The Dead End » Arleigh

FanFic

Arleigh — Fri, 31 Mar 2006 05:03:17 +0000

Dictionary.com lists fan fiction as “a fictional account written by a fan of a show, movie, book, or video game to explore themes and ideas that will not or cannot be explored via the originating medium”.

Fan fiction has been around a while (the etymology date is 1944). I haven’t studied extensively on the subject, but I’ve heard that Star Trek had a huge following in the 1960’s, when small groups had access to each other‘s writings. This was before the age of computers. Today, fan fiction is booming on the internet, and it is becoming all too easy to publish these half-borrowed works and make them available to anyone.

It seems harmless enough, but who really owns the rights to characters? In 2000, Anne Rice lashed out at fan fiction writers, saying, “I do not allow fan fiction. The characters are copyrighted. It upsets me terribly to even think about fan fiction with my characters. I advise my readers to write your own original stories with your own characters. It is absolutely essential that you respect my wishes.”

J. K. Rowling has supported fan fiction which is suitable for children. Unfortunately, a very small percentage of Harry Potter fan fiction falls into that category. The majority of it includes sexually explicit scenes involving adults and minors (het), or characters of the same gender, which is labeled slash.

I haven’t a problem with fan fiction. However, I have not been victim to the hijacking of characters, so I cannot say how I would truly feel. I do know that I’d be perturbed if my work was being abused, especially if underage characters were put in inappropriate settings.

Since the writers of fan fiction are not seeking monetary gain, and the laws of copyright are vague, fan fiction continues to thrive.

As for the thousands of fans out there who enjoy reading about Professor Snape getting it on with Hermione… just, eww.

The Gospel According to Biff

Arleigh — Sun, 12 Mar 2006 10:31:20 +0000

I recently discovered a great author named Christopher Moore. His style is humorous, which is very different from the books I normally read. I have been in a historical fiction marathon for nearly two years. I’ve read Jean Plaidy, Philippa Gregory, Margaret George, and Robin Maxwell, among others. I’ve learned mostly about British History, but also the biblical era, ancient Egypt and even historical Japan. What tempted me to pick up Christopher Moore’s book is that it has a historical theme.

Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal may be lacking in true historical substance, but it is, however, the funniest book I’ve ever read. I laughed on nearly every page. I am the perfect subject to read this book, because I was once Christian and now non-religious. I understand all of the jokes and irony, but appreciate it‘s blasphemous nature.

Here’s a little synopsis:

Being as there is nothing in the Bible about Jesus’ life from birth until age 30, an angel is sent to have a Gospel written by someone who was there. Biff was resurrected and held in a hotel room by the angel, who gets hooked on TV and thinks it is real (during wrestling he yells “Kick that punk’s punk ass!”)

Biff met Josh (Jesus) at the age of six. They played as most children did, except Josh was able to perform little miracles. As they were growing up, Josh had Biff testing the world of sin and describing it to him, so he could understand it without actually doing it. They traveled and learned other cultures and the ways of the wise men. Josh was continually searching for the answer to life and ultimately his role in his father’s plans (his father being God).

The story is told in modern American dialect. Who would have ever thought that Jesus may have said, “Just fuckin’ with you?”

I had a great time with this book and I can’t wait to start another Chris Moore novel.

Always the hypocrite, never the… um… Happy Valentine’s Day!

Arleigh — Tue, 14 Feb 2006 05:00:19 +0000

~~Jenn~~ Jenn,

Are you Esoteric, Rosicrucian or Spiritist? I must inquire because these are the only Christian sects which support a belief in Karma. Being as you use the term so frequently I was just curious if you truly know the history and meaning of Karma or just use it as a type of weapon that one cannot repudiate, so that you come out the better in an insignificant online squabble.

Please advise.

Arleigh

living forever… in a way

Arleigh — Thu, 09 Feb 2006 05:00:54 +0000

When you are no longer on this earth, how will you be remembered? A name on a tombstone, a photograph in an old family album, or perhaps your footprints on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?

If I had my choice, I would be remembered as one of the great writers of the twenty-first century. Not that I consider myself that talented, but let’s be idealistic.

In order to achieve this goal, I must actually write. Due to my self-imposed unemployment, I’ve found myself in a depressive state and unable to concentrate on what I had intended to do with my free time. However, I’m pleased to report that I finished the first chapter of my first novel. And…

I started my new job Monday. Let’s just see how this raises my spirits.

Lies and the Almighty Oprah

Arleigh — Sat, 28 Jan 2006 18:45:47 +0000

I remember when this book was first released in 2003. I worked at Borders in the inventory department. We received a single copy.

The publisher tried to promote it by giving each major bookstore a free copy for employees to read and hand sell the book. Apparently that didn’t work, so they went after a much coveted marketing scheme: Oprah.

Yes, Oprah can sell books. It doesn’t matter what genre, subject matter, or even if the book is well written. If Oprah backs it, it will be on the best sellers for weeks, perhaps months. After she announced her selection we were continually sold out. Finally the publishers reprinted and we had so many copies we had to make a big display and overstock the rest.

Then the truth came out via The Smoking Gun website. This non-fiction book, which is a memoir about alcohol and drug recovery, is actually fiction. The author, James Frey, had sent the manuscript to 17 publishers as a fiction novel. Finally Talese, an imprint of Doubleday, agreed to publish it as a non-fiction memoir. Frey was given a $50,000 advance.

There is much debate, not so much with the content, but the fact that it is categorized as non-fiction, when in fact it is a grossly embellished story. Frey is making a lot of money on a lie, albeit one which was primarily generated by the publisher. However, he accepted the terms. He embraced the lie and went on to write another book, which is categorized as fiction.

Should the publishers check the accuracy of so-called memoirs before they accept them as fact? Talese must have known there was a hint of fiction in the story, as the author had wanted it published as a novel to begin with. I guess the real question here is: Is Oprah the real victim here, or the brainwashed public? It is mind-boggling how this woman can sell books.