The HP Lexicon Podcast

Steve digs into the interview archives, discussing Rowling's control of her story and her characters, then explores the murky challenge of finding name sources, discovers the not-so-murky Grimmauld Place in London, and discusses the essential elements of book six which allow us to truly understanding book seven. Show links: The Lexicon on Kindle and Nook Accio Quote "Potter's magic school first appeared in 1950's classic" (The Independent, September 22, 2000) Lonsdale Square (Wikipedia)

Steve chats about Rowling's take on "official" Harry Potter, then discusses different modes of storytelling in book five, fan recommendations for best re-reads, how Sectumsepra just might be necessary, and how Molly Weasley rocks long before her showdown with Bellatrix. Show links: Accio Quote J.K. Rowling: A Year in a Life on YouTube Lexicon: Molly Weasley MuggleNet's Alohomora podcast  

Steve marvels at the levels of the soundscapes on Pottermore, then bemoans expensive canon and Rowling's lost website, reads a wonderful insight from a fan about the magic of books, then finds book five to be "really jarring on a number of levels" ... and yet his favorite book of the series. Show links: Book five on the Lexicon about Rowling's old website Facebook fan page

Steve starts "season two" of the podcast by reviewing the past nine episodes, then discusses  new things on Pottermore, discovering Diagon Alley in London, how the world of Harry Potter changed during the gap between books four and five, and why that gap left many fans unprepared for book five when it came. Show links: essay index from the Lexicon Quidditch Through the Ages Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them the Famous Wizard Cards MuggleNet's Alohomora! podcast HP Lexicon facebook page

Steve wonders about the numbers 1531 and 4157, then talks about December in the Harry Potter universe, what makes the Dark Arts dark (and where Crouch Jr. could have learned them), mixes up the spelling of a spell and forgets the order of Priori Incantatem, then recalls experiences with anti-Potter book-banners. Alternate titles: "There are connections everywhere! Oh, no, I guess there aren't." "It's all fun and games until someone gets their fake magical eye knocked out." "Over the course of a year, you MIGHT start to wonder ..." Show links: Calendars: PS, CS, PA, GF, OP, HBP, DH Hogwarts academics, classes Dark Arts Goblet of Fire on the Lexicon Ennervate (spelled correctly, regardless of how I spelled it in the show ...) Facebook fan page Google+ page Kindle: Reader's Guide to PS Nook: Reader's Guide to PS email: steve.lexicon@gmail.com

Steve raves about Pottermore, then talks about dragon breeds, interviews from the misty past, offensive spells, Rowling's trickery, missing the whole point, and other odds and ends of Harry Potter lore. Show links: Facebook fan page Accio Quote Book three on the Lexicon Kindle: Reader's Guide to PS Nook: Reader's Guide to PS

Steve wanders down Charing Cross Road, then talks about hidden pubs, anti-magical roads, questions in book two and answers in books six, floating kitchenware, hanging animals, and other bits of Potter lore. Show links: Cuthbert Binns Charing Cross Road Leaky Cauldron Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets The Reader's Guide to Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone on Kindle Facebook page

Steve discusses McGonagall and Walpurga and their friends, wobbly bridges, mutant chickens, Bertie Botts Shots, who can and can't fly, a fateful decision to retrieve a forgotten diary, and other odds and ends of Harry Potter canon. Show links: Lexicon's timeline: 1920 through 1945 Lexicon Bestiary introduction page Notes about Wizards NOT flying Millennium Bridge on Wikipedia Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans King's Cross Station

Steve explains how choices were made about Lexicon content ten years ago, then discovers the Burrow among the hedgerows, an intriguing list from Rowing's notebooks, and two Harrys over the course of the saga. Pictures of the Burrow farm and a Devon country lane: Show links: What's In A Name? HP Lexicon: How to find the "More idle jottings" special on JK Rowling's website

Steve lists things he liked and didn't like about Deathly Hallows part 2 (SPOILERS), and discusses the warm and cozy Great Hall, the Famous Wizard cards, prejudice through the ages, what Dobby knew and how, and other Harry Potter odds and ends. NOTE: There are spoilers for the Deathly Hallows part 2 film in this episode. Also, everyone didn't hang around in the common room at the end of the Battle of Hogwarts, they hung around in the Great Hall. I do know that, I just said it wrong. It happens. Show links: Facebook fan page (includes poll questions and trivia) Famous Wizard Cards Timelines History of Magic History of the Ministry of Magic Essay:  "...over a thousand years ago..." Britain at the founding of Hogwarts by E.D. Blanning

Steve talks about Harry Potter canon levels, Rowling skipping the 't', teaching styles of Snape vs. Flitwick for First Years, wandering around Grimmauld Place, and other random Potter things. Show links: Grapevine Library: Harry Potter Presentations July 16, 2011 The Black Family Tree Essay: Arthur Weasley's Relationship to Sirius Black: First Forays into the Black Family Tree Mysterious Britain: Black Annis Facebook page  

Steve talks about Pottermore misconceptions, how Rowling changed the online world once before, cool and interesting sources of canon information, Galleons changing the world, the late Quidditch match in book one, and other bits of Potter lore. Links: Harry Potter for Writers blog about Pottermore, including screen shots and a link to the video HP Lexicon sources: The Daily Prophet Newsletters HPL: Galleons, Sickles, and Knuts HP Lexicon essay: Wizard Money HPL: Reader's Guide to Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone  

Steve introduces the podcast, thanks a few people, then chats about visiting the graveyard in Godric's Hollow, the missing twenty-four hours, the mystery of Quirrell, and a few other oddities. Links: The Harry Potter Lexicon, Facebook page Here's a view of the graveyard in that little North Devon town.