Fifth Harry Potter Book Due on June 21 - By Dan Lalor

LONDON (Reuters) - "Harry Potter (news - web sites) and the Order of the Phoenix," the fifth book of adventures of the boy wizard by author J.K. Rowling (news - web sites), is due to be published on June 21, its British publisher said Wednesday.

"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is absolutely superb and will delight all J.K. Rowling's fans. She has written a brilliant and utterly compelling new adventure," Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. chief executive Nigel Newton said in a statement.

The book, which at 38 chapters and 255,000 words, will be a third longer than the last book -- "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" -- is also being published by U.S. children's book publisher Scholastic Corp.

Fans will have had a three-year wait for "Order of the Phoenix." "Goblet of Fire" was published Saturday, July 8, 2000, and was the fastest-selling book in history on the first weekend of its publication.

Like "Goblet of Fire," "Order of the Phoenix" is being published on a Saturday, meaning eager fans will not have to miss a day off school or work to buy the new book.

By then, most will likely know the first few sentences by heart. They are: "The hottest day of the summer so far was drawing to a close and a drowsy silence lay over the large, square houses of Privet Drive ... The only person left outside was a teenage boy who was lying flat on his back in a flowerbed outside number four."

The book may have a darker side than the earlier escapades.

Bloomsbury said Rowling also writes: "Dumbledore lowered his hands and surveyed Harry through his half-moon glasses. "It is time," he said, "for me to tell you what I should have told you five years ago, Harry.

"Please sit down. I am going to tell you everything."

All four Harry Potter books -- "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone," "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," as well as "Goblet of Fire" -- have been No. 1 bestsellers and are still on bestseller lists around the world.

Rowling has got married since "Goblet of Fire" was published and is pregnant, with the baby due this spring.

--Finally! Man this is gonna sell fast! Get inline if you want one!