BUSTED! Plagiarists, Fakers & Literary Hoaxes

[incognito]

I think its because the author basically only changed the names when she moved it from fanfic to original fic. Some of the people on Jami Gold's website have interesting points about it-that in order to write the fanfic the author basically made Edward's "Big secret" that he's into "BDSM" (in quotes because its not like, actual correct BDSM) instead of that he's a vampire, and a lot was similar as far as relationships between characters and whatnot. For instance, Edward is adopted, the romantic parings end up the same, James is the bad guy, Jacob likes Bella, and so on.

A lot of these things are just very generic tropes though. The story was so AU that it might as well have been an original story from the get-go. Of course it wasn't, but if the story had been published as original fic first, I doubt people would have called it a rip-off of Twilight.

[chiqui]

Yes, but if she had published it as original, no one would have paid attention. "Young female virgin finds BDSM" novels are a dime a dozen in the erotica world.

[NappingAthena]

Apr 19, 2012 14:49:08 GMT -4 incognito said:

I think its because the author basically only changed the names when she moved it from fanfic to original fic. Some of the people on Jami Gold's website have interesting points about it-that in order to write the fanfic the author basically made Edward's "Big secret" that he's into "BDSM" (in quotes because its not like, actual correct BDSM) instead of that he's a vampire, and a lot was similar as far as relationships between characters and whatnot. For instance, Edward is adopted, the romantic parings end up the same, James is the bad guy, Jacob likes Bella, and so on.

A lot of these things are just very generic tropes though. The story was so AU that it might as well have been an original story from the get-go. Of course it wasn't, but if the story had been published as original fic first, I doubt people would have called it a rip-off of Twilight.

I disagree, because I feel like a lot of the tropes used were the shorthand-for-Twilight tropes. Honestly, in the fic it wouldn't bother me, but the lack of editing those things out does. For instance, James could have moved the story to the UK, or why do all the couples have to "match" the Twilight counterparts? Why does Christian have to be a piano player?

[incognito]

But those are just very superficial similarities, and there's a lot that's different as well. The lack of vampires, specifically sparkling vampires. The addition of BDSM. The fact that Rose and Bella were never friends in Twilight. Whatever the fuck that 'inner goddess' thing was.

The idea of the "hero" having a dark secret is a complete cliche that Meyer has no monopoly on, and I have to say that I don't associate Seattle with Twilight at all. Piano player...eh. Piano's not an obscure instrument.

I mean, I think that the story is beyond horrible, but IMO it's more derivative than outright plagiaristic. I feel the same way about Eragon, which has also been accused of plagiarism.

Yes, but if she had published it as original, no one would have paid attention.

Well, sure. I'm not disputing that she's capitalizing on her Twilight fanbase or the notoriety of the story originally being Twilight fanfic. I just don't think that the story itself qualifies as plagiarism. A lot of these AU stories are pretty much original fic with familiar names tossed in to get a built-in fanbase, which does make me roll my eyes.

[chonies]

This isn't plagiarism but its kind of a literary WTF: James Patterson's new book for middle schoolers has a tagline "junior high is murder" and there's a character named Rafe Khatchadourian (not sure of the spelling, since it was a tv commercial for a book).

How did that get okayed? I mean, I know Lionel Shriver doesn't have a lockdown on Armenian names, but really?

[Gigiree]

May 18, 2012 5:40:43 GMT -4 chonies said:

This isn't plagiarism but its kind of a literary WTF: James Patterson's new book for middle schoolers has a tagline "junior high is murder" and there's a character named Rafe Khatchadourian (not sure of the spelling, since it was a tv commercial for a book).

How did that get okayed? I mean, I know Lionel Shriver doesn't have a lockdown on Armenian names, but really?

Maybe it's a nod/tribute to Shriver's book. . .

[Mutagen]

The 'Three Cups of Tea' author committed suicide. No word on whether it's to do with the legal issues with his book.

[chonies]

Oh wow. I wouldn't wish that on a plagiarist or fabricator, just shame and a very public repentance.

On a related note, any thoughts about this article about Sudhir Venkatesh, Columbia sociologist who wrote Gang Leader For A Day? The article doesn't quite go to fabrication, but there is (and has been) a cloud over his research and it's approaching side eye/O RLY territory now that it's in the NY Times. To be fair, most of the charges seem to be of the financial-mismanagement angle, but other people are more dubious. I am personally very disappointed in this. I'm not in sociology, but I used excerpts of his writing in various classes. I hope it's just financial.

[garnet927]

Dec 3, 2012 10:18:22 GMT -4 Mutagen said:

The 'Three Cups of Tea' author committed suicide. No word on whether it's to do with the legal issues with his book.

Just to clarify, it's the co-author of Three Cups of Tea who committed suicide, not Greg Mortenson.

[Mutagen]

Oops, thanks.