| | I wish some Objectivists would stop being such literalistic dolts when approaching fantasy fiction. Fantasy is a perfectly legitimate genre: nobody takes the metaphysical premises of fantasy and sci-fi stories seriously; these worlds simple allow the author (and audience) to "play" with ideas, exercise their imaginations and explore issues (including matters of good and evil) in symbolic forms that rarely exist so purely in the real world.
I've read all the Harry Potter novels to date, and am about 100 pages into the latest installment. J. K. Rowling is a creative genius; I laugh with delight about once every page at her inventiveness, satirical brilliance and sheer literacy.
The "magical" parallel universe of Harry Potter conforms to its own very strict internal rules; magic is treated as a kind of a science, with its own unbreakable facts and principles which students are required to study and master. It often serves as a hilarious satire on the real world, with Rowling inexhaustibly creative in coming up with clever metaphors for our actual daily lives.
Most important to these stories -- and a large part of their universal appeal -- is not their metaphysics, but their morality. The "good" kids Rowling depicts in this long, imaginative coming-of-age series are all brave, intelligent, rational, loyal and honorable. They face their fears, standing up to irrational and evil adults, sticking to their knowledge, their principles and each other.
Moreover, they are all individualist misfits in one way or the other. Rowling celebrates their uniqueness as well as their virtues, making them wonderful role models for children (and adults, for that matter).
It's no surprise that the Harry Potter series has become a modern literary phenomenon, for it conveys -- with wit and whimsy and wonder -- timeless virtues and values that are entirely consistent with Objectivism. I can think of no greater gift to a youngster than to introduce him or her to Harry and his world. For it may just give a child exactly what he needs to face a world of far less admirable Muggles.
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