BWB & Call for Investigation (Cut for Spoilers)
So much good meta on this last book! I'm loving the fast and insightful comments (WITH SPOILERS) by bethbethbeth, amanuensis1, erastes, catrinella (ultra-funny!), celandineb, maeglinyedi, musigneus, atdelphi, and many in lupin_snape and other places listed at The Daily Snitch. What a fitting tribute to the book and the series.
And already with the fanfic! (RIFE with SPOILERS) snape_potter has some great new chapters for the Potterverse, and others are out: by swtalmnd, mimiheart, myashke, faynia and stormypups, and lolitaray. Wow! I am impressed with the speed *and* finesse of these fast stories. (Hint to Someone who took several years for, ahem.)
Adding to the great *cough* critical response, deadlyhollow (TOTALLY MADE OF SPOIL) will open soon. As the mods, gehayi and erastes put it:
"We come to bury Harry, not to praise him."
It's the end of the saga and if Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince is anything to go by, neither gehayi or myself are expecting any great shakes from the last book. We fully expect changes in previously established canon, idiot plot, character assassinations, more plot holes and gaping chasms from previous books to be glossed over more casually than a subtle flick of the wrist.
Burials are premature! Call for Investigation of Crimes Against Wizardom (including magical Creatures, fen, and other involved beings) and Redress of Wrongs
gehayi and erastes anticipated "changes in previously established canon, idiot plot, character assassinations, more plot holes and gaping chasms from previous books to be glossed over more casually than a subtle flick of the wrist." Yes.
First Charge
Character assassination is too light a term for the cold and casual cruelty of Book 7. Gross negligence and malice were on display in the callous killings of Lupin, Snape, Tonks, Fred Weasley and possibly others (such as Moody. There was as well a curious pattern of "identity theft" that led to gross misrepresentation of Lucius Malfoy and perhaps others (Narcissa and possibly Draco Malfoy; Neville Longbottom).
Stronger words are called for (many uttered in the course of initial read-throughs). Any competent Auror or Order member would see the need for investigation to establish which of these deaths were natural, timely and justified, and which involved abuse and torture (not just of the characters, but the readers as well), prior to the reckless taking of those various characters' lives.
I can only speculate as yet on the motives of the author of these crimes. Was it wanton disregard? Haste surpassing even a Gryffindor's famous indifference to caution? Or was it good intentions torpedoed by technical ineptitude -- was this the rash work of the kind of person who carelessly fails to read the clearly printed safety warnings on any Weasley Wizard Wheezes product, or cannot follow something as straightforward as Professor Snape's pellucid abjurations to a first-year Potions class?
Another line of investigation might focus on the possible failure to seek or take assistance (i.e., an editor or 10). Certainly, Ms. Hermione Granger is on record throughout this book as repeatedly attempting to call attention to certain spells and wizarding rules, the flagrant violation of which contributed to untimely deaths of dear friends and colleagues. One most egregious oversight was the failure, to our knowledge, to provide Headmaster S. Snape with precautionary prophylaxis upon entering the vicinity of a deadly snake owned by a well-known semi-human psychopath. If such measures were in fact in place (and it is known that Mr. Snape would always normally have with him, if not already have previously ingested, such anti-venin), of course a simple verification of Mr. Snape's recovery and continued existence will remove this serious charge from the indictment.
[It must be stipulated, however, that exculpation from this charge will not clear the author of related charges against Mr. Snape, including but not limited to: reckless textual endangerment, solicitation of murder, and other acts of malice against Mr. Snape. If found to constitute a pattern characteristic of "hate crimes," there may in this, as in charges relating to any other witch or wizard, be additional penalties. At the minimum, this would include a Restraining Order prohibiting all further interference with the aforesaid wizard's continued life, livelihood, and amorous relationships.]
Many of the untoward incidents of late may be yet more instances of the war's increasingly uncivilized and widespread use of the Imperius Curse, forcing wizards and witches to behave in ways not only utterly uncharacteristic, but no doubt deeply shameful to themselves. The injuries to the reputations of Mr. Lucius Malfoy and his family, as well as the uncustomary behavior of Remus Lupin, his reported wife N. Tonks, and Mr. N. Longbottom, seem explainable only as the result of sustained, malicious application of this Unforgivable.
Indeed, the recent tragic events may be entirely the work of the Darkest of Magics. To wit, the evil effects of "the power that corrupts absolutely," in this case a combination of the author having already earned more money than God* and also apparently feeling "absolute ownership" over the characters -- despite their having long since taken on their own lives, and in whose wellbeing a multitude of fans have a decided interest.
If the last, especially, is true, the investigative Aurors would have ample reason to ask the Wizengamot to convene a full tribunal to determine, if not punishment for the author of these crimes (who may be out of reach under Muggle jurisdiction), at the very least redress for the victims, the majority of whom are well within the compass of magical restitution and other means.
