2/100 Things - Interview with the Vampire

{Take the 100 Things challenge!}

100 Books and Movies that I love or hate:

2. Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice is a book that I both love and hate. I cannot tell you how many times I've read it. I hated it the first two times I read it. I think it was simply the only vampire story out there at the time. The story is actually kind of dumb and poor dear Lestat comes off as a monster indeed in this first book of what would be a long and often dull series, interspersed with Lestat being surprisingly humane at times. But not in this first book. He is a monster, albeit a lonely one who makes a companion who does not like him while still being drawn to him. Claudia is the child he makes to satisfy Louis' need for someone to love and then even she is taken away. Claudia is VERY creepy, being a monster in a five year old's body.

I do have to say that I much prefer Lestat in all his carnations to any of the romance novel vampires or to sparkly Edward or even to Charlaine Harris' mundane Bill. He is hungry, beautiful, lonely and many more things. Human is simply not one of the things he is.

If you've not read it, give it a try. It's actually one of Ms. Rice's better books.

Day Nineteen

How do you feel about this?

How Authors Feel About Fanfiction

After reading them all, I have to laugh. Evidently authors are rather a stupid lot. They worry that fanfiction will infringe on their way to make a living. WHO THE FUCK DO THEY THINK BUYS THEIR BOOKS?

Having said that, I do not buy books new from authors who openly oppose fanfiction. I buy them used if I buy them at all. I have always encouraged fans to read the books in the Tolkien fandom as well as any other book fandom that I write in. We write out of love for their work but if they choose to be assholes, well, I don't have to read their crap.

One author was actually a fanfiction writer before she became published - Lynn Flewelling - yet she opposes fanfiction. Needless to say, I stopped reading her altogether. Let someone else buy her books.

There are many writers who do not oppose fanfiction and some even embrace it such as Katherine Kurtz and Storm Constantine.

Oddly enough they mention J.D. Salinger as an author who opposes fanfiction and who will actively sue you. His estate might but he's kinda dead. The ONTD article doesn't seem to know that. Maybe they can't read.

And of course, there is the queen. Ms. Rice. I've read rumors that she actually tracked down a fanfiction writer and sent them a box of dog poop as well as stories of her stalking fanfiction writers.

If I were published, I might feel differently but I hope I'd remember that every fan you alienate is one who will not buy your books or see your movies. I know as a fan, I feel that way.