Today's coined word: Literothanatophobia

[dianeduane]

Or, "The fear of death in literature."

A British book retailer plans to set up a counseling hotline for all heartbroken fans of Harry Potter, in case he dies in the much awaited next book.

As a former psychiatric professional, I can kind of see the point.  ...But I do start wondering, sometimes... Are human beings actually less robust, more fragile, than they used to be -- or are we just being encouraged to believe we are? 

And I remember clearly the resilience and fortitude of my younger patients as compared to the so-called "adults". The kids were endlessly more pragmatic and better at handling pain than the grownups. Any bets on the percentage of over-eighteens who wind up being counseled, as opposed to the under-eighteens?...

Comments

[antikythera.livejournal.com]

Killing him off wouldn't even preclude the existence of other books. She could write about the founding of Hogwarts, or Lily and James and the Marauders when they were in school. She's got a universe to play in, and it doesn't have to focus on one particular kid in anything other than these seven books.

[tysolna]

True, and I'm sure there are people who are curious about that and would read it. I know I would.
On the other hand, how many people who've seen LotR and then read the books (as opposed to people who read LotR religiously once a year for the past thirty years) are buying and reading the Silmarillion? ;)

Silmarillion

[dmsherwood53.livejournal.com]

Yes but that's because the Silmarillion (IMHO)is crap