Harry Potter fans mark July on calendars

Get ready for publishing’s ultimate blockbuster sequel: Harry Potter VI.

Setting the stage for another round of midnight bookstore parties and marathon readings into the morning, the penultimate novel in J.K. Rowling’s mega-selling series, “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” will go on sale 12:01 a.m. July 16 in the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, publishers said Tuesday.

“I know you all expected this to happen on Christmas Day, but I was sure that those of you who celebrate Christmas have better things to do on the day itself than fight your way into my study,” the British author wrote in a message posted on her website, “whereas those of you who DON’T celebrate Christmas would definitely prefer not to wait until the 25th.”

The news should be celebrated by Rowling’s millions of fans and by the struggling publishing industry. Competition for sales began almost immediately, with Amazon.com and the superstore chains Barnes & Noble, Inc. and Borders Group, Inc. announcing 40% discounts on the book’s $29.99 suggested retail price. By Tuesday afternoon, “Half-Blood Prince” was already No. 1 on the best seller lists at both Barnes & Noble.com and Amazon.com.