Question Three: The Leak
So much for avoiding spoilers. In a development that should not come as a huge surprise, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" is surfacing on the Internet. File-sharing platforms like BitTorrent and other Web sites are circulating pages from the book and plot summaries (some of which could be fake), much to the chagrin of publisher Scholastic.
Potter fans, what do you think of this development? Are you heading straight to BitTorrent to snag your copy of illicit Rowling? Or do you think it's despicable that those darn techies are trying to ruin the joy of the reading experience for the rest of us? Start uploading your thoughts below.
By Jen Chaney |
July 17, 2007; 6:47 PM ET
Previous: Question Two: Mommy Matters |
Next: Question Four: The Wizard Effect
Posted by: Rick S | July 18, 2007 08:54 AM
Why do people want to spoil it for others? Why would they go to so much trouble just to be a jerk?
Posted by: Aww | July 18, 2007 08:55 AM
I have friends that have already read the illicit copy but I think it would ruin the fun of finally getting the book-- plus you can't be sure it is real, so you have to read the whole thing and then wonder.
Not to mention that I'd much rather read a book in my hands and wait the extra four days.
Posted by: xferinoc | July 18, 2007 08:56 AM
Heh. I read the chapter titles spoiler, then realized that was as spoiled as I wanted to be and closed the window and cleared my history and unsubbed from the comments thread I'd found the link on.
Then I weakened, and went looking for it again. Luckily, the owner had taken down the spoiler post by then.
I'm trying to be strong, and stay away from spoilers from now on. Rampant speculation, on the other hand, is my candy.
Posted by: Nina K | July 18, 2007 09:13 AM
Waiting for the book. Reading it front to back in my hands is part of the experience, don't want to ruin it..
Posted by: Nik S | July 18, 2007 09:26 AM
As I live in Ecuador and won't receive my book for a week or three, the Torrent looks tempting. At the same time as a die-hard Potter fan I'm extremely angry that someone would ruin the release of the final book for so many fans.
Posted by: Andrew Parker | July 18, 2007 09:33 AM
"Thou shalt not click on what thou wouldst not read!"
2 Hezekiah 12:6
Posted by: The Rev | July 18, 2007 09:41 AM
No, it's a shame that some people get a kick out of ruining something like these to kids who have been waiting for this book.
Posted by: Potter Fan | July 18, 2007 09:46 AM
I don't want to know what happens before I read it. I want it to be a surprise. I hate spoilers.
Posted by: Janice Elaine | July 18, 2007 09:54 AM
People should not spoil it for Potter fans.
Posted by: nan smith | July 18, 2007 10:34 AM
People should not spoil it for Potter fans.
Posted by: nan smith | July 18, 2007 10:35 AM
oh please- If you want to read it and spoil it for yourself, then you can. If not, then ignore the sites. Not an issue. Let's get to more important things, like: What about Snape (a great character in the books, and the best character in the movies)? Will Neville turn out to be the one who kills Voldemort? Will Hagrid get to use his umbrella again?
Posted by: oceandancer | July 18, 2007 10:39 AM
No way I'll read the spoilers on the internet! I'm waiting until Friday at midnight to get my own, legit copy and thus enjoying every minute!
People are mean & weant to ruin things for everyone, but as long as we don't log on to those sites they wont be able to ruin it for us!
Posted by: Ally | July 18, 2007 11:20 AM
I've seen the chapter titles and they look to be authentic. In my opinion the chapter titles don't really give away any of the story, in fact I'm a bit disappointed that the publishers didn't see fit to release the chapter titles, or at least some of them, before publication. I believe that doing that would only add to the immense speculation and heighten the anticipation. It would also give folk on the various discussion boards something to do while waiting for 12:01 am, 21 July.
Posted by: RS | July 18, 2007 11:43 AM
blah
Posted by: | July 18, 2007 11:47 AM
blah
Posted by: | July 18, 2007 11:47 AM
I think it's a really mean thing to do. I mean, if everybody is getting so excited about HP7, then it's completely unfair to spoil it for them. But if you don't care about that, then go ahead and read it. Nobody's stopping you.
