Potter mania is hitting China. Chinese-language publishers have printed nearly 2 million copies of the final book about the boy wizard and are considering issuing more, according to news reports.
Similar to other parts of the world, unauthorized translations of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” surfaced on Chinese websites ahead of its official release last month. The Chinese translation of “The Deathly Hallows” hit stores October 20th in Hong Kong and Taiwan and October 28th in China as opposed to the English version of the book, which was released in July. The seven books about Harry, his pals and their magical antics have sold nearly 400 million copies and have been translated into 64 languages.
However, the Chinese release drew added attention because of book pirates and China’s reputation for being the world’s leading source of illegally copied goods, including designer clothes, movies and music.
The latest Potter book is selling for $9 in China, which is expensive considering the average worker there, makes about $67 a month. According to local news reports, the first six books in the Potter series were priced at or cheaper than $8. Meanwhile, in Taiwan and Hong Kong, the Chinese version of the final Potter book costs $19.
COLBERT’S NEW POLITICAL BID
So much for dreaming of becoming the leader of the free world…
Stephen Colbert may have been forced to give up his bid for the White House (he abandoned his bid for the presidency after the South Carolina Democratic Executive Council voted to keep him off the state’s primary ballot), but he did end up in a three-way tie for a seat on the Colonial Soil and Water Conservation District Board. Though, I’m not sure how much of a consolation that is considering his success in that race is not likely either. Not because Colbert knows little about the position. But simply because when the Williamsburg Electoral Board draws a name from a hat to decide the winner, Colbert’s name won’t even be included since he’s not a registered voter in the former colonial capital of Virginia.
Confused?
The host of Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report” along with two students from the College of William and Mary each received three write-in votes in the November 6th election for a seat on the board that oversees natural resources.
Goodness knows Colbert would have turned the incident into fodder for his late-night show, but considering his program is in reruns while the writers continue to strike, it’s likely many of his fans knew little about his inclusion in the race.