Is Harry Potter real?

[Gandalf]

Not really, I am a big Tolkien fan (long before any of the movies, although they are good as a movie interpretation), but I can't see Morgoth or Sauron invading 'Middle-earth' any time soon.

Rowling has just taken a few common 'spooky' ideas and integrated them into her story. In the end the Potter books are simply 'boarding school adventures' with some magic thrown in. Not really a new format (apart from the magic).

Any attempt to see it as 'realistic' in any way is almost as bad as the gullible teen fraternity who at the moment are obsessed with DBZ and think, because it has a (vague) reference to actual chi practice, although it has beeen exagerated out of all recognition, that it is a realistic example of things people can do (btw I don't mean you Atalanta, just some people).

Like all obsessions with tv shows, it will pass, although of course I don't want to compare Harry Potter with DBZ as clearly the former is far superior in the sense that the creator obviously has a brain.

Regards,
Douglas

PS there is nothing wrong with being a Harry Potter fan, just in case anyone thinks I'm having a go at them!

[James S]

Gandalf, you like Tolkien? I'd have never guessed![]

Having spoken to a friend of mine who is a Wiccan coven elder, her comments are that Harry Potter is purely fairy tale witchcraft, none of it even close to being the real thing.

The difference between this and Star Trek, is that Star Trek is technology based. Although a lot of the "science" of Star Trek comes from the imagination of Micheal Okuda, one of the show's technical writers (eg, there is no such thing as an Anodyne Relay or Verteron particles, he just made them up), a lot of it also has a grounding in real physics and astronomy. There is already technology around now that was inspired by  Star Trek. The same cannot be said for Harry Potter.

Ditto to Gandalf's P.S. I've read all the Harry Potter books, seen all (own all) the movies so far, and really enjoy it. I also really enjoy Star Trek too, because I love escapism. I don't stop to think if any of it could be real, that would just spoil the fun!

James.

[Colin]

Another facet of the Star Trek issue is that it was/is a favorite of and inspiration to countless young people that grew up to be involved in scientific or technical fields. So their experience with Star Trek shaped their thinking with regards to actual science and technology. In a similar fashion, Jules Verne is thought of as having predicted many of the advances of the coming modern world. This is due in part to his personal vision, but also to his captivating fiction that, like Star Trek, sparked the imagination and ingenuity of generations.

[Aries]

Not a big star trek fan, but Tolkien rocks..

Im going to say HarryPotter is not real. But it does make a good childrens book.
-Aries

[atalanta]

Okay, now there wasn't enough space to phrase that properly so no one get pedantic about it.  Of course, Harry Potter the character isn't real but I was wondering if some of the things they show are within our abilities/grasp.

For example, when Star Trek came out on tv, they had all those gadgets and I doubt many people then thought of those things as possible.  Now, not only are they possible but with some gadgets we have outdone them.  The mobile being one such device.

When I was reading the Harry Potter books, I got to thinking that in a way, much of what they are on about is what we can already do but maybe not as easily or as well.  I wonder if HP and other such stories are indicators or predicting the future evolution of human beings.  For example, Harry is able to focus and in doing so raise his broomstick to his side.  Isn't this telekinesis?  He is able to fly, isn't this levitation?  Etc.

By the way, there is no use at having a go at me for reading HP, what can I say, I got hooked![:I]