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I didn't think fan-fiction was limited to non-public-domain books? I had no problem with using fan-fiction to describe this sort of derivative (Wide Sagasso Sea). Books like this, and like Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James, are more than vaguely derivative, they attempt to extend the original story. And books like these cannot claim approval from the original creators, so "fan-fiction" fits, I think, especially if you allow that the term "fan-fiction" need carry no inherently derogatory associations. (Although, fan-fiction does cover much broader territory, so we probably do need a better term for this narrower sort of "story-extension" derivative.)
And, similar to Deskisamess, I'm not a big fan of story-extension/fan-fiction derivatives. (I have found a few exceptions over the years.) For me it is mostly about author voice.
I have favourite authors, from which the majority of my absolute favourite books are drawn, and it's because I like their voice. The stories may not all be perfect, but I enjoy them because I enjoy hearing that voice in my head.
So when someone else comes along and tries to take up the same story and extend it, they start at a disadvantage. They are taking settings and character voices that I am used to - and very much enjoy - hearing in one voice, and telling it in their own. As a result the place and people often start to sound like somewhere and someone different. Generally it sets up a sort of dissonance and greatly reduces my chances of enjoying the new book.
I tend to have less problem with books that step further away from the original in one way or another. Get far enough from the original to lose that worn in association (favourites tend to get re-read and so the paths are well worn) and I can start to enjoy the book for what it is rather than what I expect it to be.
None of which means there is anything inherently wrong with such story-extension derivatives. The reaction is a personal one.
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