Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

I’ve finally gotten a copy of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

It’s one of three companion books for the Harry Potter series. The other two are a history of the broomstick-riding sport Quidditch, and a book of wizarding fairy tales. Maybe someday I’ll get the former. I can’t be bothered with the latter. Magical creatures are the most interesting of the three.

Supposedly, this is Harry’s own textbook from Hogwarts, complete with scribbled notes from him and Ron. As Dumbledore says in the introduction, these books are being sold to us Muggles (non-magical folk) for charity. They are, obviously, entirely made up. We have nothing to worry about. Really.

I was amused to learn the giant spiders from Chamber of Secrets live in the jungles of Borneo. Eating the orangutans, no doubt – no wonder they’re endangered. Dragons have their own hidden reservations. A targeted misinformation campaign convinced us that the Loch Ness monster is fake; it continues to elude capture. And so on.

It’s a thin book which includes quite a number of species unseen in the main series. That said, I was disappointed to find that some prominent denizens thereof are missing. There are no entries for Boggarts or Dementors, for example.

But then, as the opening takes pains to point out, this is a book about magical creatures. Those two probably count as spirits.

Obviously, if you’re not a Harry Potter fan – No? Really? You have read the series, right? – this book won’t give you the same buzz. But the jokes are great regardless. And it’s for a good cause. That part is true; these books were written for Comic Relief. Buy one and (most of) your money goes to charity.  

I’ve done my part. How about you?

To paraphrase Dumbledore: don’t wait until you’re attacked by a manticore.



There’s also an upcoming movie following the supposed author of the book and his adventures. I’m looking forward to it.