Don't really care, but

[merrily]

I know fandom is an insular place; thus, I spend my time lurking or dipping my toes in the shallows. It's safer. There are crazies in the deep end. And this evening I've spent a couple hours reading about the fandom craziness of Cassie Clare, a story that has fallen into the deep end, gotten stuck in the filter at the bottom and turned into a mucky, corpsified fandom legend. (If you think you might care, there's about 10,000 well-documented words on the subject starting here.)

Oh. My. God.

My eyes started to glaze after a while, but people care about the sitch a whole lot, and I understand why. Plagiarism makes me livid, too. Plus, I am boggled by "writers" who don't have a massive, bone-deep need to avoid any situation that might look even slightly like plagiarism. "Inspiration"? "Paying homage?" My ass.

The thing that really burns me, though, is the book that she has coming out. I'm an ardent Joss fan and I am Suspicious. Deeply Suspicious. The main character's name is Fray, for god's sake! Also, secret demon-hunting cadre? What, are they out to get rogue demons, too?

Fortunately, I am also a bookseller, able to request advance copies, and I am going to do so with our S&S rep tomorrow. I don't think the manuscript has even gotten that far yet, but I fully intend to take the first copy available and spend an entire weekend combing through it with my library, Google, and all the whedonverse scripts and printed material I can find.

I suspect her editor's not going to do it, and really, someone needs to. Certain things can not be tolerated in the artistic and book communities, and blithe stealing from other people's work is one of them.

Comments

[alicefortea.livejournal.com]

Plus, I am boggled by "writers" who don't have a massive, bone-deep need to avoid any situation that might look even slightly like plagiarism.

I agree. That's what I think is the most serious part about that. That she is this celebrated writer, but she hasn't actually acknowledged her plagerizing as plagerism (that I know of; I skimmed the history). And that's hugely disappointing - a popular writer treating plagerism as okay, basically, tolerating it, giving the impression to readers and other writers that such behavior leads to book deals.

exactly

[merrilily.livejournal.com]

And I'm also unhappy with the whole "it happens in fanfic all the time" excuse. It doesn't happen in fanfic all the time. When it does happen, we're all morally obliged to hold the person posting responsible. It undermines the truly amazing creative work of people like copperbadge and musesfool (and you of course, dearie, and me) if we accept that writing practice which is excreble and illegal in the real world is somehow okay in fandom.

I'm done, I think.

Re: exactly

[alicefortea.livejournal.com]

Exactly! In my quick read, I noticed that several people were arguing that fan fic is a form of plagerism, and that what she did was just another extension of that. Which is bullshit. I don't see it happening that often in fan fic - and when it does, people come down hard. As they should.

:P Thank you for the compliment! And thank you for making this post. You definitely put this into perspective for me, and it's always good to know someone else shares the same opinion.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Hi, I found your post in the Journal_Fen report on Cassandra Claire. Do you mind if I friend you? Whether or not Cassandra Claire plagiarized her novel will answer a lot of questions.

Icarus

of course you can friend me

[merrilily.livejournal.com]

And I will report back on my reading of City of Bones, but I'm not the book police and am not trying to make myself so. I wrote my original post angry, and therefore I sound more vehement than I actually feel.

Re: of course you can friend me

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

I've always taken the middle ground on the question of Cassandra Claire. There's an undercurrent of schadenfreude and vicious glee that disturbs me. The report is clearly timed to do as much damage as possible, so I think the motives stink. The tone of the writing is also geared to model the expected reaction for the reader.

But, the side-by-side Pamela Dean vs. Cassandra Claire quotes are damning. My question is, are we looking at a habit or something that occurred in one story five years ago?

Your examination of the book should answer that.

Icarus

Re: of course you can friend me

[merrilily.livejournal.com]

Well, my examination of the book will answer if I can see anything suspicious in it.

I'll pass my advance reader's copy (when and if it materializes) on to other book/geek friends before I post anything. More eyes will help, I think.

And you are right about the timing of that article. Ironically, despite the ill-will (thoroughly earned) behind it, the publicity from having a new generation of fangirls and boys read it is probably going to help sales of Ms. Clare's book.

[meallanmouse.livejournal.com]

Got here through the plagiarism hoopla (and 'nuff said about that) but mainly, also read back on your entries and thought it'd be nice to add you to my f-list. :) I hope that's ok, and no stress on adding back or not.

Because. BOOKS! :D

[redcoast.livejournal.com]

Can I friend you so I don't miss when you do write it up? (And you'd better! We're counting on you!)

of course you can friend me!

[merrilily.livejournal.com]

Although I don't know when I can expect to get an advance copy. But I'll try to cross-post & stuff so that everyone who wants to know about it can.

[inalasahl]

Go you.

I'm trying to be careful

[merrilily.livejournal.com]

I started watching the www.simonsays.com discussion boards (Atheneum, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, is publishing City of Bones), and I'm really weirded out by the vehemence. There are people who are really really angry (without having an apparent connection) and thus prone to calling everything possible plagiarism ("Other people used that title!").

Anyway. Thanks for being interested. I'll try to be fair and thorough.

Re: I'm trying to be careful

[inalasahl]

I've heard about some of the more vehement reactions, although I haven't seen it myself. I'm personally not angry about it, but I don't think she should get paid for plagiarising someone else's work. And I'm pretty sure that's what's happening.

It needs to be stopped before it's gets to be a really big story out in the world. She (and her ilk) give all of us a bad name. I was pretty darn annoyed by the pro writer who was all "I don't get it. It's fanfic. You're all stealing." I fear more of the same.