Eclipse Fever Grips a Nation in Throes of Harry Potter Withdrawal

Half of us young adult authors think that we have penned the next Harry Potter; the other half of us are sure of it. All of us need to ratchet our expectations down quite a bit and realize that the first book initially sold only 50,000 copies.

My own young adult adventure series, The Arnie Carver Adventures, is approaching that mark. From afar, way afar, but still approaching that mark.

Oops. Forget the vote and the review.
10 and nice excerpt, well written, believable dialog that I could easily see happening between me and one of my six kids.

As a Borders employee I can say that our store sold quite a few today. I don't have exact numbers yet, won't have those until tomorrow, but I can say that we had around 25 copies on reserve. Obviously this is nowhere near Harry Potter numbers, but really those are so far out there that they can't really be used in normal comparisons. So taking HP out of the equation that is probably the highest number of reserves that I have seen for anything in a long time.

Thanks, Heather!

Have you read the books yourself? I love them.

Kenneth,

Stephenie Meyer's a natural with dialogue. Thanks for reading. I will have to check out The Arnie Carver Adventures, too!

sounds like a book i need to check out!

Hmm...in a word, no. But the first two were an okay read. I don't like them nearly as well as Harry Potter, though.

A teenage reader's perspective:

No, it's not the next Harry Potter- because it's better. Much better. I've been with Twilight from the very beginning, and while the charecters may sometimes seem more like types- the story takes you. You fall in love with Edward, simpathize with Jacob, cheer for Bella. Maybe it's just me, but I never had that sort of connection with Harry and Hermione. For an intellectual read I would take the Book Thief anyday, but for sheer entertainment (not to mention crush value) Twilight can kick the ass of just about anything.

Add in the almost unheard of involvment Stephenie Meyer has with her readers (when Twilight first came out she answered all letters personally- I have several replies myself- read fanfiction and still maintains a website that catalogues everything down the Cullen's cars and outtakes) and you can hardly put the already aloof J. K. Rowling up any further. The worldwide acclaim never ceases to confuse me.

I hate to compare writers to other writers. I think that Stephenie Meyer has her own fame and following. Its a little different then harry potter, with a different appeal, and in some points a different audience. But in my opinion, her books have sucked me in a little more than Harry Potter ever would.

This isnt the next harry potter. It is a whole new level of imagination and reading. You cant even compare the two. They are practically apples and oranges. Twilight (and the rest of the trilogy so far) is a well-written love story that brings tears, smiles, and a hearwarming thrill. I become part of the books and I cant stop reading them to find out whats next. Every girl falls for Edward but cant help to notice Jacob, and worries about making the decision weather Bella should surrender her humanity for Edward or not.
It is an amazing series. My friends and all think guys could learn something from edward.
Keep it going Stephanie! I'd definitly like to hear the story from Edward's view!

Erica E,

There is an unpublished chapter of the story from Edward's perspective on Stephanie's site. It's unedited, but still very intriguing.

I'm with you all when it comes to comparing writers ... and even phenomena of success. Maybe it's a bigger discussion about Young Adult titles with supernatural themes, and their current popularity.

In any case, Stephenie is fantastic.

Anybody finish Eclipse yet?

I'm about halfway through Eclipse and I keep telling myself to slow down so I don't finish too fast! As much as I like Harry Potter, I never once tried to slow down the reading to enjoy it more. I'm a 20-something who has recently been inspired by Stephenie to read more YA books and even go back to some of my own writing. I just saw her at the Eclipse signing outside of Chicago. She seems very dedicated to her fans and is inspiring as a person.

I deffinatly think that the Twilight series is the next Harry Potter, they are my favorite books ever, and 5 of my friends argee. anyone that i tell to read them think they won't like them, but in the end they all say that the books are thier new favorites. i think borders should have a party, a lot like the Harry Potter partys for Breaking Dawn, the next book in the series. Twilight is now just as popular as Harry Potter i think, just that not many guys read it so it's a smaller number of fans. Eclipse was really good, Stephenie Meyer is an amazing writer!

