2023 EDIT: Part of my 2023 clear-up, of books I no longer like, or am no longer interested in, or remember well as standing out, or find as special anymore, or I otherwise will not miss.
[I think I have finally outgrown this series and fandom, and I can no longer in good conscience support it, thanks to She-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named. My once-love of the franchise has turned sour; I am disenchanted, disinterested, and I can't look at it fondly anymore. I will always have the memories, but not the books.]
Final Score: 4/5
Original Review:
Another book for any 'Harry Potter' fan's collection - the first one J.K. Rowling penned for charity. 'Newt Scamander's Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' is a fun and enjoyable read about the "facts" concerning fictional creatures from the ever-expanding and fantastical world of 'Harry Potter' - things Muggles are not meant to know about by order of the Ministry of Magic and the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. But some of these "secrets" can be shared for goodwill (J.K. Rowling gives all her royalties from the sales of this book to Comic Relief).
The foreword is an account by the always-faithful and learned Hogwarts Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. The introduction explains how wizards define what is termed a "beast", a "being", and a "spirit" - which is a more complicated issue than some might think, and has a history of controversies, debates and subsequent changes to the system (in the Wizards' Council; preceding the Ministry of Magic). Poor werewolves still get classed as beasts despite them being human most of the time.
The book also has the "author", Newt Scamander, explain why and how the 70+ magical creatures listed in his famous book are kept hidden from Muggle attention. Wizarding departments "unplot" certain areas for the more dangerous of species, and create safe habitats; similar to how we preserve natural colonies and sanctuaries for endangered animal species. There's a ban on inter-species breeding to prevent the creation of new, out-of-control creatures. Other information includes an existing control of trading of beasts and their eggs and young. And readers are introduced to the subject of Magizoology, and why it is beneficial for both wizards and Muggles.
The rest of the "guidebook" lists "beasts" and other magical creatures. From A-Z we are briefly informed of their appearance, habits, of how dangerous they are, whether they can be domesticated, where they originate, where they will most likely be found, and what they eat. There are loads of different species; not just unicorns, dragons, centaurs, snakes, merpeople, leprechauns, gnomes, fairies, imps, kelpies, griffins and hippogriffs. Some creatures are small and boring - hardly worth noting - while others are interesting, scary (looking at you Lethifolds), and even funny - such as the rude Jarveys. Hermione Granger's cat Crookshanks might be a Kneazle.
'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' is very humourous from a Muggle's perspective. It suggests that dodos are actually magical creatures - called Diricawls by wizards - and are not extinct after all. Some crop circles are explained away by Mooncalves. Plus, apparently, Puffskeins are popular wizard family pets because they eat your bogies. The old "Muggle's copy" of the book contains doodles by Harry Potter and Ron Weasley themselves as students; mostly making fun of Hagrid getting his giant hands on dangerous (and illegally-owned) beasts.
The number of "beasts" listed and their functions - added with a dash of good, self-aware wit - showcase once again Ms Rowling's raw talent of imagination when developing her magical world. I even wish I could study 'Care of Magical Creatures' as a witch at Hogwarts.
My few disappointments with 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' are that there's barely a mention of other creatures such as the vampire, mandrake and Pygmy Puff. But maybe the former is classed as a "being", while the latter is a creation by Fred and George Weasley for their Weasley's Wizard Wheezes shop. Oh well, 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' doesn't need to be longer anyway, even for its "fifty-second revised edition".
What an entertaining "guide"! And really, like all the 'Harry Potter' books, it's ultimately harmless. It's fun for a good cause.
Final Score: 4/5
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