A few more things about the fanfic kerfuffle

[owlmoose]

It appears that Gabaldon has, after posting a fauxpology (the classic "I'm sorry if anyone's feelings were hurt" response), deleted all her posts on the subject. Couldn't stand the heat? Some attempt to save face? Since the posts are gone, and she hasn't replaced them with a statement on their removal, we'll probably never know why. But I hope she knows that, on the Internet, wank is forever.

I also wanted to share two follow up notes to the GRRM posts. First, check out this totally fascinating post from nihilistic_kid which basically demolishes GRRM's claim that H.P. Lovecraft died in poverty because he allowed unlicensed derivative fanworks of his books. I really recommend this post, not only for the information about Lovecraft, but especially for links and discussion in the comments that cast the infamous Marion Zimmer Bradley fanfic case in a somewhat different light.

The other is from GRRM himself. He's posted on this issue twice more since his original comment on the situation. The first was a standard attempt to simultaneously entrench and backpedal (he did acknowledge the copyright misconpetion, sorta), but the other is actually fairly thoughtful and interesting, and it's worth reading, if you can get past his annoying habit of referring to fan writers as "fan fictioneers". It's an emotional look at what his characters mean to him, and why reaction to fanworks can be just as much about love for the original creators as for the fan writers. Fan writers create out of love for the characters and the world; original creators feel protective of their creations for the same reason. While I still take issue with some of the particulars of his argument, I find it a lot more sympathetic than the usual "copyright/stealing/talentless hacks/write your own stuff/ZOMGporn!" tactics that pro authors often use against fic. Good debate in the comments, too. For starters, I recommend this comment, a semi-rebuttal from dagas_isa taking issue with the implication that pro authors who allow and/or encourage fic love their characters less than GRRM. And I agree: not more or less, although possibly different.

Comments

[ovo-lexa.livejournal.com]

I'm no fan of Derleth's work, but even I can admit that it's his fanficery and devotion that saved Lovecraft's work from almost certain oblivion. o_o

also, Lovecraft died from cancer, not copyright, wth?

/never heard this argument before.

Now he ded from fanfi

[owlmoose.livejournal.com]

GRRM's argument, as best as I could understand, was that HPL was poor in part because he allowed people to write in his universe without paying licensing fees. He speculated that, had HPL charged those writers, he would have had more money, hence a better diet and/or access to medical care, and therefore might have lived longer. According to the nihilistic_kid post I linked (not to mention common sense?) there about a million things wrong with that argument, but that was the claim.

It does seem likely that the expose that Lovecraft's universe got through official and unofficial fic is a huge factor in the ongoing popularity of his work. And really, which would most authors rather leave: an enduring creative legacy, or a pile of money for their heirs? (I'm seeing some evidence that GRRM would choose the latter, which might explain some things.)