Adult editions (was Re: News Flash! HBP covers released!)

[Hannah]

No: HPFGUIDX 125844


> Christian Stubø
> > The current set of adult covers for the first four books is a 
new  set, replaceing the original one - the intent is to better 
match  the  style of the adult cover for OotP.  The original adult 
covers were 
> > somewhat moody in style.  For PS it had a head-on b&w photo of a 
> > dark steam-locomotive with an impressive plume of smoke; for CoS 
a  photo of a light-coloured Ford Anglia edited into a picture of 
> > clouds; for PoA a realistic photo of a hippogriff flying (well, 
> > photoedit, really); and for GoF a Chinese (or inspired by 
Chinese  art) drawing of a dragon. 
> 
> Geoff:
> Having just looked at the URL given above for the first three 
covers, 
> I would make two observations.
> 
> (1) I have **never** seen HP editions with these covers on sale in 
> the UK. It is the first time I have clapped eyes on them.
> 
> (2) I'm surprised that they were suggested for UK editions 
because,  being a railfan and being picky, why would they use an 
American  locomotive for a British edition?

Hannah:  Oh, I've seen them on sale here in the UK (can't comment on 
the train type, but I do remember a UK adult ed with a train on 
it)!  So when I posted initially saying that there was a train on PS 
and a car on CoS, I was right!  I also remember the PoA and GoF 
covers now that they've been described.  So my argument of goodness 
knows how many posts ago *was* valid, and I haven't been 
hallucinating (sighs with relief).  When I went onto Amazon and saw 
the new versions of the covers I thought I was going mad.  

So adult editions do use images that don't necessarily move the plot 
along a great deal.  That means the advanced potions book could 
still  be from a pensieve scene.  It's interesting that the newer 
adult covers seem to be choosing images that sum up the plot, or as 
someone else pointed out, appear in the title.  The PoA cover shows 
an island with a castle/tower on it (presumably Azkaban), and we 
never even *see* Azkaban in the book.  

While I'm sure we'll actually encounter the Advanced Potions book in 
HBP, the theory that it relates directly to the title makes more 
sense.  Perhaps it's not an actual potion in the book, but a piece 
of information in it about the HBP, or a letter tucked inside it, or 
even notes written in it.  Though I still like the idea that it has 
an immortality potion in that is central to LV's quest for 
immortality and plays a part in the plot.

It's amazing how much speculation can be achieved from just three 
images.  :-)

Hannah