Logo

Valentines Day Ecards

TA TALKS BACK: RUSSET NOON – TRIBUTE OR MOCKERY

Posted June 9th, 2009 By: flick 41 Comments »

TA member Noor talks about the story “Russet Noon”, a Breaking Dawn follow up in Jacobs point of view:

 

Russet Noon – Tribute or Mockery by Lexicon Afficionado

The Volturi are now watching the Cullens even closer, and a conspiracy is brewing deep within the catacombs of of Volterra. Aro is determined to put an end to Bella’s happily ever after. He is obsessed with getting Renesmee to join his clan in Italy, while Edward and Bella refuse to make Renesmee a full vampire. Renesmee hates herself for being only a half breed, and her unhappiness turns Bella against her own daughter. Humans in Forks are starting to suspect something about the Cullens, and Renesmee’s lack of self-control is to blame for it. Bella and Edward might have to leave Forks permanently to protect Nessie. Meanwhile, the spirit warriors have returned to live among the Quileutes. Taha Aki has made contact with Jacob to warn him that great danger is coming to La Push.

Wow, it sounds like a continuation from Breaking Dawn, doesn’t it? We will finally find out what happens next and dwell further in the lives of our favourite vampires, the Cullens, and the werewolves, the Quileutes, and not forgetting our special half-human, half-vampire miracle child, Renesmee! Have our dreams finally been fulfilled? Has Stephenie Meyer decided to continue their story after all?

Now before you get too excited, no, this is not Stephenie’s next book nor is it affiliated with Stephenie at all. It is an excerpt from Russet Noon by this exciting new writer called Lady Sybilla. No, she’s not any sort of royalty although she has been labeled as the Darth Vader of Fandom. Hmm… I suppose that is a sort of royaIty, if one is in a Star Wars movie, that is. Lady Sybilla, whose real name is Glorianna Arias, is a fanfiction writer who wrote Russet Noon as a tribute to Stephenie Meyer. A Team Jacob fan fiction that picks up where Breaking Dawn left off, Russet Noon is told from Jacob Black’s perspective and it chronicles his mythical journey from supporting character to protagonist.

It is definitely not the first of its kind with hundreds if not thousands of fan fiction available on the internet nowadays which are based on Stephenie Meyer’s popular series. What is different about Russet Noon though, is that Lady Sybilla has managed to find a publisher for her book and it will be available in bookstores in September 2009. Are you shocked yet? Wait, what about copyright infringement laws? Lady Sybilla’s publisher, AV Paranormal, is not bothered by it, apparently. Its official statement declared:

“When fictional characters become such an intricate part of the popular psyche, as is the case with the Twilight Saga, legal boundaries become blurred, and copyright laws become increasingly difficult to define. This is especially the case when actual cities like Forks and Volterra are used as the novel’s settings. Such settings are not copyrightable, as they are considered public domain. Similarly, the Quileute Nation is also not copyrightable, and neither are vampire or werewolf legends. Copyright laws protect writers from unauthorized reproductions of their work, but such reproductions only include verbatim copying. Characters are only copyrightable if their creator draws them or hires an artist to draw them. Stephenie Meyer herself borrowed a great deal from previous works dealing with these mythologies.”

While this may be viewed favourably by some, it still reeks of thievery and Lady Sybilla have received widespread opposition for cashing in on Stephenie Meyer’s fame. Her most vocal opposition is from Peter David, a veteran writer who has worked in every conceivable media, from television and short stories to comic books. He was so affronted by the gall of Lady Sybilla that he has started a communal novel, Potato Moon, which he hopes will unite hundreds if not thousands of fan fiction writers in opposing the release of this book. Such is the level of opposition to the book, she has since discontinued the pre-order auction on E-Bay. Notwithstanding, the official Russet Noon website advises interested parties to continue checking the site for updates on its publication date.

So, are you enticed? Will you be among those procuring a copy of this tantalising “tribute” novel? Should an opportunist with such a blatant disregard for another person’s creativity be supported?

Incidentally, it would be interesting to note that the Lady Sybilla aka Glorianna Arias is studying to become an English teacher. One has to wonder if she would teach her future students that plagiarism is acceptable just because ficitional characters become such an intricate part of the popular psyche as well.