I completely agree with the fact the Twilight series is the next Harry Potter, I've been calling it that myself before I signed on to this site! I was completely drawn in by the first page I read in the store and I unfortunately haven't been able to pick up eclipse. I've been contemplating whether or not to make it a movie because I love it so much! Is eclipse the final in the series do you know?

Asia H - There is a 4th book, breaking dawn, that will be coming out (i think) next year.... (i wish sooner! boo!)

I think I have to agree, with Harry Potter disappearing.... what will be next? I think Twilight, New Moon and now Ecpilse have the potential and possibly already the following. As for a movie -I think it would be awesome to see this on the big screen but I know it would be hard to do the books justice. Stephenie has done an incredible job of creating a world where you can almost feel, taste, and wish you could touch the vampires & werewolves.... the 3rd book really builds in details and ties together emotions. (Sorry no spoiler! heh You'll have to READ IT!) i picked book 3 up Tuesday morning and despite my efforts to slow down I had it finished that night! I'm re-reading it again, slower now to just make sure I catch it all. It is really awesome to see what she has created.

I have to admit that I'm not in the "teen" range but this book really gripped me. I'm hooked and cannot wait for the next one and the one after that... and ...and... :) *Hint hint Stephenie!*

I think this would be a really cool series that could become the next fever among both young adult readers and even the adult group. I can't give her writting enough praise. The first book was the best bait I could ever have imagined and the following two have continued to draw me in... I want to know what's going to happen next!

As for friends, I think my entire group of friends has now either begun the series or has it on order. Even our husbands are starting to read it to find out WHY we love it so much. (I've read the first 2 books way too many times to admit!)

(yes I know I'm super enthused! I can't help it!)

Thank you Stephenie!

Another teenage reader's perspective:
I do really love the Twilight books, but I do not think that they are "the next Harry Potter", because for one thing Meyer's books seem to appeal almost exclusively to female readers, and for another, there is not really a "Twilight Generation" the way there is with Harry Potter. I've really grown up with the Potter series- when the first book came out in '98, I was eight or nine and Harry was eleven, and now in the last book Harry is seventeen... my age right now. So I and a lot of readers around my age have more or less grown up with Harry, Ron and Hermione... we've spent more than half our lives "between Potter books", occasionally or not so occasionally wondering "what happens next?"
Meyer's books comprise a great series, but they have a much narrower appeal than the Potter books, which are read by everyone from gradeschoolers to great-grandparents, male and female... and no one has really "grown up with" Bella and Edward because the series' time frame is too compressed. So in short, I think the Twilight books will always have a special place in certain readers' hearts (mine included) but they are nowhere close to being the next Harry Potter... in fact, it's hard for me to imagine the Potter phenomenon ever being repeated.

I've been with Twilight and the series from the start and i have fallen completely in love with it!!!! I've had many of my guy friends, girl friends, my mom and teachers read it and they all loved it, except for one of my guy friends who likes to get on my nerves.... Anyways, I have tried Harry Potter but could never seem to get into the characters or the storyline. Twilight is the BEST book i have ever read and there is no comparison with any other book. I love Edward!!!! Thanks Stephenie, your amazing, keep writing!!!!

I was in line at midnight to grab my copy of the last Harry Potter novel.
However, I read it in 24 hours and didn't feel half of what I felt upon completing Eclipse. I don't think it's the next Harry Potter because frankly Harry's a hard act to follow. I think Twilight and Stephenie Meyer is a completely diffrent level of writing. I don't even think the two can be compared and honestly, i don't even really want Eclipse to be the next Harry Potter. I like it at the phenomenon it is now, where ever it decides to go, I think that Twilight fans will be behind Stephenie Meyer 100%. I know I will be! *screams* WE LOVE YOU STEPHENIE!! /end fangirl moment.

Bella S, from Forks, Wash, is it really you?!

I am so excited to see the range of ages Stephenie's books are grabbing. It's amazing.

Kristi F, I'm way beyond my teenage years and completely hooked on this series.

Thanks, All!

