rorkesdriftvc.com :: View topic - The da Vinci code and the Anglo-Zulu War

Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 4:59 am

Tom,

There is a bit of mysticism in it and a sangoma too, but I'll not reveal too much here. I've tried to keep it low key and not a huge element of the book. Because I portray both sides, there is bound to be bit of 'doctoring' somewhere along the line but it's not what the book's about.

I think the main element is that, when writing a book which relies heavily on someone else's research, I think it's only polite to acknowledge that source and not try to portray it as your own idea.

So you'll all be getting a big thank you when it's published. (I hope! Laughing

)

Dawn

Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 5:39 am

Dawn wrote:

Tom,
I think the main element is that, when writing a book which relies heavily on someone else's research, I think it's only polite to acknowledge that source and not try to portray it as your own idea.
Dawn

That's Dan Brown's great 'sin' I think, writing-wise at least.

Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 10:22 pm

http://www.slate.com/I'd/2137797/

Exactly the issues we were all discussing here...

Best wishes,
Tom

Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 12:02 am

Thanks, Tom, it makes for interesting reading but I think one of those dreaded spam bots popped up as well. Nasty little things. I don't think its your fault, just what seems to get attached at the website source.

Dawn

Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 6:10 am

Dawn,

That was a pop-up not a bot and yes they are certainly irksome but in no way threatening unless you happen to be visiting a site of, let's just say, questionable moral integrity and even then one would have to click on it before it could do anything. Pop-ups are just an unfortunate fact of life in modern advertising as evidenced by anyone visiting a major newspaper or TV news site. Many browsers have the capability of turning them off. (Not MS Explorer though as the Mighty Gates relies on them and cookies to help him control your very soul! Mwha ha ha ha ha!)

The argument presented on the link Tom provided does sum up the situation nicely as far as US law is concerned, it will be interesting to see how British law interprets it.

MAB

Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 7:40 am

Pop up or bot, there should be a laser gun to blast them into eternity.

But then I guess we'd pay more for our MS programmes. Like we don't pay enough already?!

Dawn

Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2006 2:06 pm

Well we're into the trial now. I certainly don't see any smoking guns on the copyright issue. The case sure looks like it will be difficult to prove. Anyway if the plaintiffs win it will be interesting time for "idea generation" in the British Isles I'll say that. Good luck to all the artistes and writers and creative producers.

Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2006 8:57 pm

I think from the blending of excellent historical research with well written fiction then you can't beat Bernard Cornwell. I know he employs his own researchers but I dareay he has drawn on the work of other people. I think it would be hard not to.

Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2006 1:45 pm

Yes and what about Kent and O'Brian etc etc??

Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2006 10:29 pm

Cornwell and O'Brien? Chalk and cheese!

KIS

Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2006 2:56 pm

There is however, a need for both chalk and cheese in this world.

Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2006 4:26 pm

Fellows..chalk & cheese???..that went over my head!!....

Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2006 7:12 pm

I think KIS is intimating that O'Brian is a classical type writer whereas Mr. Cornwell aims his books at a more general audience. I myself like Dickens but I also read Stephen King Wink

I saw an obituary that read

"O'Brian wrote escapism for intellectuals"

So you get my drift Rich Very Happy

Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2006 7:28 pm

Very good.. Now I will remember this "chalk & cheese" stuff!
Now I think if any one does want to read Patrick O's stuff one has to make sure he/she has a nautical dictionary right by them while they read. The words he uses went out a "few years" ago if I recall. And talk about prodigious research he didn't sit in the Brit Library for years for nothing!

Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 9:50 am

And as a postscript to this topic, it appears that common sense won out in the end. Now all us writers can go back to weaving the facts with fiction with confidence.

Dawn