#8 Flotsam and Jetsam vs. #9 Argo

First, yesterday's results: In the tightest first round match-up yet, Crookshanks and Iago were all tied up going into the final hours of voting. But it's Iago who is moving on, with 57% of the votes.

Hogwarts Regional
Round One

#8 Flotsam and Jetsam



vs.

#9 Argo



Tale of the Tape

Talents

Flotsam and Jetsam - spies, minions

Argo - can sense danger, issues commands to other horses

Advantage: Even

Breed

Flotsam and Jetsam - moray eels

Argo - palomino horse

Advantage: Argo

Loyal:

Flotsam and Jetsam - Ursula

Argo - Xena

Advantage: even

Bottom Line:

A real toss-up. Flotsam and Jetsam are two of the meanest familiars around, but Argo could prove to be a dark horse in the tourney. Your vote will decide!

Tomorrow: We unveil the Elite 8 and kick-off with our first second round match-up.

#7 Crookshanks vs. #10 Iago

First yesterday's results: In the biggest blow-out yet, Pantalaimon scored 85% of the vote, easily moving on to the Elite 8.

Middle-earth Regional
Round One

# 7 Crookshanks



vs.

#10 Iago



Tale of the Tape

Talents

Crookshanks - highly intelligent, can sense untrustworthy people

Iago - mimicry, high intelligence

Advantage: even

Breed

Crookshanks - cat

Iago - Scarlet macaw

Advantage: Crookshanks

Loyal

Crookshanks - Hermione Grainger

Iago - Jafar

Advantage: Crookshanks

Bottom Line:

It would seem foolish to bet against one of the Potter kids, but Iago should at least be able to keep this first round match-up interesting. In the end, though, Crookshanks should prevail. Don't forget to vote!

Tomorrow: The final first round match-up, as #8 Flotsam and Jetsam battles #9 Argo.

#6 Pantalaimon vs. #11 Macbeth's Sisters' Familiars

First yesterday's results: Pyewacket prevailed with a comfortable 71% of the vote.

Middle-earth Regional
Round One

#6 Pantalaimon



vs.

#11 Macbeth's Sisters' Familiars



Tale of the Tape

Talents

Pantalaimon - shapeshifting

Macbeth's Sisters' Familiars - imbue the witches with supernatural powers

Advantage: Pantalaimon

Breed

Pantalaimon - snow white ermine, moth, wildcat, mouse

Macbeth's Sisters' Familiars - grey cat, toad, and owl

Advantage: Macbeth's Sisters' Familiars

Loyal

Pantalaimon - Lyra Belacqua

Macbeth's Sisters' Familiars - Macbeth's sisters

Advantage: Even

Bottom Line:

The edge has to go to Pantalaimon. Although the shapeshifting familiar is taking on three formidable opponents, it would take a big upset to keep Lyra's companion from moving on to round two. But your vote decides!

Tomorrow: #7 Crookshanks vs. #10 Iago

#5 Pyewacket vs. #12 Morgan Le Fay's Raven

First, yesterday's results: Salem gave a familiar smackdown to the Winged Monkeys, winning with 80% of the vote. That means half of the Elite Eight has been decided, with #1 Hedwig, #2 Shadowfax, #3 Archimedes, and #13 Salem moving on.

Hogwarts Regional
Round One

#5 Pyewacket



vs.

#12 Morgan Le Fay's Raven



Tale of the Tape

Talents:

Pywacket - wingman, cupid

Raven - bringer of death itself

Advantage: Raven

Breed:

Pyewacket - Siamese cat

Raven - black raven

Advantage: Even

Loyal:

Pyewacket - Kim Novak

Raven - Morgan Le Fay

Advantage: Raven

Bottom Line:

An interesting battle between love and death... but in the end, Pyewacket should prevail. Your vote will decide!

Tomorrow: #6 Pantalaimon vs. #11 Macbeth's Sisters' Familiars

#4 Winged Monkeys vs. #13 Salem

First, yesterday's results. The Sweet Sixteen turned sour for Fawkes, as Archimedes won with 66% of the vote.

Hogwarts Regional
Round One

#4 Winged Monkeys



vs.

#13 Salem



Tale of the Tape

Talents:

Winged Monkeys - obey commands, act as Wicked Witch's henchmen

Salem - mentor, trouble maker, megalomaniacal ambitions for world domination

Advantage: Winged Monkeys

Breed:

Winged Monkeys - monkeys

Salem - black cat

Advantage: Winged Monkeys

Loyal:

Winged Monkeys - Wicked Witch of the West

Salem - Sabrina the Teenage Witch

Advantage: Winged Monkeys

Bottom Line:

Good familiar vs. evil, and unfortunately evil has the upper hand here. The winged monkeys should have no problem taking out Salem, but if earlier comments on the blog are any indication, Salem has a surprisingly strong fan base. Vote now!

Tomorrow: #5 Pyewacket vs. #12 Morgan Le Fay's Raven

#3 Archimedes vs. #14 Fawkes

First, yesterday's results: With an overwhelming 75% of the vote, Shadowfax has eliminated Mister.

Middle-earth Regional
Round One

#3 Archimedes



vs.

#14 Fawkes



Tale of the Tape

Talents

Archimedes - wise, noble, and dependable consigliere

Fawkes - rebirth, healing, teleportation

Advantage: Fawkes

Breed:

Archimedes - owl

Fawkes - phoenix

Advantage: even

Loyal:

Archimedes - Merlin

Fawkes -Albus Dumbledore

Advantage: even

Bottom Line:

Perhaps the most compelling of all the first round match-ups. Archimedes may be one of the classic familiars of our time, having assisted none other than Merlin, but Fawkes, while lesser known, possesses truly awesome talents. The edge may go to Archimedes , but don't be surprised if we see our first upset of the tournament. Be sure to vote!

Tomorrow: Back to the Hogwarts Regional for a familiar showdown between #4 Winged Monkeys and #13 Salem.

ARC (Adam)

Today, I received my first ARC. That's Advanced Reading Copy for all of you (who like me three weeks ago) never heard of ARCs. And now that I have it, I find that the last thing I want to do with my Advanced Reading Copy is read it in advance. In fact, I don't want to read it at all. Bound and beautiful, I don't even want to crack it's spine.



Instead, I will keep it on my shelf. A high shelf out of reach of my three-year-old's hands. Maybe, even hidden, where my wife couldn't accidentally bend a corner or crease a page.

Better yet, I'm going to dip my ARC in bronze or gold. Any one of the precious metals.. doesn't matter which one as long as its shiny.

Perhaps a museum would be interested in storing it behind bullet-proof glass. Does the Smithsonian have middle reader fiction within its marble walls? Maybe not.

ARC... no, I will call mine a AFC. Advanced Framing Copy.