Talk Back to us….what do you think?







Read More About:
Filed under: TA Talks Back TA Toolbar: Download Here
advertisement
  • jtrs98

    I can’t believe this!
    I am not opposed to reading fanfiction…it is interesting how some people take a spin on a books characters, but to blatantly steal those characters for your own book without the author’s permission is a travesty.

  • M1che11e

    Fanfiction is good. But to PUBLISH a book based on someone else’s work without permission seems criminal to me. If there isn’t a copyright law to protect authors from this, then there should be.

  • Chelle

    How can this not be considered plagiarism?! Has Stephenie Meyer voiced out a reaction to this? As much as I would enjoy reading a continuation story from BD, I expect that book to materialize from Ms. Meyer herself.

  • kerri

    I am so shocked I dont know what to say…I write fanfiction, but to publish somthing that is so beloved by millions and clearly doesn’t belong to you in ANY shape or form? What has Stephenie said about this? I hope Midnight Sun gets published with in the decade before this Russet Noon. I will buy it, if it actually gets published. But, it feels wrong. As if someone released a Harry Potter fanfic about after Voldemort was killed and managed to publish it. JK Rowling would sue immediately. So Im burning with curiosity about Stephenie.

  • M

    I fully agree with the other posters (so far)! I didnt even buy the unofficial guide to the twilight saga because I don’t feel it is right for other people to try and cash in on other peoples creative minds and ideas. I love to read fan fiction, but I will not ever buy a continuing book to the twilight saga that is not written by stephenie. This is wrong! Can’t anything be done????

  • kerri

    I keep coming back to this because it’s polking at my brain. Jo Rowling just fought in court over this same thing. Someone trying to publish an unofficial encyclopedia to her works. Jo won the case. Im not sure what law was passed, but if you want to check it out, google it. Maybe this will be the way Stephenie goes. I highly doubt the book will be published. Look at Stephenies reaction to Midnight Sun being leaked. No, she’s protective of her work…and rightfully so!

  • MrsEdwardCullen

    I totally agree
    and anyway just thinking of jacob writing more than he did in bd makes me kinda sick
    maybe because im team edward but idk
    ne way i dont think they should have published it good or not

  • doj55

    I also agree. I can’t believe that this is allowed. I love reading fanfics, but to actually publish a book that is a supposed continuation of someone else’s work is just plain wrong. I think that most twilight fans will probably feel the same, and her attempt to cash in on Stephenie’s success will be completely thwarted as we will all boycott the book. Noone will buy it. We support Stephenie!!!

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdH3bqTIrIY TheAgentOfChaos

    I don’t think Smeyer or her publisher are going to sue. They’re obviously well aware of the scandal but are ignoring it. I wouldn’t be surprised to find Russet Noon at Barnes & Noble right next to Twilight this fall. What has this world come to? Hasn’t anybody watched my YouTube video yet? People, what’s going on? Let’s pick up those pitchforks and torches and let’s go hunt down this illiterate taterhead!

  • Decode

    This is ridiculous! I love reading fan fiction online, don’t get me wrong. But it should remain there! To use characters taken from another book or series without permission is wrong, no matter what their statement says. I can’t believe that someone is going to publish this book. I hope Stephenie Meyer releases a statement about this or fights it because those characters belong only to her.

  • JESSICA

    First of all, the obvious is that there is no way this book should be published, Lady Sybilla may not be infringing on what is considered “public domain” (Volterra, Forks, the Quileute Nation), but all of the character names are Stephenie’s. Furthermore, it doesn’t sound like a follow up to Breaking Dawn to me. The way she describes Bella’s relationship with Renesmee is nothing like what it would be through Stephenie’s eyes or mine for that matter. I don’t ever see Bella “turning against” her own daughter. That whole section that you posted is just lame, it sounds like someone trying to get rich quick by doing a spinoff of Stephenie’s work. The problem is, the saga is as special as it is because it was written by Stephenie, it is her story to tell. I hope that she will continue the saga some day, AFTER (cross our fingers) Midnight Sun, showing the relationship beyween Renesmee and Jacob, including Bella and Edward, of course. I love the Twilight saga and for someone to tarnish it by publishing this crap is just outrageous! The saga was a success because of Stephenie’s talent! Lady Sybilla doesn’t have what it takes to step up to Stephenie.

