An Awful Thought

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 117323


Siriusly Snapey Susan:
> > While I agree that we'd be better off than w/ the Dickens 
> > example, because the notes & final chapter exist, I take 
> > exception with the statement that it probably wouldn't be that 
> > hard to do.
> > 
> > Think of the discussion these books generate here.  All 
> > the "what if"s and "I wonder"s and "How is she going to"s that 
> > we discuss on & on & on.  I think someone could package up the 
> > bare bones of what happens to Harry & Voldy and how it all ends, 
> > because it's probably there somewhere.  But to tie up all the 
> > loose ends we want?  To help us know at the end which were 
> > really red herrings and which were clever clues to be brought 
> > back in at a later point?  I think it'd be incredibly difficult 
> > to do.
 
catkind:  
> In answer to SSS - I'd think all the loose-end-tying will be in 
> JKRs notes for our hypothetical hired hand to use.  She must have 
> been pretty careful about what clues she's leaving where.
>
> Thus far there has been a huge number of new characters, new
> creatures and new sorts of magic in each new book.  Whatever 
> happens next seems likely to involve new stuff and people too, so 
> I don't think we're going to guess particularly near by just tying 
> up loose ends.


SSSusan:
But isn't this a bit of an insult to JKR's writing?  Even having 
boxes & boxes full of notes and a final chapter, wouldn't it take 
some *talent* to bring it all together to the standard we're used 
to?  

Maybe I wasn't clear in what I said previously.  I wasn't meaning we 
need JKR *just* to tie up loose ends, nor that I expected her to tie 
up *all*of them, but rather that to make it all work at the level we 
expect *and* to tie up lots of the loose ends, we need her.  I'm not 
saying no one else could manage it, but the original statement 
sounded to me as if that person thought it would be no big deal to 
pick up the pieces & complete the series.  Well, I guess I give JKR 
more credit than that.  There may be notes and outlines, but the 
connections & vision are in her head.  You mentioned potential new 
characters, too.  Since no one besides JKR would have "met" these 
characters, how could anyone else be sure about fleshing them out?

Maybe the difference between my view and others' is that I'm not 
much of a fan of fanfiction.  I've read maybe 4 or 5 authors I think 
are pretty good, and one work which I think is truly phenomenal.  It 
might be lots of fun for people to make their own attempts at it, 
but, for me, I believe the only way we'll get a proper finish is if 
JKR herself issues it.

IMHO, of course.
Siriusly Snapey Susan