I agree with Bella S. I think that twilight, new moon, and eclipse are on a totally different level then Harry Potter. I am also glad that it is it's own phenomenon. It works better for me then Harry Potter and it is completely different. I can not wait for the next book to come out. I read all of these books within a 24 hour period for each and when I tried to read Harry Potter I just couldn't get through it.

nothing can ever give me the same kind of sensation as the HP series does.. i regard other books that they said 'the next haary potter' as completely unoriginal although they have a different story, i just do't like the comparing..

Kim,
No I haven't started them yet. And you wanna know the really sad part about that? I have the Advanced Readers Copy of Twilight....and I still haven't read it. lol

As for those first day sales, we sold 68 copies (give or take). We're running quite low now, and the publisher is out. So yeah, that's going to be fun trying to replace when we do sell out.

Definantly not the next Harry Potter. The Twilight series (I have read all thre books, and finished them all within 2 days or less.Not quite sure how that is significant, but whatever...) is VERY different than harry potter. It will attract a whole different age group, and it is a different genre, more of a suspenceful romance, where harry potter isn't. Most people my age (thirteen) are not at all interested in romance, and it seems to be around this age level that more kids read harry potter. Basically, harry potter is more of a kids book then the Twilight series. Personally, I am not a fan of Harry Potter. Not at all. The movies are alright, and I love science fiction, but I LOVE vampires more, haha. And I have never really bothered to read Harry Potter, but I am sure that if I'd tried to read the books, I would NOT be interested by I got through the first paragraph. So, no, Twilight will not be the 'next harry potter' simply because I think I totally different people will prefer the Twilight series, while a totally different people preferr Harry Potter. I admit, Twilight may become just as popular, but to a different people.
-Leira

By the way, I now have a TWISTED obsessoion with Edward...I got jelous of Bella, soI had to start writing my own fantasy about Jonathan...I love to write, haha. And I don't want Twilight to be the next harry potter, either, so THERE! haha! Eclips has been the best book I have EVER read, and I can't wait to meet Stephenie Meyer when she goes on tour!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *jumps up and down hugging Eclips to my chest* I'M SOOOOO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Best book ever, lol. I can't get any of my friends to read it because they think it's too many pages...not too many to keep me from reading it in less than 2 days...haha.
-Leira

Yea i agree with some people below that this is much better then Harry Potter i remember the first time i saw twilight and i just had to read this its my favorite book ever i reread each of them...although this book is too good to be true lol i doubt it will become the next harry potter because the two are totally different...the twilight series appeals most to people that enjoy romance and that kinda thing...

Harry Potter and Twilight work for very different reasons, reasons which I think will never let Twilight have exactly the same sort of popularity. Harry Potter works because it's a creative world, good adventure, good characters. Twilight works because there's a hot vampire and a hot werewolf both going after the same girl. Of course the entire paranormal romance--mostly teenage--crowd are going to want to be that girl. (Case in point, post by Leira Byrd: " By the way, I now have a TWISTED obsessoion with Edward...I got jelous of Bella, soI had to start writing my own fantasy about Jonathan...*jumps up and down hugging Eclips to my chest* I'M SOOOOO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ")I find such manipulation of the ego rather sad. I'm not saying that Twilight doesn't have some skill in it--they're engrossing books. But you can see the sleight of hand there. Rowling is a master magician. I don't think Twilight will have the broad range of appeal HP had, ever.

The twilight series competes closely with harry potter in my book! They are so great, i finished them all each in one day when they came out! if you havent read these you are really missing out and NEED to read them!!!

i agree with many of the people here. I have completely hooked onto Twilight, New Moon, and now Eclipse. I honestly think The Twilight series is much better than harry potter even though Stephenie has yet only have 3 books out, i still love each book more and more every time i read them! Every time i finish all three books i go back and re-read them all over again.

I just finished Eclipse, and while I don't think the Twilight series is (are?) better than Harry Potter, I do think that they are a very close second, especially after the third one. Harry Potter has many things and clues hidden in it that many people never see. For proof, read 'The Ultimate Guide To Harry Potter, Books 1-4' for starters.
But yes, Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse are all excellent, and Stephenie Meyer should definitely keep it up.

