Amazon feels magic of Harry Potter

Online retailer Amazon.com is once again set for a windfall thanks to teen wizard Harry Potter and the latest book by J.K. Rowling, which is set for release midnight Friday.

The e-tail giant is also gearing itself up for the logistical nightmare of ensuring all orders for "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" are met and delivered on time--a plan that has been six months in the making. In terms of the size of the task in hand, the company hasn't seen anything like it since the last Harry Potter book was released in 2003.

The company has been taking orders for the book at more than one per minute since its release date was announced last December. In the United Kingdom, Amazon.co.uk has received 350,000 orders for the book.

A spokeswoman for Amazon.co.uk told Silicon.com: "The book is released at midnight on Friday, and we're working very closely with Royal Mail to ensure all customers who have pre-ordered get their books on the day of release."

According to the spokeswoman, the company has even received an order that will be dispatched to the Vatican City. "Perhaps even the Pope is a Harry Potter fan," the spokeswoman said.

Will Sturgeon of Silicon.com reported from London.