Tech News
Harry Potter meets BitTorrent, final book leaked four days early
By Steve Ragan Jul 18, 2007, 15:00 GMT
On the Web
Latest Headlines in Tech
- 1. Nerd striptease: Unboxing lets others watch you unwrap your gadget
- 2. An online notepad? Your smartphone as a notebook
- 3. Repeaters help get around wi-fi hurdles
- 4. Spring cleaning for your computer: Get the gunk - and the germs - out
- 5. Computer and internet briefs
Older Talkback
page: 1
I've seen those page images, and it's probably a hoax. The writing is terrible. 'And Hermione was struggling to her feet in the wreckage, and three redheaded men were grouped on the ground where the wall had blasted apart'. The book reads like fan fiction. Rowling is simply a more polished writer than that.
The plot of the hoax book reads like a script for a Jerry Bruckheimer action movie, with a body count to match. That's not Rowling. The ending ('The scar had not pained Harry for nineteen years. All was well') is just amateurish.
This isn't J.K. Rowling's work.
I am not a Harry Potter fan, and think people are wasting a lot of time reading it. I see this as blind leading the blind, and the author laughing all the way to the bank. There are many more prodcutive uses of your time. Remember time is precious, once you lose it that is the end, no matter what type of spell you put on yourself.
So if you don't care, then why are you responding and reading about it...there is nothing wrong with reading. It is a great way to spend your time. So if you don't care, just go watch your soaps and eat your bon-bons...So if you don't care, you haven't read the books and you don't know what great reads they are and how talented and creative of a write she is. I'm sure people that read and watch Harry Potter have many other great ways of spending their time!!!
I'm not a fan either. But, Reading is fun than a mindless video games and television. So, Let them read more books.
First Poster- Apparently then, you got the wrong copy. The one I have has the illustrations and sounds quite like the author. I doubt very much that someone would have taken the time to hire an illustrator and a printing company, just so they could make a fake of the last Harry Potter book while also remaining completely anonymous.
So far the book's a good read. And the security expert is right. The people who read the data images are the same people who would either buy it, or just have borrowed it because they were too cheap.
--'Tis a pirate's life for me--
It is a shame that the book was leaked. I do agree with the article though in that the publishers have nothing to worry about for their sales. For me that main thing is to avoid hearing the spoilers.
To the above poster: you are losing your precious time by whining about what people do for fun. If you think it is a waste of time, go do something else.
people who are hyped up about this book are just stupid idiots in my opinion. it is worthless trash. stop being such an idiot and find something better to do with your time. magic is not real, this fantastic childs book is truly a waste.
To the first poster:
Yes, many torrent files claiming to be the leaked release actually are just fan fiction. HOWEVER- the actual book, picture for picture of every page has been released, just as this article claims. It's about 75 MB, and while you might have to squint to read some text, it's all perfectly legible (use Acrobat's zoom tool if you're having any trouble).
I think it is a waste of time to worry about who leaked the book anyway. Just like music it's all entertainment. I download music and books all of the time. I also buy them too. Everyone will forget this when the book comes out anyway. I am not a fan of this story, but I do applaude her for getting people to read again.
Let us get something clear. You either read and like it, or you try something new and read it or you just close your eyes and ignore what may be entertaining..... No Big whoop either way it is a personal choice. And as far as playing mindless video games....you sound like an idiot with that comment!
Alot of video games have alot to learn in them, Where in the world is Carmen San Diego...taught me alot about geography...Oregon Trail taught me about how the settlers came to the west. Sid Meiers Civ series taught me about how civilizations came to be and how they studied research and newer technologies. And alot of current Simulation games, and strategy games you can pick up alot of knowledge. So get over the idea unless you have truly taken some time to play them.
and regarding Bon-Bons and soaps, if that is your thing, why should others judge you....
I love how people can not voice an opinion in an open forum...in one of the last free vestiges of open communication.
It is Nazi Facist people who tell people what is good and bad, right up there with book burning. Get over it....people are allowed to do whatever they want and if it is illegal they will pay a price........otherwise, video games and TV, and Bon-Bons, and soap operas, are a thing of desire and free choice.
Life is short and has very little to offer, Take what you can from it and enjoy it.
to MrJehovah:
Change your name! Or Jehovah will change it for you! At that point it will only be called manure.
Yes, I will bow to the whim of you. Actually no, no I won't. And as far as Jehovah changing it for me, I've had this nickname since around 1996, and he hasn't apparently wanted to do a thing about it. So I'm figuring him and I are on good terms. It's those people claiming to know what he wants and wills to do that seem to be causing problems. Plus, this is off-topic for the forum.
<Snip spoilers>
Just curious to those who read the supposedly leaked pages - did anyone catch the 1945 date reference in Dumbledore's obituary (p20)?
It seems very strange that JKR would mention a specific date in Book 7 when she has so meticulously avoided them in all of the other books (I think the only one is a date referencing Nearly Headless Nick's death in Book 1 or 2).
Makes me wonder whether this is carefully crafted fanfic or a marketing stunt....
what could be more of a waste of time than posting messages that claim what other people are interested in is a waste of time? gosh folks are silly ;)~
Arrrrrrrrrgh, I've been spoiled...
Statement from the publisher.
Scholastic has recently learned that some individuals have received copies of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows through the mail , beginning on Tuesday, July 17th, as a result of a breach of the on-sale agreement by the distributor, Levy Home Entertainment, and shipments made by DeepDiscount.com, a customer of that distributor. We are taking immediate legal action against DeepDiscount.com and Levy Home Entertainment. The number of copies shipped is around one one-hundredth of one percent of the total U.S. copies to go on sale at 12:01 am on July 21st.
