Wednesday Morning LitLinks
Galleycat reports on author Chris Anderson’s plagiarism problems in his new book, Free: The Future of a Radical Price (Hyperion). The Virginia Quarterly Review was first on the case with an exhaustive analysis. A sad case all round, made sadder by the author’s excuse that he was in a hurry…
In other plagiarism news, View co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck is being sued by an author who sent her a copy of her health book, only to find Hasselbeck releasing an eerily similar book a year later…
…which all leads us to our profound thought of the day (courtesy of Alison Flood): Can publishing go any lower?
Why, yes… it can: The Village Voice snags an interview with everyone’s favorite intellectual property rapist, John David California, who continues his “gee, why is everyone so upset?” act.
In happier news, Dick Cheney gets his book deal.
Al Kennedy’s enthusiasm over his upcoming book of short stories is tempered by his paranoia over having to promote it.
Former astronomer and current Welshman Alastair Reynolds signs a 10-book deal worth £1,000,000.
Diane Davis, writing for the San Francisco Events Examiner, previews next month’s San Francisco International Poetry Festival.
Today in Literature: On this day in 1842, writer and reporter Ambrose Pierce was born in Horse Cave Creek, Ohio.
AuthorScoop
June 24th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Reading that interviewing with JD California made me a little ill.
Especially, “This is about creating. I find it appalling that things that belong to everyone, things you can’t own, are being vandalized by greedy authors that are hiding behind laws that were meant to boost creativity and creation, not hinder it.”
I do so wish I could talk to him. “Holden Caulfield does not belong to all of us. It is something you CAN own. and the only vandal here, is you.”
What an ass.
June 24th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
my favorite:
“I think 60 Years Later IS a super-original novel. In many ways I believe 60 is as original and creative as Catcher. I realize I’m putting myself on the line saying this, but it’s really a modern day Frankenstein. “
June 24th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Yes. I liked that one, too. His book is based on someone else’s characters, plays with the original’s title, includes the original author’s persona, and uses a bastardized take on the classic, Frankenstein for a premise. Not to mention he’s used a device Vonnegut used in Breakfast of Champions (and possibly other authors have done so too) by putting an author in the story with his characters. Except one difference. Vonnegut put himself in a story with his own characters.
and he isn’t the author and the characters aren’t his.
But yes, super-original.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
well said.