The Dresden Files > DFRPG
Parallel Fiction
Chuck Charbeneau:
I'm not going to call it fan fiction, and here's why:
I've noticed, having both worked in the gaming industry as well as being an absolute gaming nerd, that as a game rises in popularity, so too does the number of authors interested in writing about the adventures and hi-jinks of their favorite group of <INSERTNAME OF ADVENTURINGBANDHERE>. Look at Weiss/Hickman et al, Niles, Greenwood, Salvatore et al, the list goes on-and-on.
The Shadow Run and Whitewolf universes as well have spawned some very good fiction written by both the game developers and well written players turned authors.
This being said, is there any word from the author regarding the expansion of his universe by other authors (especially once the rpg streets)? The TV show is a very interesting step in that direction (unless he's writing all of the scripts), and as a closet writer, and love to cut my teeth on the Butcherian laws of physics, er, magic.
I understand the implications of loosening his ownership of the Dresden name, and elements specific to Harry's existence, but it's a big world out there, and I'd be interested to see what else might develop, given the rules (ie. the RPG) on which this particular universe is based.
Jim would become our Rodenberry.
*looks all dreamy*
Jim Butcher and Gene....THAT would have been an interesting author's panel.
finarvyn:
I would think that it might depend upon which characters or situations were used.
Star Trek is a very modular series with each character ending a mission in pretty much the same state as he/she began it, so a zillion stories can be generated and read in pretty much any order.
Star Wars is not. It is more linear and authors are all coordinated so that they don't conflict events with one another. Even here, most of the events in the fiction are occuring far after the events of the movies so as to not conflict with George Lucus' part of the story.
White Wolf's World of Darkness campaign setting has inspired many tie-in novels, but I consider it to be very different because WoD is not based on a single set of characters. Authors can create characters at a whim and do whatever to them without conflicting with the creations of other authors in other books.
The big problem with Dresden Files is that Jim is still alive and writing about Harry. (Take this in context; it's not a bad thing! ;)) The TV show can follow the pre-determined events of the books, or it can choose a more modular approach and fill in minor cases in between books, but if it becomes really linear it could have problems staying true to the series.
Fan fiction (or "parallel" fiction) has this same potential problem. The ideal solution might be to have Harry-like characters in a totally different place: "Okay, this campaign is based on this guy who's the only Wizard listed in the L.A. phone book..."
Mario Di Giacomo:
Here's the thing. In cases like Star Trek & Star Wars, the officially endorsed fiction is checked and vetted by the copyright holders (Paramount & Lucasfilm), who have final say on just what gets published.
In the case of a Dresden tie-in novel, if Jim doesn't give permission, it's still fan fiction, no matter how well-written (and I've seen fanfic written better than the "official" works, like Kid Dynamo). And even if _he_ doesn't mind, I'm willing to bet his publisher will.
Y'see, there's another aspect to this. I'm an admin on another board, connected to a specific comics series. And we recently had to impose a solid ban on fanfic, simply to prevent the creator from potential legal implications. And that's in a different medium entirely.
Picture this. A fan writes a story where Harry becomes king of the Green Court. In a later book, Jim has the same thing happen. The fan decides that Jim took his idea and asks for credit (at best) or money (at worst). And it all ends up in court.
It's happened before. And a lot of creators are skittish.
So there are really only a few possible approaches.
1: Ban all tie-in fiction, approved or otherwise.
2: Allow certain stories, but maintain a tight hold on what happens to the characters (this is Lucasfilm's approach).
3: Allow certain stories, but decree that they are not necessarily "canon" (see Star Trek).
I'm not sure which route Jim might take.
Chuck Charbeneau:
This is specifically why I wrote this:
--- Quote ---I understand the implications of loosening his ownership of the Dresden name, and elements specific to Harry's existence, but it's a big world out there, and I'd be interested to see what else might develop, given the rules (ie. the RPG) on which this particular universe is based.
--- End quote ---
which was my way to indicate my understanding of copyright and trademark, meanwhile suggesting that if the universe structure around the rules and laws of magic are adhered to - the cannon, if you will - (and the character of Harry Dresden was understood to exist, but was not relevant to the course of a particular story line), then parallel fiction would be interesting, and what was Jim's take on this, given that derivative works were already in process with the creation of the game.
neminem:
--- Quote from: Mario Di Giacomo on May 27, 2006, 12:15:51 PM ---So there are really only a few possible approaches.
1: Ban all tie-in fiction, approved or otherwise.
2: Allow certain stories, but maintain a tight hold on what happens to the characters (this is Lucasfilm's approach).
3: Allow certain stories, but decree that they are not necessarily "canon" (see Star Trek).
I'm not sure which route Jim might take.
--- End quote ---
Actually, Jim already stated precisely which road he wants to be taken: I don't have a quote, but he's pretty much said, "feel free to write fanfic, but make sure I don't see it ever, or I might have to sue you".
That is a good question, though, about derivative works that don't use any of the characters of his novels, merely the world. I've seen some good published fiction of that sort, in a handful of different worlds - some of the Valdemar short story collections come particularly to mind. Obviously, Jim would have to ok stories both generally and per-story, but I could see that being a neat idea. Of course, that would also take up more of Jim's time that he could use on writing...
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