My summer of Potter

Since the advent of the book series Harry Potter, there has been a growing subculture around the series and its creator, J.K. Rowling. The fans, who use internet sites like LiveJournal and Mugglenet to write fan fiction, chat about the books, and find friends also attend conventions, and congregate around a genre of music called "WizardRock" and certain political causes, including the Save Darfur movement and anti-corporate action against Wal-Mart and large record companies. The 19-year-old author, a student at SUNY New Paltz, interviews many of the leaders of the movements, including Paul and Joe DeGeorge of Harry and the Potters and the Harry Potter alliance. The zine discusses a planned Harry Potter theme park and video game, Potter Cast, an internet radio program for Harry Potter fans, and reviews several concerts as well as the fifth Harry Potter film. Mostly written in the lead-up to the final book in the series, the zine examines the subculture from within, explaining why fans congregate around the characters and utilizing much of the "fanfic" language.