Boggled

[andrewducker]

I just discovered that Jasper Fforde disapproves of fanfic.

I am completely boggled.

Comments

[usmu.livejournal.com]

To me there's a huge difference between what Fforde does and fanfic as I understand it. Fforde has created an universe all of his own and has used several established literary characters from all over the place. Fanfic (again: as I understand it) is either introducing a new protagonist into an existing universe, or taking an existing universe and rewriting it to your own liking. Fford has used the figure of Hamlet for instance, but has not tried to rewrite the play. Fanfic would write stories set in the play, either fleshing out the backstory or introducing another character into it.

Besides: I'm always amused at the notion that authors should be happy with fanfic. Not only does it create problems with copyright, as noted elsewhere in this thread, but I can understand authors being protective of their creations. Fanfic writers can take characters down roads their authors never intended them to go. Stoppong people from writing it would be futile, but that doesn't mean you should be happy with it either. That's each writer's perogative.