  • dawn

    Oh yea…that’s just great….let’s give Stephenie Meyer one more reason to postpone finishing Midnight Sun!!!

  • Betty

    This is a disgusting case of someone trying to capitalize on S. Meyers’ fame and fortune. In no way could this “Lady Sybilla” knockoff be considered a tribute to Stephanie’s vision and her belove characters. I certainly hope that any attempt to publish this blasphemy will be blocked.

  • http://twilightersanonymous.com/ta-talks-back-russet-noon-tribute-or-mockery.html Ermie

    I stand SHOCKED at what is NOT copyrightable. The book sounds horrible to me. Of course I would not buy it and would not want it published. The characters are too personal for me. Right on Dawn!!! I am still hoping she does finsih M S and I would certainly buy a book continuing Breaking Dawn if Stephenie wrote it.

  • Chris

    Speaking for myself, if Stephenie didn’t write it I’m just not interested – for now anyway. I don’t foresee being interested in the future either but ya have to leave yourself a way out ya know. =)

    Nah…

  • http://twilightersanonymous Marianne

    As much as we would all like to have a never ending continuing story and supply of books about our favorite Vampires and Werewolves, how can this not be copyright infringement?

  • EarthboundMisft

    Lady Sybilla has a lot of nerve. I know Stephenie mentioned somewhere that she had thought about writing from Renesmee’s point of view in the future, and well this may have just ruined that for us all. I, for one, will not buy any book by Lady Sybilla. And anything she writes about the Twilight characters is simply not true because it didn’t come from Stephenie (know what I mean?). I am disgusted that she is allowed to write about the same characters and the same story that way.

  • Midori

    I agree with Betty and others on this site. The story sounds like a continuation of Breaking Dawn, but I won’t bite. Stephenie put in many longers hours completing the story. It’s not right for other people to profit from her hard work.

  • JaneyD

    Certainly AV Paranormal has no objections to “publishing” the book, since it is owned by Glorianna Arias herself.

    She wanted to make a bunch of quick bucks selling the unreleased fic on eBay–which got shut down, as Lady Syb ignored their rules about delivery times.

    She got on YouTube to promote it–which has copyright infringement rules. Her video got yanked, but popped up on a Brazillian fanfic site, where fans promised to translate it into Portuguese.

    She sent another press release with a public apology to S. Meyers, and begged to be allowed to print a number of copies for her own use. The Meyers Machine has declined to reply.

    The Syb decided this lack of response entitled her to go ahead as planned.

    Yes, she is VERY fond of that word: “entitled.” She uses it frequently.

    I am NOT against fanfiction, but we all know the big rule is to stay off the copyright holder’s radar.

    Lady Sybilla chose to ignore that, and as a result the fan writers who do respect that rule might have their outlets closed down, should Ms. Meyers and / or her publishers decide enough is enough.

    As for being the “Darth Vader” of this fandom, that’s a title the Syb picked for herself.

    She apparently anticipated an epic battle of wits with professional writer Peter David. He, evidently, had better things to do with his time as nothing came of it.

    I also have better things to do with my time, but the woman IS a train wreck, and it’s hard not to stare.

  • Chelle

    Ok I keep coming back to this cuz it’s really bothering me. I,for one, will refuse to buy the book if published. Where would that leave SM if she one day decides to continue with the Cullens? And it may have the same characters’ names but that’s all they are, names! The hearts and souls of these characters can only come from SM, nobody else. I looked this up today and apparently Lady Sybilla sent SM an apology…

    http://www.zimbio.com/Stephenie+Meyer/articles/172/Lady+Sybilla+Apologizes+Stephenie+Meyer+Writing

    I don’t understand why there’s still a chance this will be published?

  • tracy

    nope . not buying this.

    i’d love to read more about jacob and renesmee… but not this way.
    i’ll stick with fan-fiction or just hope stephenie decides to write more eventually.