We are also making a direct appeal to the Harry Potter fans who bought their books from DeepDiscount.com and may receive copies early requesting that they keep the packages hidden until midnight on July 21st.
Scholastic is especially grateful to the other retailers and distributors for their careful attention to keeping the books secure until the release time and for planning thousands of spectacular midnight parties where fans will celebrate together. And we ask everyone, especially the media, to preserve the fun and excitement for fans everywhere.
The fans themselves have made it abundantly clear that they are looking forward to going to the midnight parties, receiving their very own copy of the book and finally getting to read the book they have so anxiously awaited.
I believe the leak came from a private web forum called LL (Lower LUE) which was an offshoot site from the gamefaqs web forums. There is much talk on Gamefaqs of this being the source.
bah talented more like average terry pratchet is a good writer lol
LUELinks did it.
XD at cjayc... lower LUE... somebody should beat this guy senseless for impersonation... the real CJayC would know that it's called LUELinks... *beats cjayc to death with a rubber chicken*
Harry and the Dark Lord eyed each other across the rumbling lava flow. Suddenly the sound of the Dark Lord's light saber made Harry jump.
'Soon, Harry I will teach you that the Dark Side of the Force is more powerful' said the Dark Lord. 'And I will also teach you not to disrespect me!'
'Ha-ha' replid Harry, as he activated his own Light Saber. 'You will not defeat me!' And Harry adjusted his stance to an 'en-guard' one
'Puny Boy!' roared the Dark Lord, who then somersaulted over the lava flow, swinging his light saber as he did.
Zzzappp!
Harry's head fell to the ground and rolled into the river of molten lava.
'Noooooo!' he mouthed silently as his head sank into the red hot liquid.
'Bwahahahahahahaaaaaaa' said the Dark Lord, as he flipped his communicator open and called for his sky chariot to come and collect him. 'I win.'
The End.
All other versions of the Final Hary Potter book are false.
As an avid Harry Potter reader, I find the fact that someone would leak the book just four days before the release date kind of disappointing really. What I also do not understand, is why so many people who say they are not fans of Harry Potter are wasting their time posting negative comments about the book on this article. If you do not care about Harry Potter, why waste your efforts bad mouthing it? I'm sixteen, and I've followed the Harry Potter books ever since they came out. They've really grown on me. When I started reading the books, I was so fascinated by them, I don't think I ever put them down until I finished reading every single one. The best part is that they never get old; I have read all six books almost 4 times within the school year and they get better and better everytime. I am a large fan of the Harry Potter series, not exactly large enough to dress up as the characters at the movie premieres or anything of that nature, but I really enjoy the creativity of the books. I truly do not believe that J.K. Rowling ever realized how much money the whole Harry Potter book series would make. I highly doubt she is 'running to the bank' or however someone described it. I think J.K. Rowling was out to create books that she thought young readers would enjoy, not to make massive amounts of money, but to write and entertain readers. I just don't know who would want to spoil the ending for so many avid Harry Potter readers. If you were truly a Harry Potter fan, you could have the patience to wait four more days, seeing as we've waited over a year as to find out what will happen between Harry and Voldemort.
Just off the subject slightly - I laughed when I heard that the Church of England intends to use Harry Potter to get more young people into thier churches. I remember not long ago that they were against the series because it was about witchcraft. Obviously somebody in the C of E has seen it as a potential earner - or am I being cynical?
The whole thing is silly. It's NOT the real book. Be patient, buy your copy, and read it. People are just trying to get attention by doing this, that's all.
Of course, how will Rowling feel about all the comments of the writing being terrible and amateurish if it really is the book?
So where is the best site to read it?
As an avid reader of the Harry Potter series, I agree that any 'leak', genuine or otherwise, will undoubtedly generate profit for the publishers, author, and anyone else involved with the production of the book. My reason: it will stimulate interest and arouse curiosity, even among those who have never read any of Rowling's work and just want to see what the fuss is about. Dispicable as it is, money and profit are powerful forces in this world. However, the leak of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is about more than financial gain. It is about more than liking or disliking the Harry Potter series or Rowling's writing.
The leak of the text is morally wrong. In an ideal world, the book would be freely available. Perhaps writers could release drafts of their work for fans to consume and comment on. This world is not ideal. Books are launched as products for consumption and profiteering. As such, the release date of such a highly anticipated book as the final Harry Potter is a big deal. Publishers create hype. Children, the target audience, buy into the hype. They - and adult fans - eagerly await the release, counting down the days, hours and minutes. Rumors of a leak tease and tempt readers, adult and child alike, and utterly destroy the special moment of opening the covers and turning the first pages. Just knowing that the book is available before the official release is torturous. In my opinion, it is tantamount to offering a child, on Christmas Eve, the choice to find out what Santa has brought.
I think the harry potteer movies r so kool i am even saving up 4 a copy of new harry potter a i love ron so much and i am a big fan of himines so like it or not harry potter is kool and i'll even do anything 4 the new book
To the person below - OWNED.
That is in the real book, lmao xDD
Haha John Nagle, the first guy is a total idiot. The last line WAS that his scar hadn't pained him for 19 years. All was well. He called that amateurist. Um, well she is the richest writer in history, and the 2nd richest person in England. John Nagle is a dumbass.
I Am A Big Fan Of HARRY POTTER I love it so much. Reading or Watching HARRY POTTER is A Great way in spending time . I thank JK ROWLING for it and I LOVE DAN EMMA RUPERT
Ahem retards it does say that the scar hasn't hurt for nineteen years its no fake thats real no gettin out of it.
Thank you for information!
:)
page: 1
Your Talkback on this Story