Archive for May 2nd, 2008
Orson Scott Card Is Ripping Me Off
I’m glad to see that at least one actual fantasy author is calling out J.K. Rowling on her theft and shenanigans. I briefly mentioned in my review of the Harry Potter Series that J.K. Rowling was suing a small time publisher for publishing a companion piece to the Potter series that was essentially an encyclopedia of terms. Don’t remember what a Muggle is? Quickly look it up in a reference companion. This is accepted in, oh, all of academia.
The untalented attention whore had a problem with that and sued the publishing house in Manhattan federal court. I had made the point in my post that it was utterly amazing that an author who blatantly stole plots and character archetypes from a host of fantasy authors would have the audacity to sue someone for writing an (at the very least, admitted) encyclopedia based on her work. Then, claiming the whole ordeal was giving her writer’s block when, in fact, the only thing that’s giving her writer’s block is the fact there isn’t an original idea rattling around in her skull.
Well, I was very happy to see Orson Scott Card call her out on it. In much the same way that I pointed out glaring similarities between the Potter series and other works, Card says:
Well, heck, I feel like the plot of my novel Ender’s Game was stolen by J.K. Rowling.
A young kid growing up in an oppressive family situation suddenly learns that he is one of a special class of children with special abilities, who are to be educated in a remote training facility where student life is dominated by an intense game played by teams flying in midair, at which this kid turns out to be exceptionally talented and a natural leader. He trains other kids in unauthorized extra sessions, which enrages his enemies, who attack him with the intention of killing him; but he is protected by his loyal, brilliant friends and gains strength from the love of some of his family members. He is given special guidance by an older man of legendary accomplishments who previously kept the enemy at bay. He goes on to become the crucial figure in a struggle against an unseen enemy who threatens the whole world.
I read Ender’s Game in college. I’d forgotten the plot, but he’s right. He also links a Geocities page which apparently contains a bunch of similarities between Harry Potter and other works. It’s down at the time of this writing (stupid data transfer limit) but I’m going to get a look at it sooner or later. I can’t wait. I will be ripping off a guy writing about ripoffs for blog content.
And the Circle of Life goes on.