Posted by: Harry Potter | July 18, 2007 11:48 AM
I can't figure out why the spoilers care to do this...but how many people have read each book numerous times, even knowing the outcome? Part of the enjoyment is the process of reading the book, not just the outcome, so don't overreact if your child/brother/sister/friend closes the book, and with tears streaming down his/her face says, "Harry's dead!"
Posted by: KLD | July 18, 2007 12:14 PM
I would never load it!!!!!!!!!!!!! I want to enjoy this book!
Posted by: Hanalka Volgyi HU | July 18, 2007 01:53 PM
I am avoiding any spoilers. I have enjoyed speculating and seeing speculations from others about the book, but I want to find out what happens first hand. I hate when people tell me about what happens in a movie or book.
Posted by: KTD | July 18, 2007 02:15 PM
No one can ruin the joy of reading for anyone who appreciates that reading is a process that exercises and nourishes the brain, the intellect, the imagination. In a good book, surprise is not just on the last page, it is on every page.
Posted by: Paul Garneau | July 18, 2007 02:47 PM
With rumors running rampant, here's my two cents on possible scenarios:
Dudley chokes on a piece of cake, while Crookshanks--after putting back one too many at the Leaky Cauldron--walks out on the street and is run over by the Knight Bus;
Or, Buckbeak and Firenze fight to the death for the love of a unicorn.
The possibilities are endless!
Posted by: Magical Me | July 18, 2007 04:59 PM
It is pathetic that people would go this far out of their way to spoil it for so many fans. I'm also betting that there will be some malovolents who take advantage of this to spread comp viruses in the guise of harry potter "leaks."
Someone already said it--the people who want spoilers are going to seek them, and people who don't want spoilers should likely be able to avoid encountering them. And I can't imagine that all of this would adversely affect book sales. It's fairly similar to music purists before online music came about--hearing a new song by your favorite band on the radio was one thing, but how many fans just recorded it off the radio and lived with that instead of getting the album/single first chance they could? How many people really want to read 784 pages of scans while tethered their computer, even if they are authentic transcripts? Even printing that much would probably end up costing more than the book....
Posted by: nadine | July 18, 2007 09:05 PM
It is pathetic that people would go this far out of their way to spoil it for so many fans. I'm also betting that there will be some malevolents who take advantage of this to spread comp viruses in the guise of harry potter "leaks."
Someone already said it--the people who want spoilers are going to seek them, and people who don't want spoilers should likely be able to avoid encountering them. And I can't imagine that all of this would adversely affect book sales. It's fairly similar to music purists before online music came about--hearing a new song by your favorite band on the radio was one thing, but how many fans just recorded it off the radio and lived with that instead of getting the album/single first chance they could? How many people really want to read 784 pages of scans while tethered their computer, even if they are authentic transcripts? Even printing that much would probably end up costing more than the book....
