[300winmag]

Were they trying to make money selling fanfic set in her universe? That would be different, and I wouldn't have a problem with her suing them for that.

There was nobody trying to sell their Pern fanfic when I was in. But one still had to follow the author's rules. If anyone was violating those rules, a cease-and-desist was usually enough to stop it. If she actually sued someone, it would have to be for something really serious. But I never saw that happen, and can't speak to what may have gone on in the recent past.

I still miss the fanzines run by grownups who didn't develop swelled heads. They were few and far between.

Usually egoboo took over, and, like Gresham's law, bad zines drive out good.

[Fedora]

Okay. Sounds like you're talking about printed fanzines then? I was thinking online. I see a lot of really informal fanfics sites where mostly teenage kids post stories inspired by their favorite authors/shows--not the same thing as a serious fanzine.

[JenB]

Fanzines? Good heavens. You are right though... sometimes I want a t-shirt that says "Everything I know about writing, I learned from fanfic". And then a list of things, like "Just because your friends like it doesn't mean it's good", and "Just because they'd never do that in real life doesn't mean it's not a cool story".

Oh, and "Cassandra Claire kills fandoms", but let's not get into that. Just beware if someone with that screen name ever shows up in YOUR fandom. Run screaming for the hills...

And as for Joyce Carol Oates - what the heck would she know? Being famous doesn't mean you're right.