I loved Eclipse, New Moon, and Twilight. All my friends at school have read them and are so thrilled with them. The Harry Potter books are good, but they don't feel as intense as the Twilight series.

I really did love these books...but not for the same reason that I loved Harry Potter. I don't think it's fair to say that it is/isn't the NEXT Harry Potter, because there will probably never be a story so very similar and successfull to the series...I DO think it has the potential to be the 'next big thing', however.

I finished Eclipse last night and it was sooooo worth my wait...now I'm left to suffer in agony until the fourth one's release next year! And to borrow a quote from somebody in the beginning here.... "Twilight can kick the ass of just about anything." Harry Potter was good, but it never sucked me in or grabbed my attention even fractionally as much as Twilight, New Moon, or Eclipse have...and each book in my opinion has been better than the last. I think this is the first series or author I have ever gotten this enthused by...and thats definitely an accomplishment with all the reading I do.

I think that the Twilight series is going to be the closest thing that even comes close to being the "next Harry Potter"... and as for right now I think that even though the audience may be smaller, Twilight's followers are probably much more passionate about what they are reading.

Also, other commenters have mentioned the fact that Edward is definitely NOT hard to become obsessed with, and I can help but feel terrible for the entire dillemma of Jacob....

i love them but i dont think anything can replace the special place harry holds in my heart

My sister-in-law handed me Twilight a while ago and I told her I would get it back to her within a few months after reading it. Working 40 hours, studying for my BA, with a husband and 2 year old really doesn't leave me much time to read for fun. One day on the train on my way home from work I was finished with my school work and picked up Twilight. Needless to say I finished it in 2 days, then I picked up New Moon and finished it in 3 days. After that I started up my own fanfiction and actually posted it.

On August 7th my sister-in-laws and I were on vacation in Northern Wisconsin and the nearest bookstore that was going to have Eclipse available to place on hold was an hour away. I called and placed 3 copies on hold. Tuesday August 7 the 3 of us were in the car at 8 am, arrived at the book store at 9:10 an and were on our way back north by 9:19. By the evening of August 8th we were all finished with Eclipse and discussing it.

I don't think it is going to be the next Harry Potter because this series touches a much different group of readers. I personally have read the Harry Potter series, but much prefer the Twilight series.

I doubt this will ever reach the level Harry Potter has, but I did just buy this book and it's predisesor, along with Twilight, by the same author about ten-- fifteen minutes ago. I expect it will be a good read, but the next Harry Potter, I highly doubt. I'm a fanatic about anything and everything HP, well, the movies are just mer... but I don't know many HPfan(atics) that would replace it. I wouldn't.

Still, I am looking forward to reading the series.

yeah! there's a different hype! by the way i see it, these three books doesn't have the many complexities harry potter have where you have to work up your mind solving it yourself. once you read it you are taken to a totally different world..

on the other hand, the eclipse, the twilight and whatever are just like the other ones i have read where you finish it in just a day or two.. in other words reading it is just plain reading for pleasure unlike HP, you are into a world of adventure!
so these eclipse books will NEVER the next HP book!

Haven't read the books but I've picked up The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel. It's supposed to be a six book series and Random House is certainly pushing it as the next Harry Potter. I have to agree. The book is very exciting, full or real historical characters as well as mythological characters. It's set in present day San Francisco and the first book happens over a period of 2 days! If you liked HP, you must check this one out!

Is this series JUST aimed at women or at both male and female readers? My husband was a huge fan of the Buffy series. .....

Thanks for sharing

I think it's clear that this series is aimed at just female readers. That's specifically why I believe that it will never truly be able to compete with Harry Potter. Several people over the course of this discussion have made the point several times, and made it well. Harry Potter captured and enveloped a much wider variety of fans over many different ages--something that I can't see this book series as capable of doing. This series is like any other teenage romance book, set to ensnare teenage girls. What's worse is that Ann Rice has already done all this vampire romance garbage and the whole werewolf/vampire war was already in Underworld. I don't know if those movies were a rip-off of this book series, or vice versa, since I don't know how long the books have been out, but the point still remains. This is an old, used-up concept that has it's own group of fans, but I'll never be one of them. On the other hand, I love Harry Potter and I can't believe that anything can ever replace it.

