Some things that rowling *might* have copied from other authors

[orionsixwings]

I'm sure some of you noticed that too, the similarities between her work and Tolkien's. But you know, she might have been inspired by other authors, too, and she might have copied some stuffs from other authors. (or I could just be making this up to have something to talk about here.)

Anyways, the things that I noticed so far are the following:

1. DEMENTORS and SPECTRES. The description of the two entities are strikingly similar and while the Dementors are in Harry's world, the Spectres are in Lyra's (The Subtle Knife, His Dark Materials trilogy, Phillip Pullman). They actually basically do the same thing: suck out people's soul, leaving behind an empty, zombie-like shell.
2. THE KNIGHT BUS and CROWLEY'S CAR. Both have the uncanny ability to squeeze through the busy London traffic without anyone (Muggles or humans) noticing them. Only difference is, the Knight Bus is public transportation, while Crowley's 1926 black Bentley is for his own personal use only, and is an extension of his person in a way. He is capable of operating it without physically driving it and has kept the car scratch-free for over sixty years. (Crowley is a devil from GOOD OMENS, by Gaiman and Pratchett).
3. HARRY POTTER and TIMOTHY HUNTER. Hunter, like Potter, is also the main character in the books series penned by NEIL GAIMAN called, BOOKS OF MAGIC (*gasp!*). And both characters have glasses, both need to learn magic, both have a giant for a friend, and well, you judge: here is a picture of TIMOTHY HUNTER. As you can see, the similarity is right down to the pet owl (only Tim has a macho barn owl while Harry has a sissy white owl )

I'm sure there are others, but I'm want to make this fun for everyone. Post your own observations.

[Grimward]

Wow, the picture is uncanny; when was that print done, O6W? Good thread. Will think on it some.

[orionsixwings]

Originally Posted by Grimward

Wow, the picture is uncanny; when was that print done, O6W? Good thread. Will think on it some.

That picture is from the Vertigo Paperback edition released April 14, 1993, and the first Harry Potter Book - the Philosopher's Stone - was published 30 June 1997.

[Grimward]

Figured as much. I've not read much Neil Gaiman (have read some of the comic book work, although it's been awhile). Tell me that Timothy has a lightning bolt scar and I'm really gonna start wondering....

[orionsixwings]

Originally Posted by Grimward

Figured as much. I've not read much Neil Gaiman (have read some of the comic book work, although it's been awhile). Tell me that Timothy has a lightning bolt scar and I'm really gonna start wondering....

No. He doesn't. And Rowling has had her time with that too. People have accused her of stealing Gaiman's work (well, as far as Harry's physical appearance is concerned anyway), but Gaiman (being the gentleman that he is) dispelled all that talk and said that aside from the superficial similarities, nothing else can be compared between the two characters.

But if you ask me, Gaiman was just being nice to her. I mean, everyone knows about her history--single mom, abandoned by ungrateful husband with nothing to provide a decent life to their children, and struggling to get published. Gaiman did it to give her a hand. But if he knew she was going to be THIS BIG, I don't think he would have let that slide that easily.

[Grimward]

Yep. See what you mean...

[Culhwch]

Originally Posted by orionsixwings

No. He doesn't. And Rowling has had her time with that too. People have accused her of stealing Gaiman's work (well, as far as Harry's physical appearance is concerned anyway), but Gaiman (being the gentleman that he is) dispelled all that talk and said that aside from the superficial similarities, nothing else can be compared between the two characters.

But if you ask me, Gaiman was just being nice to her. I mean, everyone knows about her history--single mom, abandoned by ungrateful husband with nothing to provide a decent life to their children, and struggling to get published. Gaiman did it to give her a hand. But if he knew she was going to be THIS BIG, I don't think he would have let that slide that easily.

It makes me wonder though if in, say, five years time another author hits it big with a book 'borrowing' elements of HP if Rowling would do the same. I would say not, given how litigious she has been so far in protecting her work...

[orionsixwings]

Originally Posted by Culhwch

It makes me wonder though if in, say, five years time another author hits it big with a book 'borrowing' elements of HP if Rowling would do the same. I would say not, given how litigious she has been so far in protecting her work...

Well, she's too rich to be grateful to anyone so I think you're right on that one.

[orionsixwings]

Originally Posted by Grimward

Yep. See what you mean...

WOAH! Looks like this is going to be great thread after all! Good job finding that site!

[Fake Vencar]

Dementors to me represent the human incarnate of depression; just a thought

[The Ace]

Originally Posted by Grimward

Yep. See what you mean...

Anyone who says, 'May of,' for, 'May have,' would have to be hit over the head with the similarities. Can you quote a source who speaks english ?

[Teresa Edgerton]

That websites strains to find connections and make some very dubious points, but it does touch on one or two things that are worth noting, particularly the Larry Potter books.

Rowling likes to claim that her ideas are wholly original, and as far as I am concerned that is utter nonsense. Anyone who is particularly familiar with children's fantasy can see that she has, consciously or unconsciously, drawn from a number of different sources -- or, at the very least, comes up with ideas so obvious that many writers before her have thought of them, too. Where she excels is in writing a page-turning story, and she really does seem to have a nearly magical ability in that regard.

But everyone has sources of ideas and inspirations. That's inevitable. It isn't plagiarism, it isn't even copying, unless you take too much from any one source and you don't have any original ideas of your own or give the material your own unique interpretation.

I think in Rowlings' case there are a great many things that are clearly coincidental, and others that are unconscious borrowings, and maybe some ideas where she knows darn well where they came from and won't admit it, but never is there enough of it from one source that anyone would have to buy anyone off to avoid lawsuits. Which makes that theory of Warner Brothers paying off Neil Gaiman, Serena the Teenage Witch, etc. utter nonsense, too.

I would never trust a writer who's not willing to name their sources of ideas and inspirations. I've certainly never met or heard of such a writer before. Most are eager to give you long lists. But that doesn't make her a plagiarist. It just makes her a vain woman who is exceptionally careful about maintaining a certain image that bears very little relation to the truth -- although by now it's possible that she's convinced herself that it's all true.

[Majimaune]

I'm having this really weird feeling of deja vu. Anyone else see it? Narya? You see it don't you

I do like that link, Grim. It is very insightful, though bad with English but who am I to complain?

[Teresa Edgerton]

That website was put together by someone who has absolutely no idea of what "in the public domain" means.

If the ideas are in the public domain, no one could possibly be suing anyone over them. You can't have it both ways, but whoever put that site together is trying to do just that.

[orionsixwings]

Originally Posted by Majimaune

I'm having this really weird feeling of deja vu. Anyone else see it? Narya? You see it don't you

I do like that link, Grim. It is very insightful, though bad with English but who am I to complain?

SHHHH! I am Orion on this board.