Posted by: nadine | July 18, 2007 09:09 PM
Ask some of those who have been reading the Harry Potter book for years what they think at:
http://echronicles.erickson.com/overview/
Posted by: Riderwood | July 18, 2007 09:17 PM
Ask some of those who have been reading the Harry Potter book for years what they think at:
http://echronicles.erickson.com/overview/
Posted by: Riderwood | July 18, 2007 09:18 PM
Ask some of those who have been reading the Harry Potter book for years what they think at:
http://echronicles.erickson.com/overview/
Posted by: Riderwood | July 18, 2007 09:18 PM
Ask some of those who have been reading the Harry Potter book for years what they think at:
http://echronicles.erickson.com/overview/
Posted by: Riderwood | July 18, 2007 09:18 PM
Ask some of those who have been reading the Harry Potter book for years what they think at:
http://echronicles.erickson.com/overview/
Posted by: Riderwood | July 18, 2007 09:18 PM
Ask some of those who have been reading the Harry Potter book for years what they think at:
http://echronicles.erickson.com/overview/
Posted by: Riderwood | July 18, 2007 09:18 PM
Ask some of those who have been reading the Harry Potter book for years what they think at:
http://echronicles.erickson.com/overview/
Posted by: Riderwood | July 18, 2007 09:18 PM
Ask some of those who have been reading the Harry Potter book for years what they think at:
http://echronicles.erickson.com/overview/
Posted by: Riderwood | July 18, 2007 09:18 PM
Ask some of those who have been reading the Harry Potter book for years what they think at:
http://echronicles.erickson.com/overview/
Posted by: Riderwood | July 18, 2007 09:18 PM
Ask some of those who have been reading the Harry Potter book for years what they think at:
http://echronicles.erickson.com/overview/
Posted by: Riderwood | July 18, 2007 09:18 PM
Ask some of those who have been reading the Harry Potter book for years what they think at:
http://echronicles.erickson.com/overview/
Posted by: Riderwood | July 18, 2007 09:18 PM
i think that its really despicable that certain muggles are trying to ruin the joy of the reading experience.....
Posted by: Vishma | July 19, 2007 03:04 AM
I saw the info on the internet and was tempted to start reading. I got through the first page and thought, what am I doing? I personally need the actual book in my hands as part of the whole experience. I may be nuts or old fashioned but if you are reading off the screen it just isn't the same. And its hard to relocate to read, like in the outside hammock or in bed at night. Computer just doesn't work there, even the laptop.
Posted by: Peggie Stone | July 19, 2007 05:47 AM
I'm not seeking out spoilers by going to the file-sharers, but I say, "Boycott the New York Times!" This morning they posted / published their book review of HP and the Deathly Hallows, replete with spoilers... I didn't read the whole review; stopped as soon as I hit the first spoiler. I think they too should have respected the author's wishes and withheld their commentary until Saturday.
Posted by: sjshaw | July 19, 2007 08:19 AM
I love that getting the latest book has escalated to the level of piracy.
Personally, I don't think there's anything like the real thing and am waiting patiently for my book to come by mail on July 21st. However, even though piracy is dispicable (and spoilers are a plague I'm avoiding at all costs) I chose to see that it's all for a book! It's only possible because so many people want to read it! I think JK Rowling did the world a service in getting kids interested in reading and many adults too. Could any of us predicted that people would be so crazy over getting a book?
Posted by: MR Bonnell | July 19, 2007 09:05 AM
Ugh. The fact that someone so mean spirited would actually try to ruin it for millions of kids and adults alike. I don't want to be spoiled and I'll wait until Saturday for my copy.
Posted by: Kyssie | July 19, 2007 09:44 AM
i've heard also that a couple of these "leaked" manuscripts are loaded with viruses. At least one friend of mine caught one. Justice?
Posted by: | July 19, 2007 03:14 PM
i've heard also that a couple of these "leaked" manuscripts are loaded with viruses. At least one friend of mine caught one. Justice?
Posted by: | July 19, 2007 03:14 PM
Much ado about nothing! Mrs. Weasley, the ultimate loving mom, would tell you can choose to read the spoilers or not. Dudley's parents would be the ones tut-tutting over the spoilers. Three days from now when we have finished reading the new book, we will know the ending and the spoiler brouhaha will be over. ...but ask yourself, will you spoil it for your friends, or children, or your parents who haven't finished the book yet?
Posted by: Muggle Mom | July 20, 2007 05:48 PM
I have NEVER read a HP book! (I am 60) I appreciate the enthusiam of ALL fans. I did not think that the NYTimes review gave away anything. It was a beautifully written review WITHOUT spoilers and has prompted this old lady to start reading the series from the beginning.
Posted by: Carol | July 20, 2007 06:56 PM
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These jerks only ruin it if you participate -- we readers still rule!! I'll wait for the book, thanks.