After reading your comments, I'll have to look into reading Stephenie Meyer's series! If you're interested in this genre, you might want to begin another old and famous series beginning with: Blood Games (Saint Germain) by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro--if you don't fall in love with the Count Saint Germain, I'd be very surprised. This book is the first in the series goes on for many volumes of fantastic, historically accurate and intense adventures that are at times quite strangely erotic, and hard to put down. I'm off to get my first copy of Meyer's books!

I love Twilight, New Moon and Eclipse with all my heart and it deserves the best! But as Stephenie Meyer said, "There is never going to be another Harry Potter."

A Early Twenties POV: Ive read the twilight series and heres what i think, Its much better than HP in terms of characterization but in other ways its just not there. I mean I totally get the draw of Edward and the angst involved with Jacob but still, Harry Potters got Hogwarts, Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. JK Rowling is way talented in making settings. And the novels are not comparable in terms of conflict or plot. Bella is internally conflicted with whether or not to give up her life for love *imagine a Pepe La Peu voice here please* and Harry has to deal with the evil Lord Voldemort. Yes Bella has the female vampire but she is not as seriously scary as We-know- who. And Harry tries to delude himself into internal conflict but he has the depth of a saucer when it comes to introspection.

If you had told me before I had opened "Twilight" that I was about to say that something was better than Harry Potter, I would have scorned you ruthlessly.

Now I know better.

A co-worker had given me the first book, and I was hooked. I read it that first day, barely putting it down as I moved about the high school. These books are wonderful. You are immersed so completely in their world; you fall completely for Edward, feel exactly what Bella is going through, and cry with each and every one of the characters. These are the most amazing books; I cannot wait for more.

I LOVE these books. The thing people need to remember is that this saga is not trying to be the next Harry Potter. It is its own thing. Stephenie Meyer has written about a myth and legend that has been around for ages, but has given it a twist that's her very own. Her characters are developed so well that even though this book is obviously about a fantasy wold and fantasy creatures, the experiences they go though are very human and very believable.

I haven't read this series yet but am looking forward to it. There will never be another Harry Potter because nothing will ever get as many people of varying ages, backgrounds and nationalities all on the same page as Harry did. That being said, I think it is great that there is an author who is capturing the imagination of female teen readers like Ms. Meyer seems to have. If you are looking for an awesome series in the same vein but for a more mature readership try Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan series. Morgan has also created a twist on reality that is a lot like what Rowling did for Harry's England. It is a fun, crazy romp into the world of modern day vampire's, werewolves, pixies and demons that has a little something for everyone, male and female. I'll try twilight but I'm already hooked on Rachel Morgan and all her escapades.

Sadly, I had looked forward to stephenie meyers books when I first read the cover slips after the second book made shelves. I was terribly excited when I realized that this new fad had turned in my favor, a "gripping" tale about a normal girl, a vampire, and a werewolf. I read the first, it wasn't too bad, I had some disappointed thoughts about it, but I rushed to buy the second book, in hopes that it would 'make up' for the first's bad parts... well, it didn't. I believe that the book was a rebound for Harry Potter fans if anything, or maybe just a fad due to the excessive buying of the younger generations, ones that don't fully understand what good writing and bad writing is. I believe the genre is famous, not Stephenie Meyer. I don't have to read the last book to know exactly what will happen, she's that predictable, which is part of my disappointment.
But if you want to straight out say, "Is this the next Harry Potter?" No. Not even close. There are so many better books out there that aren't getting the loved credit they deserve, and its sad to see our great Harry fans lose themselves over such a disappointment as these Stephenie Meyer books. For on example, check out Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr, her book is rising fast, and is ten times better than SM could ever write.