The call is therefore made for immediate investigation by responsible Aurors, to lead to appropriate restoration of the independence and full freedoms and affaires of all wizards and/or Magical Creatures harmed by the Author during the course of her latest and, happily, last work.
* per a significant line of inquiry brought forward by erastes
And already with the fanfic! (RIFE with SPOILERS) snape_potter has some great new chapters for the Potterverse, and others are out: by swtalmnd, mimiheart, myashke, faynia and stormypups, and lolitaray. Wow! I am impressed with the speed *and* finesse of these fast stories. (Hint to Someone who took several years for, ahem.)
Adding to the great *cough* critical response, deadlyhollow (TOTALLY MADE OF SPOIL) will open soon. As the mods, gehayi and erastes put it:
"We come to bury Harry, not to praise him."
It's the end of the saga and if Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince is anything to go by, neither gehayi or myself are expecting any great shakes from the last book. We fully expect changes in previously established canon, idiot plot, character assassinations, more plot holes and gaping chasms from previous books to be glossed over more casually than a subtle flick of the wrist.
Burials are premature! Call for Investigation of Crimes Against Wizardom (including magical Creatures, fen, and other involved beings) and Redress of Wrongs
gehayi and erastes anticipated "changes in previously established canon, idiot plot, character assassinations, more plot holes and gaping chasms from previous books to be glossed over more casually than a subtle flick of the wrist." Yes.
First Charge
Character assassination is too light a term for the cold and casual cruelty of Book 7. Gross negligence and malice were on display in the callous killings of Lupin, Snape, Tonks, Fred Weasley and possibly others (such as Moody. There was as well a curious pattern of "identity theft" that led to gross misrepresentation of Lucius Malfoy and perhaps others (Narcissa and possibly Draco Malfoy; Neville Longbottom).
Stronger words are called for (many uttered in the course of initial read-throughs). Any competent Auror or Order member would see the need for investigation to establish which of these deaths were natural, timely and justified, and which involved abuse and torture (not just of the characters, but the readers as well), prior to the reckless taking of those various characters' lives.
I can only speculate as yet on the motives of the author of these crimes. Was it wanton disregard? Haste surpassing even a Gryffindor's famous indifference to caution? Or was it good intentions torpedoed by technical ineptitude -- was this the rash work of the kind of person who carelessly fails to read the clearly printed safety warnings on any Weasley Wizard Wheezes product, or cannot follow something as straightforward as Professor Snape's pellucid abjurations to a first-year Potions class?
Another line of investigation might focus on the possible failure to seek or take assistance (i.e., an editor or 10). Certainly, Ms. Hermione Granger is on record throughout this book as repeatedly attempting to call attention to certain spells and wizarding rules, the flagrant violation of which contributed to untimely deaths of dear friends and colleagues. One most egregious oversight was the failure, to our knowledge, to provide Headmaster S. Snape with precautionary prophylaxis upon entering the vicinity of a deadly snake owned by a well-known semi-human psychopath. If such measures were in fact in place (and it is known that Mr. Snape would always normally have with him, if not already have previously ingested, such anti-venin), of course a simple verification of Mr. Snape's recovery and continued existence will remove this serious charge from the indictment.
[It must be stipulated, however, that exculpation from this charge will not clear the author of related charges against Mr. Snape, including but not limited to: reckless textual endangerment, solicitation of murder, and other acts of malice against Mr. Snape. If found to constitute a pattern characteristic of "hate crimes," there may in this, as in charges relating to any other witch or wizard, be additional penalties. At the minimum, this would include a Restraining Order prohibiting all further interference with the aforesaid wizard's continued life, livelihood, and amorous relationships.]
Many of the untoward incidents of late may be yet more instances of the war's increasingly uncivilized and widespread use of the Imperius Curse, forcing wizards and witches to behave in ways not only utterly uncharacteristic, but no doubt deeply shameful to themselves. The injuries to the reputations of Mr. Lucius Malfoy and his family, as well as the uncustomary behavior of Remus Lupin, his reported wife N. Tonks, and Mr. N. Longbottom, seem explainable only as the result of sustained, malicious application of this Unforgivable.
Indeed, the recent tragic events may be entirely the work of the Darkest of Magics. To wit, the evil effects of "the power that corrupts absolutely," in this case a combination of the author having already earned more money than God* and also apparently feeling "absolute ownership" over the characters -- despite their having long since taken on their own lives, and in whose wellbeing a multitude of fans have a decided interest.
If the last, especially, is true, the investigative Aurors would have ample reason to ask the Wizengamot to convene a full tribunal to determine, if not punishment for the author of these crimes (who may be out of reach under Muggle jurisdiction), at the very least redress for the victims, the majority of whom are well within the compass of magical restitution and other means.
The call is therefore made for immediate investigation by responsible Aurors, to lead to appropriate restoration of the independence and full freedoms and affaires of all wizards and/or Magical Creatures harmed by the Author during the course of her latest and, happily, last work.
* per a significant line of inquiry brought forward by erastes