Nimbus - 2003 scholars by day, wizards by night

When I was invited to give a paper at an event called Nimbus - 2003: A Harry Potter Symposium, I wasn't sure whether to be flattered or to take it as a hint that I ought to stop writing so much about fantasy. Set for next month in Orlando, Fla., the Potter Symposium will convene hundreds of fans and more than a few scholars to discuss the ever-growing literary phenomenon of the boy wizard. More than 50 papers will be presented by college professors, graduate students, a Jewish cantor and a former Supreme Court clerk. There will be workshops, panel discussions, a Quidditch match (how it will be played I cannot imagine) and even a "wizarding nightclub." Some attendees apparently plan to show up dressed as characters from the novels; these enthusiasts can look forward to the "Cloaks and Cauldrons" panel, where "the main how and why of wizarding fashion will be discussed."