Re: Book title changes - was "Remember my last"

On Wed, 28 Sep 2005 16:16:58 GMT, "Phil" <elastoplast@xxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

>
>"Toon" <toon@xxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>news:7tkcj1dfpa941qm2r96i5qiq42ejig60p5@xxxxxxxxxx
>> On Sat, 24 Sep 2005 11:11:37 +0100, "Helena Bowles"
>> <helena.bowles@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>>> >You tell me - I'm still waiting for an adequate and
>>>> >non-insulting-to-American readers why the hell change "The Philosophers
>>>> >Stone" with legend in British history to "The Sorecerors Stone" - with
>>>> >no
>>>> >connection whatsoever - I had heard that the change was made because it
>>>was
>>>> >thought that American readers would understand "Sorceror" far more than
>>>> >"Philosopher" - what rubbish ! The American editors needs a sharp kick
>>>> >somewhere painful.
>>>> >I notice that the changes have become less intrusive as the series
>>>> >grew.
>>>> >
>>>> >I mean - "bangs" for hair. How bloody ridiculous.....;-)
>>>> >
>>>>
>>>> How about not so much we wouldn't know of the Phil Stone, but we would
>>>> care less about Harry Potter and the Phil Stone? I know I had no
>>>> desire to read the books, but broke down under advisement of my sister
>>>> because I did want to see the movie. But if it was Phils tone, I
>>>> doubt I'd want to even see it,
>
>>>> So for me, knowing of the Phil Stone would have turned me off
>>>> completely, knowing what it does, as opposed to a cool sounding name
>>>> like Sorcerer's Stone.
>>>
>
>Tell you what though - I thought that changing the original name of the book
>to Sorcerors stone for the reason that I had heard that American readers
>wouldn't understand "Philosopher" was utterly ridiculous and insulting to
>yanks until I read "Toons" reply. Now maybe, I think maybe theres some
>method in the editors madness.
>The fact that JKR named it such was for a reason. British history has such,
>along with boggarts etc. Changing the names to lure a handful of baseball
>hatted types hasn't exactly been proved necessary - the book is called
>Philosophers stone elsewhere too without problem (maybe they are just
>several intellect levels above needing a "cool" name, eh ? Cool ? Jesus
>wept....)
>Now - what should the other books have been called to appease the minimalist
>minority amongst the American readers, eh ? "Cool" rules apparently
>remember.
>

Problem is, most people find Philosphy boring,a nd not knowing what
the stone does, would be turned off. Not because they don't know what
it is, but rather the name scares them. Then again, sometimes a
poorly chosen name turns everybody off of something they otherwise
might like. I know what the stone does, and having seen it cause
enough trouble in cartoons (all teaching not to be obsessed with gold)
could care less about it and those seeking it. Noobdy said jack about
Elxir Of Life, which mighta interested me more. Course, I always
intended to see the movie mind you. A good PS story had it rigged so
only the pure of heart (not greedy) could use it.) ironically, after
finding out what the Sorcerre's Stone did, and remembering the real
equivalent, I just thought Wizards had their won version, called the
SS. The bets way to handle it would be to mention it as that, that
the SS is the Muggle PS, and just call it the PS since we're dealing
with two muggle raised wizards and one pureblood.

HPAT
Secret Room
Really Bad Dude
Wizard Contest
Wizards Against Voldemort
Royal Wizard Dude
.

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