tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56230747868041478.post6154191493749607114..comments2024-03-24T00:16:17.304-07:00Comments on Storming the Ivory Tower: Reader's Rights: The Idea Preservation ImperativeSam Keeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00863236889998956170noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56230747868041478.post-89772944896591230712012-10-02T09:16:59.214-07:002012-10-02T09:16:59.214-07:00Yeah. I don't have a lot to say other than... ...Yeah. I don't have a lot to say other than... yeah, really insightful. I think you're right on all points. I will say, though, that there might be ways that we can make things more authoritative: a nicer publishing format, the creation of stories that do tie into the main canon (for stuff like the rise of Sedris, the Mirage War, Innistrad, the Planeswalker War, and on and on), sequels to stuff like The Interrogation... stuff like that gives the stories a bit more weight. It's definitely an uphill battle, though, and I understand your reluctance to get involved in something that will never have the same authority as Canon.<br /><br />Thanks though for your kind words about my Interrogation sequel. I was pretty happy with it and I'm glad someone else got enjoyment out of it. :)Sam Keeperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00863236889998956170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56230747868041478.post-69097381937217685292012-09-02T14:55:33.921-07:002012-09-02T14:55:33.921-07:00Hi Keeper,
Thanks for writing this, I've been...Hi Keeper,<br /><br />Thanks for writing this, I've been thinking about this sort of thing a lot lately and feel the need to kind of splurge my thoughts on them. This is probably repackaging a lot of what you've said above, but please bear with me.<br /><br />I think, between this, the IP debate on the New Magic Books Wizards thread (particularly LauraR's comments on fanfiction) and my own craving for a MtG roleplaying game (an almost-completed pet project), I've had a mild epiphany.<br /><br />What makes fantasy/sci-fi tick, moreso than any other fiction genre, is the idea of universe creation. The books feel different to any other because you're doing more than reading about unique characters, you're reading about unique places, interactions, concepts and, to an extent, themes. A reader gets introduced to these and wants to explore them, so they write fanfic. Hence LauraR's comment about fanfiction not really being prevalent in other genres; they're not so rampant because in order to explore the promise of the setting of (say) Jane Eyre, you don't need to write a "derivative" work, you just write a work set in the same social mileu, which doesn't have the same IP connotations. Although quite who would be more upset about the Pride and Prejudice/Star Trek fanfic, I don't know (it's been done, and it is terrifying to behold). It's this aspect of playing with the ideas that make fanfiction proliferate in scifi/fantasy, and it's why they will always do so. You want to buy into the pre-existing universe because it's rich and detailed and you want to explore it.<br /><br />Although in the same breath, things like the Expanded Multiverse won't have the same allure, because they don't hold the same authority. You may want to explore what else the Mirari saw on Dominaria, but less people are likely to engage with it because it doesn't issue forth from the authoritative source that is Wizards publishing house. This diminishes fanfiction somewhat, as it'll always mean far more to the creator than to anyone who reads it. I'm sure the same is true for most published works too, but the gap isn't so observable as there are many people who do engage deeply with published work, far more than tend to with fanfiction.<br /><br />It's because of this lack of gravitas that has meant I haven't wanted to get too involved with the Expanded Multiverse. I would love to contribute and read the new ideas, but because they won't have the same impact and take up as the Weatherlight or Mirari Sagas, I'm going to feel less enthused about them, unless they are fantastic pieces of writing (which the Continued Interrogation piece was, much kudos).<br /><br />People will have ideas, but not all ideas are created equal. This has an impact on them. Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03267314301338868526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56230747868041478.post-52036724179244281902012-03-19T05:17:06.161-07:002012-03-19T05:17:06.161-07:00I think it would be interesting to explore the thi...I think it would be interesting to explore the thing in the beginning (critical essays and fanfiction are the same thing) a bit more in the future.<br /><br />I agree that fanfiction is something that (when done right) shines a new light on certain aspects of a work, which is why I like The Methods of Rationality so much.<br /><br />Also, how would you respond the creators who don't like the idea of fanfiction, like Robin Hobb?Yxoquehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01728852618699602516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56230747868041478.post-78943134085718514722012-03-18T14:40:47.285-07:002012-03-18T14:40:47.285-07:00Hear hear!
I've been thinking more and more l...Hear hear!<br /><br />I've been thinking more and more lately that the era of 'canon stories' is over with Magic (not the least of which because the latest fiction was so filled with contradictions). Now considering I'm the guy who has an outline for the 'proper' Quest for Karn novel (all it needs is me to have time to write it!), I realized that by the time I do have time to rewrite the Quest for Karn, the Innistrad story will be finished, so this summer I'm going to start with writing the Innistrad Novel and then move on to the Quest for Karn if possible.<br /><br />All power to the Expanded Multiverse! I almost feel like we need a more visible place for it. I wish we could get more contributors!Dav Flamerockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07536434562663923502noreply@blogger.com