  • Alaina

    I have to agree with everyone that has commented so far. I agree that the cities and nations used in the Twilight Saga are of public domain…but the characters are not, and to use them in a “tribute novel” or other such work is plagiarism. It is appalling that people have the nerve to do things like this, and feel that there is nothing wrong with their actions, nor are there consequences for them. Although I am aware that there are countless fan fiction sites dedicated to Twilight, and I have no issue with works on those sites, one has to remember that there is a difference between something being written as a fan fiction online, and one being published for mass distribution. I am not an avid fan fiction reader, nor am I opposed to it, as I do have a few favorite pieces, and have tried to do some writing myself, but there is a line that has defiantly been crossed in Lady Sybilla actions. I will defiantly not support her endeavors, and I really do hope that some action is taken to keep things like this from happening again.

  • libby

    how about the name renesmee? stephenie created that name! hello!

  • Super-Ted Cullen!

    I heard about this several months ago and actually thought it had been prevented, but oviously this woman still insists on publishing this illegal piece of writing. To be perfectly honest, if I saw this as a summary on fanfiction.net or some other similar fanfiction site I would be tempted to read it, but the circumstances surrounding the story means that nothing would make me read it.

    I think this woman is being silly; however much she may love the characters and connect with them, they are not hers. Why else do all fanfiction authors put disclaimers in their stories? If this was in any way legal then there are far more deserving authors out there that should get their stories published.

    Perhaps I would read this novel if Stephenie herself had condoned it, if it was being published by Little brown as a companion to the series, but the fact remains that what she is doing is purely illegal and that publisher is unbelievable, the places may be public domain but the characters themselves certainly aren’t. And I think we can all agree that Stephenie’s vampires are not the norm, I think the only thing “she borrowed… from previous works dealing with these mythologies” was the name; little else is the same at all.

    Lady Sybilla; publish your work on the internet as a fanfiction and Twilight fans will read and probably enjoy it, publish it mainstream and you’ll soon have a doorstep full of twilighters holding pitchforks.

  • caelasenvy

    Seems to me that the solution for Meyer is easy: Have someone draw up pictures of the characters… then they’re copyrightable (according to the quote cited). Is this why so many books have drawings of the characters on the covers? I still find that understanding of copyright law suspect, though.

  • Twilight Mom Australia

    O U T R A G E !!!!!!!

    “Lady Sybilla” are you out of your mind your frickin mind ? Write your own story don’t steal other people’s characters…there should be a law stopping this…. that is just awful.
    NO way would any TRUE Twilight Fan ever read about our beloved characters if they did not come from Stephenie herself , how could this happen we can’t let this happen, we have to support Stephenie all the way I say.
    I would love for the story to continue, yes, BUT ONLY and I mean ONLY from Stephenie herself I would never read anything continuing with the Twilight Saga if it did not come from Stephenie this is HER baby…. please do not let ANYONE steal it …….
    And what dawn said (quote)
    Oh yea…that’s just great….let’s give Stephenie Meyer one more reason to postpone finishing Midnight Sun!!!

    HELP !!!! We need to find a way to STOP this……

  • TheAgentOfChaos

    Yes, yes, and yes to everything everyone is saying, but then why are Smeyer’s people ignoring the situation? Why is the FBI not enforcing international copyright laws? I’m starting to think this is all just a publicity stunt to get non-Twilight fans to see the upcoming movie. This whole fiasco is way too suspicious. The Russet Noon website is still up despite the complaints submitted to her host. As long as no official word is released by the copyright/trademark owners, the Sybs will stay open for business. Next thing we know she’ll be selling memorabilia for crying out loud. She already plans on selling action figures of herself as “The Darth Vader of Fandom.” What is it going to take to stop her?

  • Mari

    I think this is TOTALLY wrong, the idea is still S. Meyers. And cashing in on her fame as it says, is wrong. It’s her work and to publish a book based on her idea should be her choise and her’s only. That’s my thoughts though. Keep the fiction on the internet. If I wrote a book and this happed to me I wouldn’t like this at all. Sorry I know it’s a great opportunity and many MANY would like to read it, but it’s still wrong. I won’t read it, no matter how much I want to. I’m a dedicated S. Meyers fan. And I’ll read it coming from her or else it’s not the REAL deal. This makes me angry. Cashing in on her fame. That’s stealing and the idea is half the book (or more. She has worked hard on the books and to get them published. SORRY if I seem harsh. But put yourself in meyers possistion.

