The Lexicon (Paperback)

~ (Author), John Kearns (Contributor), Lisa Waite Bunker (Contributor), Belinda Hobbs (Contributor)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

If ever a book were to test the truism that there's no such thing as bad publicity, it may be this one: an A–Z encyclopedic guide to J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter universe, based on a popular Web site created by Vander Ark in 2000, and the center of high-profile litigation. That case settled, the question now becomes online Lexicon v. print. Vander Ark has taken pains not to use Rowling's unique expressions, as the introduction calls that writer's words (for example, the book's readers learn that doxies have a poisonous bite; users of the Lexicon Web site find that doxies have sharp venomous teeth, plus a reference to Rowling's Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them). Commentary unique to the volume follows many entries (one complaint at trial was that the proposed Lexicon reorganized Rowling's material without adding much information); these range from etymologies to pedestrian analyses (of Harry's reliance on the Expelliarmus spell versus Voldemort's on the Killing Curse: In the end, J.K. Rowling writes Harry as a person not of violence and murder, but of compassion and mercy—of love). The Lexicon Web site still exists as a comprehensive, updated—and free—resource; while the print edition does differ in its content, its advantages are hard to discern. (Jan.)
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Review

From Publishers Weekly, 12/5/2008.
Just weeks after submitting an appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals, RDR Books has withdrawn its challenge to Judge Robert P. Patterson's September ruling in J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros. Entertainment's copyright infringement suit against the publisher. Judge Patterson's ruling blocked RDR's planned publication of The Harry Potter Lexicon by Steven Vander Ark. Instead, the company has announced plans to release a new unauthorized guide to the Potter series, The Lexicon: An Unauthorized Guide to Harry Potter Fiction and Related Materials. The book will include commentary that does not appear on Vander Ark's Web site. RDR publisher Roger Rapoport said the new book has a new focus and purpose, mindful of the guidelines of the court.

Commenting on RDR's actions, Neil Blair, Rowling's attorney, said: We are delighted that this matter is finally and favourably resolved and that J.K. Rowling's rights -- and indeed the rights of all authors of creative works -- have been protected.We are also pleased to hear that rather than continue to litigate, RDR have themselves decided to publish a different book prepared with reference to Judge Patterson's decision.

Rapoport said the company decided to drop the appealbecause we are publishing a different manuscript that is a lot better. He emphasized that the new book, which features material from Vander Ark's original Harry Potter Lexicon website, new commentary and a blend of material, followed the road map the judge laid out in his opinion about how a companion to the Potter books may be published without infringing Rowling's copyright. We did what the judge told us to do, Rapoport said.

Vander Ark said he has been spending the last six months adding much more commentary about plot lines, characters and other elements in the books. I think Harry Potter fans will find this useful and interesting, and I also think it will bring them back to the novels, he said.... --John A. Sellers and Jim Milliot --Publishers Weekly<br /><br /> --Publisher's Weekly<br /><br />Stealing a march on all competitors this wins points for currency, and all but the most obsessive readers will find it unexcelled for ease of use as a quick reference guide. --Kirkus Reviews

This work serves as a companion to J. K. Rowling s Harry Potter books (Scholastic). It begins with a brief list of abbreviations that are used throughout the series and an explanation of date usage in the Lexicon. The remainder of the book contains alphabetical entries explaining characters, wizarding terms and phrases, and geographic locations (both real and fictional). Each entry has a brief description and a reference to the first time the term is mentioned in the novels. Character entries also include dates relating to the characters lives and important positions they may have held, if known. Additional descriptive information beyond the connection to Harry Potter is included in italics when the term s origin outside of that universe is included or if further noncanonical explanation is required. It should be noted that the Lexicon is not a complete Harry Potter encyclopedia as many of the characters fates remain undisclosed to preserve the experience for first-time readers. That being said, this volume will serve as a quick reference guide for enthusiasts of the series and as a good companion for teens writing fan fiction --School Library Journal

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Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: RDR Books; 1 edition (January 16, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1571431748
• ISBN-13: 978-1571431745
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #153,124 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Complete but frustrating structure, March 4, 2009

By	Claire M. Johnson (San Francisco, California) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am an avowed Harry Potter fanatic, and I have been looking forward to this book for ages. It is, well, limited in its application. Given that it's arranged alphabetically (and having flipped through it several times it seems complete enough), it assumes that you know exactly what you're looking for, spelling and all. There is NO index, so if I wanted to look for a spell that, say, wrote reviews for amazon.com, I would be stymied unless I had a vague inkling as to how that spell might be, well, spelled. I had hoped that this book would be an substitute for his exhaustive website, and, unfortunately, it is merely a reference book to his website. In addition to the lack of index (which is THE most frustrating omission), off the top of my head, I can think of several things that should have been included and yet are not (and, I assume, would not run afoul of the JKR legal team): family trees; timelines for the novels; listing of who is in what house, both in the present era and in the previous era; and listing of teachers (past and present). These are just off the top of my head. I still think this book very valuable on one level, but it is NOT even marginally a substitute for his excellent website. An index would have induced me to give it another star.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Useful and delightful tool, September 13, 2009

By	Joseph Boenzi (Berkeley, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

"The Lexicon" is more than a glossary of Harry Potter terminology. This listing of names, terms, geographical and magical markers offers definitions, descriptions and connections that are magical, even for muggles. Furthermore, the book captures the spirit and sparkle of the Harry Potter series (and canon) in a way that is faithful to J. K. Rowling's creation and the readers' need to plumb the depths of the individual books or the entire saga. Congratulations to the compiler Steve Vander Ark and his associates. Their vision and perseverance have produced good results. "The Lexicon" is a significant resource for those who take J. K. Rowling's writing seriously.

10 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Lexicon, February 4, 2009

By	Runa Zaman "HPLunatic" (Charlottesville, VA, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Okay, so The Lexicon. The book that prompted a legal battle that pretty much split the fandom. A lot of trouble to get one book published, and in my humble opinion, it was worth it all. While it has its small problems, The Lexicon is THE Harry Potter superguide we've all wanted for so many years. The fans will like it, the newer readers just getting into the series will certainly appreciate it, and any re-read will have to be accompanied by this invaluable encyclopedia. Not all of the information is included, and the organization is not the best (It is, as in any encyclopedia, alphabetical, but I wonder if it should have had more effort put into the categorization. After all, chances of me going to look up 'abstinence' instead of a simpler 'passwords' are very, very slim.) Of course, not all the information is included, and you'll have to dig a little to find what you're looking for, but you will find what you're looking for. In a nutshell, essential for fanatics, essential for new fans, but ultimately, it is the website you should be consulting.

Rating: 4.5/5