one dies in book six, because, according to her, by tradition of the genre, the main lead had to manage dealing with life and its villains to become a true hero.

Killing Harry off would make him a martyr and the internet is abuzz with blogs pondering this earth-shattering matter.

Which is what might even save the young wizard. Public opinion has a way of making authors change their minds.

Arthur Conan Doyle found out the hard way back in 1891 when, a mite fed up of his character Sherlock Holmes, he killed him off in The Final Problem.

Holmes, fighting the evil Professor Moriarty, fell in the Reichenbach Falls, was not found and Doyle settled down to what he thought would be a good night's rest. Alas, the public thought otherwise.

Such was the outcry that Doyle had to think up an inventive way to bring the great detective back to life.

Closer home, when the character of Mihir Virani was killed off by the makers of 'Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi', the legions of female fans weren't too thrilled and lo and behold, he was resurrected.

So, Rowling stands warned: Potter fans, with instant communication technology on their side, are on high alert to save the wizard's life. Any murderous intent on her part will be resisted. Harry Potter may yet live.

now i wonder if jk will still insist on killin hp and face the wreath of millions of fans and her fellow authors alike?and y does she want to kill hp incase she dies?

lady get a life,no body is gonna kill you after releasin ur 7th book,u r too young to die

lemme know ur opinion on this

thanx for the article, even i wonder y jkr is being sooooooooooooooo possesive abt hp 😕

Thankxxx 😃 😃

~~~Mahak~~~