1) Hogwarts News #1: An original hardcover copy of the U.K. edition of J.K. Rowling’s first Harry Potter novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, was sold at a London auction for the equivalent of US$40,326. The book was part of an initial 1997 press run of just 500 copies and had been signed by the author.

2) Hogwarts News #2: Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling and Warner Brothers, the maker of the Harry Potter films, are suing RDR Books, a small publisher in Michigan, over its plans to release a book version of a popular website dedicated to Rowling’s boy wizard, called The Harry Potter Lexicon. The suit claims the work infringes on Rowling’s intellectual property rights, including reprinting spells and potions found in the books. RDR Books counters that the book offers the same material that is available on the website, www.hp-lexicon.org, which is not a party in the lawsuit.

3) Powers to the People: U.K. reviewer and editor John Berlyne has relaunched his official Tim Powers website, www.theworksoftimpowers.com, as an on-line resource for the award-winning fantasy author. The site is blog-based and Berlyne promises to keep it up-dated with the latest Powers news and release information. The site contains a bibliography section offering a detailed history of Powers’ published work, an exclusive interview with the author with excerpts from original audio recordings, and information about Berlyne’s forthcoming Secret Histories retrospective, coming from PS Publishing in April 2009 to coincide with Powers’ first visit to the U.K. as the Guest of Honour at the 2009 Eastercon.

4) Stuff to Read While You’re Waiting for the Next A Song of Ice and Fire Novel: Bantam Spectra in the U.S. is releasing this month two hefty collections from George R.R. Martin, entitled Dreamsongs Vol. 1 and 2. The collections feature fiction from throughout Martin’s long career, and include award-winning short stories, novellas, teleplays and other writings, such as never before published fan pieces.