Post by youma on Dec 21, 2006 21:05:58 GMT -6
Hey
I was about to go to the Lovecraftian fiction archive on www.epberglund.com/RGttCM/cmnet01.htm, when I wondered about one thing.
What do most people think of such fanfiction?
I know that true Hergé fans despise fanfiction, because that author loathed any form of plagiarism, even something so mild, he was even reluctant to allow the publisher to release more of his work after his death, wanting it to die with him.
But Lovecraft didn't have such an opinion, on the contrary his collaboration with other authors to build the "mythos" confirms his liking for grandiose work out of the reach of a single individual.
However, fanfiction often betrays the spirit of the original work. I've seen stories making Nyarlathotep a mere trickster easily defeated by any dreamer or occult lover, or making the Elder Gods benevolent and caring about mankind, and the Great Old Ones obsessed about destroying it as if it mattered to them. Stories that would make a purist shriek, without a doubt.
Sometimes, the fanfiction is not serious. Some other people, also, don't like parodies, deeming them disrespectful. (I like them though read "Behold, I stand at your door and knock" for an awesome mix of humour and horror)
And also, so many stories can obviously not reflect a consistent view, perhaps making the whole "mythos" a little less efficient at generating a conception of the world as Lovecraft and his buddies would have wanted.
And there's the ultimate sin: the crossover! Reading of a cosmic battle between Cthulhu and Sailor Moon might cause some heads to spontaneously explode. (but damn it: can someone regularly write fanfiction and never commit crossover? I don't think so!)
So well, do people around here generally think fanfiction is good? Is the enjoyment of writing and reading them self justifying? Or are they somewhat demeaning to the original work? Some may also answer: "It's ok, but it should respect this and that point"
In other words, what should be respected in Lovecraft's work, and what can suffer a little sillyness?
I was about to go to the Lovecraftian fiction archive on www.epberglund.com/RGttCM/cmnet01.htm, when I wondered about one thing.
What do most people think of such fanfiction?
I know that true Hergé fans despise fanfiction, because that author loathed any form of plagiarism, even something so mild, he was even reluctant to allow the publisher to release more of his work after his death, wanting it to die with him.
But Lovecraft didn't have such an opinion, on the contrary his collaboration with other authors to build the "mythos" confirms his liking for grandiose work out of the reach of a single individual.
However, fanfiction often betrays the spirit of the original work. I've seen stories making Nyarlathotep a mere trickster easily defeated by any dreamer or occult lover, or making the Elder Gods benevolent and caring about mankind, and the Great Old Ones obsessed about destroying it as if it mattered to them. Stories that would make a purist shriek, without a doubt.
Sometimes, the fanfiction is not serious. Some other people, also, don't like parodies, deeming them disrespectful. (I like them though read "Behold, I stand at your door and knock" for an awesome mix of humour and horror)
And also, so many stories can obviously not reflect a consistent view, perhaps making the whole "mythos" a little less efficient at generating a conception of the world as Lovecraft and his buddies would have wanted.
And there's the ultimate sin: the crossover! Reading of a cosmic battle between Cthulhu and Sailor Moon might cause some heads to spontaneously explode. (but damn it: can someone regularly write fanfiction and never commit crossover? I don't think so!)
So well, do people around here generally think fanfiction is good? Is the enjoyment of writing and reading them self justifying? Or are they somewhat demeaning to the original work? Some may also answer: "It's ok, but it should respect this and that point"
In other words, what should be respected in Lovecraft's work, and what can suffer a little sillyness?