Robin Cook's Charlatans

[JSWolf]

Did Robin Cook write Charlatans or is the author name now being used by a stable of writers? The book was released August 22, 2017. Robin Cook died sometime in 2005.

[GlenBarrington]

I don't believe it is possible to copyright a book title if you are referring to totally different books with the same title.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

I don't believe it is possible to copyright a book title if you are referring to totally different books with the same title.

Not the book title, the author's name. Robin Cook died in 2005. So how is a book written by a dead author being published in 2017?

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Robin Cook died in 2005. So how is a book written by a dead author being published in 2017?

1- It could be an unpublished manuscript.
2- It could be an unfinished manuscript.
3- It could be ghost-written from notes and outlines left behind.
4- The publisher bought/licensed the name. Less likely, but Tom Clancy was alive when he sold his name and trademarks so it is possible.

Posthumous publishing is not only not rare, it is increasingly common.
The big publishers prefer proven authors and the dead are known quantities with established fan bases.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

1- It could be an unpublished manuscript.
2- It could be an unfinished manuscript.
3- It could be ghost-written from notes and outlines left behind.
4- The publisher bought/licensed the name. Less likely, but Tom Clancy was alive when he sold his name and trademarks.

It's not only not rare, it is increasingly common.
The big publishers prefer proven authors and the dead are known quantities with established fan basis.

As for Tom Clancy, at least it says on the cover that it's not written by Tom Clancy. Same with the Robert B. Parker Spencer series. You know who wrote the books based on the original author's characters. In this case, the cover doesn't say what the situation is.

[fjtorres]

If the cover doesn't list any other contributor it could be any of the first three.
There are no laws or regulations that define when ghosts have to be credited, regardless of whether the author of record is breathing or not.

Hey, maybe Penguin hired a medium to contact Cook and it was literally written by his ghost.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Not the book title, the author's name. Robin Cook died in 2005. So how is a book written by a dead author being published in 2017?

The same way V.C. Andrews 'continues' to write!

[Barbara1955]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Did Robin Cook write Charlatans or is the author name now being used by a stable of writers? The book was released August 22, 2017. Robin Cook died sometime in 2005.

Really??? Where did you read that!!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_...ican_novelist)

http://www.robincook.com/about-robin-cook.php

[Barbara1955]

Robin Cook the Politian DIED in 2005 NOT The Doctor & Author!! Get Your FACTS Straight!! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Cook

[Nate the great]

Originally Posted by Barbara1955

Really??? Where did you read that!!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_...rican_novelist)

http://www.robincook.com/about-robin-cook.php

exactly.

the American author is still alive.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Barbara1955

Robin Cook the Politian DIED in 2005 NOT The Doctor & Author!! Get Your FACTS Straight!! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Cook

Then where I got my information got the two Robin Cooks mixed up.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Then where I got my information got the two Robin Cooks mixed up.

So you got your answed as...
5- Not. Dead. Yet.

Too bad for the medium.

[barryem]

While Wolf got this one wrong this time I'm pretty sure when Robin Cook does die he'll continue right along writing novels. Death doesn't seem to be much hindrance for writers anymore. Then again, maybe this isn't so new. The four gospels were written decades after the death of the disciples who most everyone believes wrote them.

Barry

[GlenBarrington]

Originally Posted by barryem

While Wolf got this one wrong this time I'm pretty sure when Robin Cook does die he'll continue right along writing novels. Death doesn't seem to be much hindrance for writers anymore. Then again, maybe this isn't so new. The four gospels were written decades after the death of the disciples who most everyone believes wrote them.

Barry

If writers can do this, why not readers? When I'm gone, I want people to take over my Goodreads account and read books in my name.

BUT I want smart, 'thinky' books I would never read if I were alive. You know, the books that get discussed in periodicals with the words "Review" or "Journal" in the name!

[4691mls]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

If writers can do this, why not readers? When I'm gone, I want people to take over my Goodreads account and read books in my name.

BUT I want smart, 'thinky' books I would never read if I were alive. You know, the books that get discussed in periodicals with the words "Review" or "Journal" in the name!

Don't forget to have someone take over posting here on Mobileread for you too!