Ethical Question

[colddiesel]

I read a story on this site which after a number of episodes the author abandoned about 18 months ago.I thought it was particularly well written especially in its character development. However, the writer seemd to have a problem with plot development and it just petered out.

For fun I wrote a further 4 episodes to bring it to a conclusion. I am however reluctant to publish it without the blessing of the original author.I have written to him/her twice but no reply. It would be easy to disguise the original inspiration but I don't want to do that. Does anyone have any recommendations as this situation must have occurred before.

 

[cloudy]

Don't do it.

The characters/story are still copyrighted, and still belong to the author. If you can't get in touch with him/her, then there's not much you can do.

Use your creativity inventing your own characters and story.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

I read a story on this site which after a number of episodes the author abandoned about 18 months ago.I thought it was particularly well written especially in its character development. However, the writer seemd to have a problem with plot development and it just petered out.

For fun I wrote a further 4 episodes to bring it to a conclusion. I am however reluctant to publish it without the blessing of the original author.I have written to him/her twice but no reply. It would be easy to disguise the original inspiration but I don't want to do that. Does anyone have any recommendations as this situation must have occurred before.

Keep trying to contact the author, though... don't give up...

 

[cantdog]

Or even the author's heirs and assigns. L. Sprague de Camp, a second-rank fantasy author, got such permission and rewrote/expanded Robert E. Howard's works long after Howard himself was dead. They made a lot of money, the bunch of them.