sorry... but nothing can ever replace harry potter.... theres news of an eighth book, perhaps... SERIUOSLY!!!!!

it's true i like the series more than i care to admit as i usually frown at that teenage romance thing(even though i'm a teenager), and it is sort of like a rebound from harry potter and i'm so not upset. it can never replace harry though.

i love the twilight sereies just as much, maybe even more, than the harry potter series. i do not, however, believe that the twilight series is the next harry potter. sadly enough, as some of you have afore mentioned, HP is so high up there, it is nearly untouchable, if not completely. i may be a klutz, but im dont stick my head in the sand. but i think i need to reread the harry potters to recover, because i just found out that dumblydorr is gay!! DX wah! i think gay men are kool, but not my dumblydorr!i thought that he a nd old mcgonagal had hit it off!

and i wish she would get on with finishing Breaking Dawn! im getting itchy! not trying to rush her tho, hehe... oops... i'll just- uh, er- just shut up now #:

" sorry... but nothing can ever replace harry potter.... theres news of an eighth book, perhaps... SERIUOSLY!!!!!" - Samatha S.
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i disagree the twilight series for me has replaced harry potter, book wise, i am a huge harry potter fan i made robes out of garbage bags at the camp i went to and i went to the store with a wand i made myself and that night was up till 3 AM reading and then i spent that entire day reading, i will constantly quote it and i love the series but the twilight series is a lot more deeper in away and its more mature and it also gets into the finer points of vampires and werewolves, this series has gone places that harry potter hasn't and JK Rowling is a wonderful author and so is stephanie meyer, and if any series were to replace harry potter it would be this and there is not going to be an 8th book because of the epilouge at the end of the 7th book and JK Rowling signed a contract saying that she would not write more then 7 books

I'm a HP fanatic and have never read the Twilight series, but my best friend happened to see the book in a store a few weeks ago, reade it in one night, and now she won't stop nagging me until I read them, too- they must be awesome, because she is not a series fan, normally.

Like many have said before me, I don't think that you can compare the two series, let alone the two amazing authors. they are their own entities. While HP is more about internal struggles and finding yourself when it seems no one can help you, the Twilight saga is more of a provocative love story. I have every single book in both series, as I'm sure many others do; in my heart, nothing can replace my beloved Harry, but the Twilight series has carved it's own spot in my heart. While many may like one over the other, Twilight can never be the new Harry because of each series's uniqueness. Thanks for listening to my rant everybody. Hope to see what you will say to it.

BTW, has anyone read Breaking Dawn yet? It's really good; you don't want to miss it.

everyone is entitled to their own opinion for me i and a complete harry potter fan love it with all my heart but i've read twilight way before teh movie came out the diffrence is harry potter has way more action and it a tad scary and it's a mixture and the whoel series is about voldemort and harry the books follow very well through j.k. rowling has a grea imagination i mean come on who woulda thought of demontors but girls like twilight way more because of the romance they see edward as the perfect guy because the words stephanie myers uses are powerful twilight has more romance than action but they are both great books love them both i'm a huge fan of both but i think harry potter is pure genius.

As a mother, I love the Harry Potter series! I read them with my daughter, and now, I'm reading them with my son. They really do take you to another level of imgagination. They let you enjoy a well written book, and dare to ask the question: How would I handle that, if it was me? Let me say also; I've read the Twilight series, and thought the first book was good. It had a story line that could have been fantastic, but in the end, it felt rushed. It was very predictable, you just knew what was going to happen, and it did. I understand the appeal. They are more sensual, and has a deep love story between Bella and Edward, and a great friendship between Bella and Alice. I would recomend the HP series because of how the words flow, and the beautiful writing. I also recommend the first book from the Twilight series. Is this the or will this be the next Harry Potter, No! Will Twilight have a huge fan base, Yes! From a parents point of view I just want my children to enjoy the books they read. My daughter, who is 15 now; thought the Twilight series was just OK. So, the question should be, Is this series good enough to recommend to others to read? The answer is yes, if you like Stephenie Meyer style of writing. Thanks for reading this post, and sorry, if it was too long.