Quote:
Originally Posted by hildea
Or, thirdly: You want to engage with the source material, retell a story you love in a different way or play with it and its characters, for the enjoyment of both yourself and your readers.
Some examples of derivative works which are improved because they are derivative, and would be less enjoyable if the links to the works which inspired them had been removed: - The book "The Henchman of Zenda" by KJ Charles. A reimagining of "The Prisoner of Zenda". What if the protagonist of Prisoner was a self-serving liar? What if the women in the story had agency, intelligence, and their own motivations? And what if Jasper Detchard (newly hired henchman) had a deep appreciation of the figure Rupert of Hentzau cuts in well-fitted breeches?
- The various films based on Jane Austen's novels. Sure, it's possible to make films about the conflicting demands of love, propriety, duty, and economics in the early 1800s, flavoured with a dry sense of humour and a somewhat cynical view of human nature, from scratch. But Austen was a brilliant author, and a script based on her books has a very strong starting point. Also, it's enjoyable to see different takes on a well-know story.
- The web comic "My life a background Slytherin" by Emily McGovern. This one would be completely meaningless without the context of Harry Potter. If you've read the books or seen the films, it's hilarious. (This one probably is a copyright violation, but fortunately, Rowling hasn't chosen to go after her.)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by leebase
If you need someOne else's work to give meaning to your own...then they are owed a licensed fee. Or not...depending on the rights holder.
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You can't be bothered to read what people write in this thread, can you? Hildea's post is just the last of several trying to explain to you how authors draw on older texts NOT because they lack creativity or want to make a profit from others' success.