Rowling and Dianna Wynne Jones

[harrietmwelsch]

Original Yahoo! HPFG Header:
No: HPFGUIDX C5614
From: harrietmwelsch
Subject: Re: Rowling and Dianna Wynne Jones
Reply To: [Yahoo! #5595] Re: Rowling and Dianna Wynne Jones
Date: 8/2/00 8:06 pm  (ET)

I agree with Neil that any accusations of plagiarism by JKR or DWJ have no
basis, not just among DWJ fans but among fantasy readers in general. There
are certain conventions in all types of genre fiction such as fantasy,
understood and accepted by avid genre readers, that seem to be unknown to
readers who only read the occasional genre book (such as Nancy Stouffer,
who apparently thinks she invented every fantasy convention there is!). I
always assume that anyone who accuses JKR of copying DWJ is probably
not a regular fantasy reader. That doesn't make them a lesser reader,
of course, just a less experienced reader of fantasy.

I think one of the true delights of JKR's work is the manner in which she
combines convention with surprise. DWJ does the same sort of thing --
and while the conventions used by both authors may be familiar, their
surprises are completely original.

BTW, DWJ has written a very funny, tongue-in-cheek book about fantasy
genre conventions called "The Tough Guide to Fantasyland." Perhaps we
should all chip in and send a copy to Nancy Stouffer, ehr, excuse me
N.K. Stouffer. (When is JKR going to sue her back for using her initials
as a pen name?)

Harriet