Potter enthusiasts entranced by new book out tomorrow

Harry Potter fans around the nation have reserved more than 7,000 copies of the English version of J.K. Rowling's new book Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, which goes on sale around the world tomorrow, book retailers said yesterday.

Eslite Corp (誠品), one of the nation's major bookstore chains with 50 outlets, has received some 5,000 orders for the book over the past three months.

"The public frenzy for the latest edition is stronger than before ? and sales may reach a record high this time [compared to earlier books]," said Nina Lee (李玉華), marketing manager of Eslite.

Over the past couple years the chain sold some 7,000 copies of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and 5,000 copies of Harry Potter and the Prison of Azkaban -- book four and book three of the Harry Potter series, respectively.

"Sales volume of the new edition [in Eslite] is very likely to surpass 7,000," Lee said.

In a bid to hype up pre-release sales, Eslite is offering the book for NT$665 for consumers who reserve before or on June 21.

The book has a list price of US$30.

Readers avoiding crowds have also turned to online bookstores.

Books.com.tw (博客來網路書店), the nation's largest online book retailer, which is owned by Uni-President Enterprises Corp (統一企業), yesterday reported it has received nearly 2,000 orders for the new book, priced at NT$672.

The fantasy saga about a young wizard and his friends has aroused a global frenzy.

Stores across the US have planned late-night parties on Friday along with a countdown scheduled in New York's Time Square to welcome the distribution for the 12:01am release tomorrow.

Festivities are also planned in England, New Zealand, Australia, and South Korea.

"A total of 13 Eslite bookstores around the county will open for business and begin to sell the book at 7:01am Saturday," Lee said.

The retailers' regular business hours on weekends start at 10:30am.

Rival Fayague Co (法雅客), which manages four fnac stores in Taipei, also began offering discounts on the book.

"Compared with other bookstore chains, we offer the most attractive price," said Olga Lin (凌凡), a marketing official with fnac.

People who reserve a copy of the book before tomorrow can buy it at NT$599. The chain's normal price will be NT$650.

The company will also feature a series of Harry Potter collections including a package of all five Harry Potter books, DVDs, computer software as well as toys.

However, readers looking forward to the Chinese-version of the latest Harry Potter tale may have to wait until the end of the year.

According to Crown Publishing Company Ltd (皇冠出版社), local licensee of Harry Potter, the Chinese-version of the children's book is expected to be released by Christmas.

Over the last four years, the company sold more than 3 million copies of the Harry Potter series nationwide, generating several billion NT dollars in sales.