Harry Potter's success. Why is harry potter so popular?

Well, if you don't know who or what Harry Potter. You are not from this planet.

However, I am very curious to understand why is the potter books are so popular. If any of us knew writing about a young wizard at magic school would be so popular, anyone would do it.

Good points of the books are:
- fantasy world, very creative, people want to know more about this world
- good story line, a cross between detective and adventure storyline

I really wonder why people are so attracted to the book, because there are tons of other books out there that have similar good points. How is it that Harry can rise above the rest?

I'm not talking about the "Harry Potter craze" where people dress like wizards, and queue outside bookstores to wait for the next book to be released. I'm talking about before all that, when Harry was still new, first published, and unknown. How did it get from there to where it is today?

Personally, I read harry potter before it's superstar success. I remember the year after I read the first two books, I would go to school and see so many people reading The Sorcerer's Stone. It was pretty much a shock to me, suddenly Harry is so popular.

Harry Potter is so commercial, even spin-offs can make money out of it.

There is a spoof of Harry Potter called "Barry Trotter". Some ideas copied from the original, but it made money too.

Another book called "We Love Harry Potter!: We'll Tell You Why", shows just how popular Harry Potter is. This book captures opinions of Harry Potter fans, chicken soup for the soul style. Even such a book can make money. It might even explain why Harry Potter is so successful and popular.

Do you think J.K. Rowling expected or knew of her work's success? Or do you know why Harry Potter is that successful?

The improved sellablity & marketing that have being injected in the books..