Is there one special wonderful book store in London that specializes in Harry Potter books and tapes. I understand that some of the shops in London have book #5 which we can't get in the USA yet. Any ideas??

Umm, I've not written it yet....

Wow!<BR>You made my day, thank you.<BR><BR>No pressure - take your time. All great things are worth waiting for.<BR><BR>Do you have a favorite book store in London. I'm still interested in buying the tapes (1 through 4). Jim Dale does a great job but it will be fun to hear the UK version. <BR><BR>Again, thanks for your response and thanks for Harry.<BR><BR>Sincerely, Barbara

I doubt that was JK Rowling. Certainly her 5th book isn't finished, and there have been rumours, recently denied, about writer's block. The book may not be out until next year, which has upset the book trade.<BR>Any of the big bookstores in London should be worth visiting for Harry Potter stuff.

I think that she will be releaing the next book sometime in the summer (late July in North America?)<BR>In a recent interview J K Rowling said that she has finished all 7 Harry Potter books, so I don't know where the writers block rumour started...

Julie, I don't know where you're getting your information, but no way has JKR finished all 7 books, nor even number 5; her publishers issue statements every few months to the effect that she's still working on number 5. Discussions of writer's block are natural speculation, given the delays, though I suspect that she's just having a good time wtih her new life, new husband, new homes, etc.<BR><BR>As far as getting the British audiotapes, you can order them online from amazon.co.uk<BR><BR>Here's a great source for ongoing updates on all things Potter:<BR><BR>http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/index.html

That could not have been J.K. Rowling. They might not have this web site in England. I have heard both rumors about JKR but I think she finished all the books ahead of time. Nobody listen to Ross 3 Harry is so not a retard. The only retard is Saron from Lord of the Rings.

Actually, I believe all the greasy haired freaks in Harry Potter are retards.

"They might not have this web site in England." ???!!! I nominate this for stupidest statement ever made on Fodor's!

Hey its not that stupid!

Well, John, I have to agree with that nomination -- all web sites are available everywhere, that's one of the key features of the internet -- haven't you noticed that people here on the Europe board have access to European sites? <BR><BR>And it's true that JKR's publisher keeps stalling - if she had indeed written the fifth book, it would be in our hot little hands by now.

Okay, folks, John is my eleven year old son who was interested in the "Harry Potter" thread I had mentioned at lunch. And from the looks of other replies, most of you are not much older! <BR>Actually, I had brought up the thread as a lesson to my children about the anonymity of the interet, and to teach them not to be gullible about the identity of who's actually posting. Please don't believe everything you read on chat boards, and know that any other poster could be some perverted predator, regardless of how they describe themselves.<BR>And Ross, I think it's time you called your Mom to the computer, so she can tell you a thing or two about courtesy.<BR>

Ok everybody, as I am reading I am finding it hard to beleive that one little question can cause so much trouble! <BR>Barbara, I don't think that the fifth Harry Potter has come out anywhere yet, and why it hasn't I do not know. As far as the audio tapes go- you can get American versions in any bookstore that carry the Harry Potter series. If you would rather have the British version, however, I think you can get them off of amazon.com.uk. I hope you find what you are looking for!<BR>And as for others in particular who have posted a reply, (not mentioning any names) next time can you please try to keep the conversation to the question.<BR>Thanks!!

Of course I realize the possiblity that JKR isn't THE REAL JKR, but since I still believe in Santa Claus I'm going with this too.<BR>Thanks for all of the comments - you guys are all pretty fun, and John is adorable.<BR>When I'm in London next week checking out the book stores I'll be thinking of you all (even Ross 3).<BR>See you later, Barbara<BR><BR><BR><BR>

Bloomsbury (JK Rowling's UK publisher) have confirmed that the next Harry Potter book which was due out this summer is now unlikely to be published this year, and probably not until next summer at the earliest. It seems that Rowling may have "writer's block" (she has admitted to this in the past) although she does have the story of the book (and all the remaining ones to the end) planned out in a folder (as she revealed in a BBC documentary at Christmas.) She also indicated that Harry would get a girlfriend (this was alluded to in the fourth book) and that one of the three (presumably not Harry) would die before the end of the series.<BR><BR>On the tapes/CD versions, these are released in the UK by the BBC. Rowling insisted that when they were broadcast on BBC Radio 4 they weren't edited and they were broadcast in full (lasting about 7 hours - without a break!) The readings are by Stephen Fry who, in my opinion, has the perfect voice for Harry Potter.

Barbara, almost any good bookstore -- Waterstones, for example -- will have a full selection of Harry Potter books and tapes, although you might also enjoy browsing in a children's bookshop like Books for Children on Wandsworth Bridge Road or hte Children's Book Centre in Kensington High Street. I've bought all the UK edition Harry Potter audiotapes, myself, and they are indescribably marvelous: Stephen Fry, the reader, does a splendid, award-winning job that Rowling herself thinks is the best. It's true that you can buy them through amazon.co.uk, but if you're going to be in Britain anyway you might as well buy them there, along with other Potter memoribilia. The cover art on the books, for instance, is very different and (to my eye) less cartoonish than the US art. (There's also a hilariously solemn-looking "adult edition" for grownups to read in public.) And of course most importantly the language of the UK editions of the books (and the tapes) you has not been "Americanized," one of the most boneheaded decisions in recent publishing history. As if American kids would have no trouble learning about "muggles" and "hippogriffs" but would be confused seeing "jumper" instead of "sweater." Harrrumph.<BR><BR> Anyway, browsing interesting books and audiotapes that can't be found in America has always been, for me, one of the special joys of travelling to Britain. Have a wonderful time.<BR><BR>Q.P.

&gt;As if American kids would have no &gt;trouble learning about "muggles" and &gt;"hippogriffs" but would be confused &gt;seeing "jumper" instead of "sweater." &gt;Harrrumph<BR><BR>Yes, and they assume that American kids are so dumb that they don't know what the philosopher's stone was.

What is the philosopher's stone?

What is a philos stone? Sorcerer's stone was not a known entity to me before JKR, either. So ... further explanation?

The Philosopher's Stone is an alchemical concept - supposed not only to transmute base metals into gold, but also to be the universal healing substance and to confer immortality. The "sorceror's stone", I believe, is not a traditional concept at all, just something dreamed up by the American translators (!) of the Harry Potter books as more palatable to US readers. No idea why.