Taped by discothequey and a general fic question

[writerlyways.livejournal.com]

Does anyone have a copy of Taped by discothequey? It's the one that's written in the form of a transcribed video tape. I've found much of her work, but unfortunately, not this one.

On a semi-related note [mods, please delete/modify/have me do so if this is against the rules], I was wondering what the "rules" are concerning currently inactive fic authors and the rights to their work. Specifically, when she was still around, I read disco's Particles and what was posted of the abandoned sequel, and I fell in love with that world, particularly Gus and the baby. The other day, I found myself sitting down and writing, and I wrote half a one-shot about Gus in high school before I realized that I was writing disco's Gus, with his tenderheartedness, extreme heterosexuality, and his relationship with Brian. I just stopped because I felt like I was crossing a line. But I wanted to finish it though, so I thought I'd go back and modify his character, but then it felt less genuine because I realized that disco's Gus has become the canonical teenage Gus for me.

What's the general consensus about situations such as this? I'm speaking specifically concerning authors who are no longer writing and the worlds they have created. Are their worlds completely off-limits, or can others play with them? I don't mean literally going in and taking plots, finishing their unfinished stories, or writing fics from their 'verse, but gathering inspiration from what they've written and using it to write your own fic, ie: the Gus I've written in a story all my own is very similar personality-wise to discothequey's Gus. Also, what about borrowing themes (Brian and Justin have a baby or Brian gets amnesia or Justin is a hustler, etc.) At what level does inspiration become stealing?

edited to add more detail

Comments

[vlredreign.livejournal.com]

Dude, if you know where some good Louis/Armand or Louis/Lestat fic is and you're hiding it from me, I'mma have to hurt you!!

Quite frankly, as a long time fan of Anne Rice, I was really floored and disenchanted when she flipped out about fanfic AND people's critique of Blood Canticle. But I surmise that after her husband Stan died, she lost her shit. Seriously. She's always been a bit...out there, but after he died, she went over the side. Became super born again Catholic, pretty much dismissed all of the books she'd written over the years in her search for...redemption or who knows what. And on top of all that, she had a bit of a hissy when her son Christopher came out...this from a woman who hasn't met a male character that wasn't bent by her.

[ipitydaf00l.livejournal.com]

I'll admit at one time I was greatly enamored with Louis/Armand. I would have to look through old bookmark files and floppy disks(!!) I've saved over the years though to find what I have saved. (Though then again, what I considered 'good' then may be vastly different than what I consider 'good' now. ^^;;)

I remember when she became a 'born again' Catholic and dismissed her books. It was the same time that her books immediately went into my attic because I was so disgusted with her. It wasn't until recently that I brought them down when I was cleaning out my attic and spent a long time debating whether to get rid of them all or keep them for nostalgia's sake.

Then again, it wasn't until having long discussions with besame_bj about Interview with a Vampire and other books by Anne Rice that I realized that upon my initial reading I had a different mindset/view. I'm actually considering reading it now that I'm much older and not so much blinded by 'vampires yays!' (After all, I was 12 at the time that I first read it though I was 16 when I finally started working my way through the rest of the books.)

I still have her Beauty series in it's shrink wrap in my 'To Read' bookcase. I've heard many, many different things about these books. Though every now and then I go back to Yahtzee Croshaw's review for a good laugh. :) (http://www.fullyramblomatic.com/reviews/beauty.htm) After everything I've heard it makes me wary to read them. (For fear of side splitting laughter at the silliness.)

[kachelofen.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you for the link to that review. I needed a good laugh. It was priceless. Made buying the book and never finishing it for the sheer boredom factor all worthwhile.

[ipitydaf00l.livejournal.com]

I love Yahtzee. I might not always love some of his jokes, but he's provided me entertainment for years. He's done silly reviews of horror flicks, erotic thrillers, and most of all I love his Zero Punctuation videos for games. :)

[vlredreign.livejournal.com]

I have them and read them. They're not bad, not great, but not bad. A little violent at times.

[petulant2u.livejournal.com]

I read them too and found them fascinating, (disturbing, but fascinating lol) Of course it was the first BDSM/S&M themed book I ever read.

[vlredreign.livejournal.com]

Me too, which is probably part of my issue with that genre. It kinda scarred me. lol