Amazon blames muggles for Potter mix-up

THE muggles got in a muddle at the world’s largest online retailer last week as thousands of Harry Potter fans were told they would be not be receiving the sixth instalment in the foreseeable future.

The latest title in the series is published in June and Amazon says it has already received more than 100,000 orders. Thousands more fans have signed up to an e-mail service that notifies them when it will be available.

But last week countless Potter fans were left scrabbling around for alternative sources after a mysterious, erroneous e-mail was sent out to thousands of subscribers in the UK.

The e-mail from Amazon read: "You previously signed up to be notified when Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter 6) became available. Unfortunately, our suppliers have told us that this item will not be available in the foreseeable future."

A deluge of calls from fans within hours made computer experts at Amazon realise their mistake and they sent a correction: "We’re writing to correct a recent e-mail notification that we sent about Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

"In our e-mail, we stated that this title would not be immediately available from our suppliers, and that you may want to search for it elsewhere. We would like confirm that this book will be available from our suppliers and will be delivered to UK customers on the day of release (July 16th 2005).

"We assure you that howlers have been sent to the muggles responsible for this action and we are investigating the possibility that You-Know-Who may have been involved. If you have pre-ordered Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, your orders remain intact and have not been altered or cancelled."

The last book, The Order of the Phoenix, was released in June 2003 and became the fastest-selling book ever, selling 1.8 million copies in Britain and five million in the United States within hours.

The new novel takes up the story of Harry’s sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It seems certain that the opening chapter of the penultimate story in the series will contain major revelations.

Author J K Rowling has refused to reveal who the Half-Blood Prince is, but has said it is neither Harry nor Voldemort. But fans can be reassured that the schoolboy wizard is safe. This year Rowling said Harry will survive to the seventh and final book.

An Amazon spokesman said: "It was just a glitch in our e-mail system and we have now contacted all our customers who have pre-ordered the book and told them everything is fine. They will be receiving the books."