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Yes, that's the sort of stuff I mean -

geordie
Tol Eressea

Aug 7 2012, 5:26pm


Views: 624
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Yes, that's the sort of stuff I mean - [In reply to] Can't Post

Smile -- just kiddin'.

But seriously - while no-one can say for certain what JRR might have felt about fan fiction, we can take an educated guess at his probable reactions to extensions of his writings by others by looking at examples from his letters.

Take for instance one which he wrote to Allen and Unwin, enclosing a letter from a fan who wanted to write a sequel to LotR. He called the person 'a young idiot', IIRC, and asked his publishers to deal with it because one time he got a similar letter 'from a young woman couched in the most obsequious tones, and when I replied in the negative got a vituperative response'. (paraphrase, from memory)

I know most fan-fiction isn't meant for commercial purposes - the wicked ol' Estate recognise this - see their FAQ page.

http://www.tolkienestate.com/faq/p_2/

As I said, Tolkien was very careful in matters pertaining to his copyright, and also the rights of his publishers. I recall some company wrote to tell him they were pleased to inform him that they were going to reprint his essay 'On Fairy-Stories'. He was not pleased - he enquired as to what rights they had to do so, and whether they'd asked permission from his publisher (in this case, the Oxford University Press).

And not everything has to do with copyright - he was also anxious that his words - esp. names - were not messed with, even (or especially) when they were reproduced legitimately. He was very vexed when Puffin Books 'corrected' his spelling when they published The Hobbit; changing 'Dwarves' to 'Dwarfs' and 'Elven' to 'Elfin'. They said they were following the Oxford English Dictionary, so there!

Tolkien growled, 'I wrote the Oxford English Dictionary'.

Tolkien was also vexed when translators of his works messed around with his made-up names. He wrote a translation guide for his publishers to send out to publishers in foreign countries. He was especially vexed with the Swedish translator Ohlmarks, who not only took liberties with Tolkien's prose but made up some 'biographical' notes to go in the front of the book. Tolkien erupted - the man was making stuff up.

Times don't change - just a couple of months ago, in an attempt to create a link between Tolkien and pJ a newspaper in NZ ran a story about how pJ's grandad's regiment was relieved by Tolkien's on the Somme in 1916. (or possibly the other way round). The report was totally wrong - Tolkien was in the 11th Lancashire Fusiliers, not the 1st. I think they got the name of Jackson senior's regiment wrong, too. This type of reporting - changing historical facts in order to fit their story - is not respectful to either of the two men.

I don't go in for fan fiction much, myself. (I've never found any I like). Maybe that's why I'm not keen on pJ's movies.

Subject User Time
Researching THE FRODO FRANCHISE: Part 1, Off to Wellington without a Handkerchief News from Bree Send a private message to News from Bree Jul 26 2012, 1:15pm
    Very interesting! Silverlode Send a private message to Silverlode Jul 26 2012, 7:24pm
    work, work, work pasi Send a private message to pasi Jul 26 2012, 8:03pm
        Thanks, Pasi! Kristin Thompson Send a private message to Kristin Thompson Jul 27 2012, 12:03am
    Agree with previous post, nice distraction from Hobbit events, and jschomburg Send a private message to jschomburg Jul 26 2012, 8:52pm
    Thank you Kristin SirDennisC Send a private message to SirDennisC Jul 26 2012, 10:17pm
    A very interesting beginning Shelob'sAppetite Send a private message to Shelob'sAppetite Jul 27 2012, 12:44am
    Barrie W. Osborne pasi Send a private message to pasi Jul 27 2012, 11:06am
        Absolutely true about Barrie Kristin Thompson Send a private message to Kristin Thompson Jul 27 2012, 1:55pm
        I think the Tolkien Estate geordie Send a private message to geordie Jul 29 2012, 3:50pm
            I completely agree with you, geordie Kristin Thompson Send a private message to Kristin Thompson Jul 29 2012, 4:52pm
                yes - geordie Send a private message to geordie Jul 31 2012, 6:16am
                    When we speak of money Kristin Thompson Send a private message to Kristin Thompson Jul 31 2012, 2:05pm
                IMO Shelob'sAppetite Send a private message to Shelob'sAppetite Jul 31 2012, 7:06am
                Born of Hope Lurker in the Dark Send a private message to Lurker in the Dark Aug 5 2012, 4:43am
                    Born of Hope Lurker in the Dark Send a private message to Lurker in the Dark Aug 5 2012, 4:54am
                    Tolkien fanfilms and rights Kristin Thompson Send a private message to Kristin Thompson Aug 5 2012, 2:52pm
                    As Kristen says geordie Send a private message to geordie Aug 6 2012, 12:30pm
                        Messed with? Lurker in the Dark Send a private message to Lurker in the Dark Aug 7 2012, 5:24am
                            Yes, that's the sort of stuff I mean - geordie Send a private message to geordie Aug 7 2012, 5:26pm
                                Sick burn! SirDennisC Send a private message to SirDennisC Aug 8 2012, 2:24am
                                    Thanks, SirDennisC! Kristin Thompson Send a private message to Kristin Thompson Aug 9 2012, 1:18am
                                        ... and thank you for the book suggestion! // SirDennisC Send a private message to SirDennisC Aug 9 2012, 8:05am
                                    Um.. geordie Send a private message to geordie Aug 9 2012, 5:35pm
    Awesome! zarabia Send a private message to zarabia Jul 29 2012, 7:23am
        It wasn't exactly in every bookshop Kristin Thompson Send a private message to Kristin Thompson Jul 29 2012, 2:40pm
            I _really_ need to get a copy of this book - geordie Send a private message to geordie Jul 29 2012, 3:07pm
                You definitely do need a copy, geordie :) Kristin Thompson Send a private message to Kristin Thompson Jul 29 2012, 3:48pm
                    Hmm.. geordie Send a private message to geordie Jul 29 2012, 4:20pm
    More please Lurker in the Dark Send a private message to Lurker in the Dark Aug 5 2012, 4:34am
        Believe me, Kristin Thompson Send a private message to Kristin Thompson Aug 5 2012, 3:35pm
            A most important book Lurker in the Dark Send a private message to Lurker in the Dark Aug 7 2012, 5:57am
                I'm afraid I have to disagree Kristin Thompson Send a private message to Kristin Thompson Aug 7 2012, 3:46pm

 
 
 

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