  • Jessica

    Only SM should have any right to write and publish a book about the characters that we have grown to love and are obsessed about find out more about. She should not be able to make money off of SM’s empire (though so many merchandise franchises do). Deep down I’m torn… and my desire to read more about the Cullen clan, the Quillette tribe and the small town of Forks really draws something deep inside to me to want to read this book, but out of my love for SM and HER work, I too will not be buying this book. But, I can say, if it is ever illegally uploaded to Limewire and I can read it for free just out of entertainment, you better believe that I will. HAHA!

  • anna

    I read something about this on the lexicon a few months ago. From what i can remember they stated that the so called “publishers” that she found to publish this is actually herself. She owns her own publishing company i think, so no credible publisher is actually saying that she can do this.

    Also she is getting herself very confused about copyright. Yes, you cannot copyright actual places and mythologies, but you can when using and featuring those mythologies and or places in a unique way. In other words no one can copyright vampires, but vampires who are called the Cullens who live in Forks and are pretending to be humans to blend in are very copyrightable.

    Fanfiction itself is technically a copyright violation. And many authors don’t allow it. Stephenie is very gracious for her letting the fans write fan fiction and we should all keep that in mind. This lady is being very ungratful by taking advantage of Stephenie’s generosity.

    Copyright protects all characters from the moments they’re created. I believe they are also protected for 70 years from the day that thier creators dies. Which essentially means that if stephenie meyer lives to be, let’s say 80 (hopefully she’ll live much longer than that) then the soonest anyone could legally write using any of her characters would be the year 2159, and everyone alive today will be dead by then.

    Essentially what I’m saying is she legally CANNOT EVER publish this book. and if she does then Stephenie Meyer and Little, Brown will have every right to sure her.

    Thanks to the Lexicon for all these facts.

  • JaneyD

    If you plan to be writers, learn about copyright law.

    It’s easy!

    10 Big Myths About Copyright Explained:

    http://www.templetons.com/brad/copymyths.html

    “Lady Syb” has for months has ignored or twisted it to suit her agenda–which is getting attention.

    She is perfectly aware she is in the wrong and uses that to get herself talked about.

    You want to shut her down? Report her to Meyers’s brother Seth, and to her publishers. If enough fans complain, they might do something.

    Twifans are going to have to be their own police on this one. Trust me, the FBI has more important things on their plate than shutting down one thieving, willfully ignorant fan.

  • washmysoul

    That woman Lady Sibilla,did she actually read the whole “Breaking Dawn”?I don’t like her brand new idea.There are some thopics which are not clear at all!
    In first place,why Renesmee should be so dangerous to people?It’s a complete nonsense!That miracle child has an amazing mind which unexpected twists are incredibly swift and clear.She has unique supernatural skills and even she can talk to her father in her own special way.
    Moreover,Eduard told Bella while she was pregnant that her daughter adores her and loves listening her mother’s voice which means that she got emotions too.
    After her birth the thing Nessy wants most is to see her mother not the desire of drinking human blood!Later,when she grows up,she met Charley and did nothing to harm.This represents how powerful is her self-control(her mother’s ability).She can also differ the good acs from bad and knows that hurting peope is not the right way she should behave.
    When Voltyri came to decide her destiny,Nessy bravely tries to explane what she is,being ready to take all the responsibility for her own existing in order to defend her family and friens.Although she is so tiny,small,unprotected and undergrowth,the child perfectly realizes her position,the fact that she could be missunderstood and the importance of the situation.She hepls adults as much as she can,not losing her temper,despite the fact that the girl is rather scared which is a sign of her strong presence of mind as well as greatness of soul.That’s why Nessy can’t be the ruthless monster described in “Russet Noon”.
    Secondly,why did the spirit warriors return to live among the Quileutes?Is the condition soo out of control that some ghosts have to come over from a world beyond only for helping people from La Push?Are the strong young boys-wolves so disabled to manage with the difficulties?
    In conclusion,it’s up to us how to live our lives-aimlessly in our gray dailyround or like Someone,Person in life just as Renesmee because “sooner or later every man stays alone and then is very important with who you are going to stay in private”.

