FF: What *are* fan works? (was: Magic Carpets)

[Steve Vander Ark]

No: HPFGUIDX 11887


> The Lexicon is a wonderful resource, Steve.  I have it bookmarked.  
You've 
> done a splendid job on it.
> 
> But your Lexicon contains material that is just as much fanwork as 
so-called 

That is true in the case of the parodies on the Journal page and some 
of the theories in the mysteries section which are clearly labeled as 
that. Otherwise, there shouldn't be anything in the Lexicon that 
isn't verified. The question about which house James is in, for 
example...if it says Gryffindor in the Lexicon, she should be able to 
assume that that isn't just because it seemed right to me or that 
most of us here on this list think so. If it isn't mentioned in one 
of the books or if JKR hasn't said it herself in a chat, it is not 
supposed to be in the Lexicon. 

I say "supposed" to be because it's so darn hard to keep some of 
those kinds of assumptions out of things. I found that with the 
question about the Lestranges a week or two ago. I had let my 
assumption sneak in while I was typing up that page. That's why I 
don't read fanfic, not because there's anything wrong with it--I do 
write my theories and even the occasional parody, as you now know--
but because the Lexicon is supposed to only give the actual, 
verifiable facts and some details from a story just might turn into 
some false assumption on my part. I really try to put in only what's 
actually given by JKR, nothing else. That's why, when you look at the 
calendar of Chamber of Secrets that's on there, some major events 
don't appear. That's because I couldn't narrow down what day exactly 
they happened. 

Now every so often I catch an error in the Lexicon, usually just a 
spelling error. But who knows when the next big error will crop up, 
along the lines of the Lestranges question? I am always on the 
lookout for them and I would be grateful to anyone who thinks they 
spot one if they would just drop me a quick email. I'll double check 
my sources and do any fixing that's necessary.

Thanks
Steve Vander Ark
The Harry Potter Lexicon
http://www.i2k.com/~svderark/lexicon