Latest By
Category:
Armor
Artificial
Intelligence
Biology
Clothing
Communication
Computers
Culture
Data Storage
Displays
Engineering
Entertainment
Food
Input Devices
Lifestyle
Living Space
Manufacturing
Material
Media
Medical
Miscellaneous
Robotics
Security
Space Tech
Spacecraft
Surveillance
Transportation
Travel
Vehicle
Virtual
Person
Warfare
Weapon
Work
 |
Comments on Plagiarism In Science Fiction
When is it plagiarism to borrow from another writer? An aspiring sf writer wants to know. (Read
the complete story)
| "To quote a Tom Lehrer song: "Plagiarise! Plagiarise! Plagiarise!! Only call it: Research."
I was thinking of another concept actually. Not something as old and as well used as the space suit or tractor beam but the Ansible. The Ansible was invented by Le-Guin. She came up with the concept, as far as I know, and gave it a specific name, which is used in the book.
What happened? She coined a phrase and Card, in writing Ender's Game, used the Ansible, The Ansible, as a piece of technology in his book.
Basically, I think that if you need a piece of technology in your story and you have a name for it that fits into that specific theme, use that name. The characters should use words from their own vocabulary, not yours. But if a concept is so well know such as hover technology, a space suit, or laser weapons, you don't need to call it "Fly-Chassis", "Vacuum Shell" or... "Needler".
(Heard Nightfall again recently, couldn't help but poke fun at it.)" (Sabre Runner 4/10/2008 12:57:10 PM) |
| "The Ansible is a good example; LeGuin coined the name, but she did not create the concept. To name one example, James Blish writes about the Dirac transmitter in his famous 1950's Cities in Flight series. The Dirac transmitter provided instantaneous communication across the galaxy (and on a party line, no less - anyone could listen). The device was named after the real-life Nobel Laureate physicist Paul Dirac." (Bill Christensen 4/10/2008 6:54:24 PM) |
| "Robert Heinlein (I believe) coined the term "Waldo" for remotely controlled manipulators and I have read numerous other books that also used this word for the same reason. I always took it as a tribute to a scifi master more than plagiarism." (Ken V 4/12/2008 7:28:21 AM) |
| "And don't forget all the words like Gymbal, which were invented by Lewis Carrol." (Ashley 4/13/2008 9:58:17 AM) |
| "Hi, I hope people are still likely to view this thread! I am very interested in this because I have written a novel which, byt its very nature, could be construed as plagiarism. Basically, it is a Star Trek parody - though I'd like to make it clear that I am Star Trek fan myself (the Kirk generation, that is) and the novel does celebrate the greatness of the series, as well and gently lampoon it. It features characters who are very similar to Kirk and crew, and this is a feature of the story. By that I mean it is not just a parody, but it is vital to the plot that the characters are so similar to the cast of Star Trek. There are also a couple of 20th Century characters who know all about - and are fans of - Star Trek, and are amazed to see these Kirk-like characters when they are accidentally zapped into the future. Anyway, I know how rubbish the idea sounds, but that's not the point! The point is, am I allowed to actually refer to the characters from the series? The characters in my novel do have different names (eg John T. Kork, Spoll, Sulin) and are definitely not the characters from Star Trek, but the similarity is obvious both to the audience and to the 20th century characters. In short, I have constantly refered to Star Trek, its characters and technologies, but the characters and technologies actually present in my story are different, so I haven't actually nicked anything from Star Trek, I've just refered to it. But I have refered to it by name. Is this plagiarism or breach of copyright? Any advice on this would be very welcome!" (Antony W 7/1/2009 12:45:31 AM) |
Get more information on Plagiarism In Science Fiction
Leave a comment:
Please send your comments to @technovelgy and I'll post them. Thanks!
More Articles
Prairie Madness - And Space Sickness
'Space-sickness is one of the most unpleasant sensations that a human being can experience. Not all are subject to it...'
Can Stratospheric Aerosol Injection Control The Weather?
'...I saw a nice black heavy-looking cloud sailing by just now, and I can get the electrical machine out in five minutes to draw it down.'
SETI Suggests Prospecting The Solar System Without Landing
'From a distance it could resolve the cosmic rays reflected from various substances.'
Wolfram Alpha Mathematica Predicted by Science Fiction in 1948!
'The answer to the dumb student's prayer.'
Cislunar Space And The Space Lanes of Golden Age Science Fiction
'He had travelled the space-lanes of the solar system for the greater part of his life...'
NASA Moonbase Update
'The dinner was excellent. It was completely vegetarian — grown in specially prepared gardens in this Moon base...'
Neuralink Will Allow Humans To Communicate With ... Animals?
'Telepaths had their sensitiveness enlarged to an immense range by the pin-sets, which were telepathic amplifiers adapted to the mammal mind.'
Special Lights For Driverless Cars!
'That light is actually the Anamorphic Equalizer...'
'Old People Began to Cross The Continent In Their Own Cars'
'It was a relief to enter one of the comfortable autos, whisper a direction down the tube, and just know that you would be taken to your destination in the quickest, safest, and cheapest manner.'
Harrison Bergeron, Illustrated And Practiced
'But he didn't get very far with it before another noise in his ear radio scattered his thoughts. George winced...'
Starfall Manufacturing Drugs In Space
'The vast spinning sphere of Factory in the Sky loomed above and ahead of us, gleaming white against the unfathomable jet depths of surrounding space.'
The Solar Oberth Slingshot
'And if it doesn’t work,' inquired Lazarus, 'what does that make us? Sunspots?'
'Maybe The Woman Of Your Life Is Still Under Production'
'The Dillard people had performed a miracle and put all the works in a girl-modeled case.'
'If Anyone Is Watching Earth...'
'Our study of your race has convinced us that you are not fitted to leave your planet in the present state of your civilization.'
Epirus High-Power Microwave Defeats Drones
'...the spreading beam of the deranging ray struck them, and Then one toppled and fell. Then another.'
Cloud Of Space Rubbish From China's Long March Rocket
'Within seconds the material was spread out over fifty yards, in a matter of hours it might occupy several cubic miles of space...'
Biomimetic Tendons From Rochu Robotics
'... the curious parallelism to animal motions.'
Living Human Neuron Biological Compute Rack
'The men are dead, but their acquired wisdom lives on and I am the beneficiary.'
Martha Stewart Approves Ojai 'Living Room On Wheels'
'Young people found the driverless car admirable for petting.'
ESA's Draco To Study Heat Of Reentry
'...a synthetic which air-friction would erode.'