  • EdCullen

    The problem with fanfiction is “writers” get to alter the story however they choose to and, because it’s fanfiction, she doesn’t have to abide by the rules set by SMeyer. It don’t matter if her story is faithful to the saga at all. In fact, she can transform the plot and characters as she well pleases all in the name of fanfiction and she can get away as long as she doesn’t profit off it.

  • Natasha

    I’m not going to read it.

  • laura

    The thing is, as wrong as Lady Sybilla is, technically, at the moment, she hasn’t done anything illegal more than any other fanfic writer. All fanfic is copyright violation, but authors generally turn a blind eye to it as long as you are not selling it or making up printed copies that someone could turn around and sell.

    So writing press releases stating you’re going to do a book isn’t illegal. The book itself will be. So pretty much unless the book shows up, the Little Brown legal team probably doesn’t have immediate cause for legal action. Especially since Lady Sybilla keeps pushing the publication date back. Maybe they’ll hit her with an injunction 30 before release. Right now, maybe they are hoping she gets off her ego trip and sees sense.

  • Cynthia

    This is not the first case of someone taking a character (or group of characters) and running with their story. There are TONS of stories about Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth that continued the story where Jane Austen left off. And there is even a sequel to Gone With the Wind called Scarlett!

    While it sucks, there aren’t any laws preventing people from continuing stories. If you don’t support it, don’t buy it and spread the word. Sucks for Stephenie but it’s not surprising.

  • J-nae

    Yo, I can’t believe that chick would do that. I like fanfiction, it’s great… but an actual printed novel? That’s HORRIBLE!

    Of course we are ALL curious as to what happens… but in SM’s world! Not some random girl. You can’t take ownership of a character that you have not created and you most certainly can’t put them on different paths of life if the original creator did not intend them to venture that way.

    I hate this idea, and I want to punch that girl in the face!

  • BiteMeEdward

    Smeyer is not the first author to go through this mess and she won’t be the last. A vast percentage of published books are fanfiction with changed names anyway. And what about Rachel Plotkin? She actually went as far as listing her Jacob/Nessie fanfic on Amazon. So, like Laura pointed out, the Sybs is well protected as long as she don’t try to sell her book I think.

  • Gabby

    I.Am.Shocked! How can this NOT be plaigirism?! Has Stephenie given her PERMISSION to write this book?! I think not! And besides, The Twilight Saga is STEPHENIE’s world, HER ideas, if someone else writes it, it might not be as good! I mean fanfiction is okay, you write your own short stories about the book using the charachers, but PUBLISHING it!
    I am not reading this book! If you are against this, inform EVERYONE!!

  • JaneyD

    “And what about Rachel Plotkin?”

    Be proud of her! She took down the book when a bunch of people told her that selling it on Amazon was illegal. She said she didn’t know it was wrong, and I’m satisfied with that reason.

    As I’ve seen on this page alone, lots of people simply don’t know anything about copyright. It is a writer’s protection against thieves.

    The kid did the RIGHT thing in the end, and that puts her miles ahead of Sybilla in the brains department.

    For those who think there should be a law against this kind of thing–there is.

    The trouble is only the copyright owner can take action and apparently Meyers has decided to officially ignore this Sybilla moron.

    That’s her choice.

    OUR best choice is to not read the book or pay any more attention to Sybilla.

    Aside from being a thief, the one thing she craves the most is attention.

    Even when it’s negative and abusive, she’s probably got Google alerts in place and lurks on any board or blog where she’s mentioned.

    The worst thing we can do to her from now on is wholly ignore her!

  • BellaPattinson

    This is absolutely freakin ridiculous! I read about this a few months ago but then didn’t hear anything else so figured it was taken care of. How can someone actually try to make money off of someone else hard work and creativity? This is totally ignorant and wrong! I can’t believe no one is taking care of this. I like fan fiction, don’t get me wrong, but this goes above and beyond. With everything going on with MS you would think that this person would have enough common sense to just leave the saga alone because now any chances of MS getting finished or Stephanie writing a continuation after BD is probably down the drain, and it is very selfish of this Lady Sybilla to take that away from all the true twilight fans!

 

 

 
More in TA Talks Back (61 of 182 articles)