I agree with all your saying with the exception of asking the authors permission. It would be very difficult to ask a lot of the authors first of all since a lot of the fic that will be discuss are most likely going to be old or from authors that have moved on. and Second in a book club you don't call up JK Rowling or Dan Brown and ask if it's ok to read the books.

I don't think the goal is to flame and I would be very on anyone that is just bashing for bashing sakes. We are adults and should be able to be mature about things.