Madman: I've read the first three Potter books and I thought they were pretty good -- while isn't really visible in the glare of how much other people like them. There are an awful lot of pretty good books in the world. Rowling's work is more interesting to me as a phenomenon than as fiction, and I welcome it as a phenomenon for bringing so many kids to reading. I don't have a reflexive position on fanfic, I have a considered and thought out one, which is that I'm fine with it as long as the author is dead or has given permission. As Rowling has given permission, no problem -- but since I wasn't really sufficiently interested to finish reading the original series, I certainly won't be seeking it out.