Bujold and Card
I've said it once and I will say it again and again, writers should not be allowed to write their own fanfiction. If a fan wants to go slashing every character he or she wants to, that is ok, because it does nothing to take away from the original work, but when the author him/herself decides to write a fanfic in his/her own universe...it really damages the entire universe.
And if they are going to write fanfic, they should never ever write Christmas stories. Seriously.
I was a little annoyed reading Bujold's "Winterfair Gifts," because it was crappily written, with characters acting entirely out of character, and the whole point of the story seemed to be a background love affair. It is the sort of story that had I found it on fanfiction.net, I wouldn't have read it. But at least I understand why Bujold would write it. She just got attached to a character that comes off pretty tragic in the series, and wanted to give her a little bit of happiness. OK. She still should have written a better story but ok.
Card on the other hand, infuriates me. It is entirely obvious now that his goal in writing is only to make money, and the way he found to do that is by sewing everything he writes now to Ender's coattails. The latest travesty is "A War of Gifts: An Ender Story." So first of all, it is a short story published as a Hardcover which is sketchy enough as it is. Second of all, it is a Christmas story set at the Battle School, within the timeline of "Ender's Game," and the plot....wait for it....
Ender Wiggin teaches another boy the true meaning of Christmas.
Yup. I kid you not. I might throw up on you a little, but I am certainly not joking.
And if they are going to write fanfic, they should never ever write Christmas stories. Seriously.
I was a little annoyed reading Bujold's "Winterfair Gifts," because it was crappily written, with characters acting entirely out of character, and the whole point of the story seemed to be a background love affair. It is the sort of story that had I found it on fanfiction.net, I wouldn't have read it. But at least I understand why Bujold would write it. She just got attached to a character that comes off pretty tragic in the series, and wanted to give her a little bit of happiness. OK. She still should have written a better story but ok.
Card on the other hand, infuriates me. It is entirely obvious now that his goal in writing is only to make money, and the way he found to do that is by sewing everything he writes now to Ender's coattails. The latest travesty is "A War of Gifts: An Ender Story." So first of all, it is a short story published as a Hardcover which is sketchy enough as it is. Second of all, it is a Christmas story set at the Battle School, within the timeline of "Ender's Game," and the plot....wait for it....
Ender Wiggin teaches another boy the true meaning of Christmas.
Yup. I kid you not. I might throw up on you a little, but I am certainly not joking.