Possibly in the same way that Christopher Tolkien carried on with some of his father (or was it grandfathers) work?
Although in my coffeeless state, I miss read that as "I'm not sure that works..."
Ghost Stories
- Thread starter 5billionof5billion
- Start date
Possibly in the same way that Christopher Tolkien carried on with some of his father (or was it grandfathers) work?
Although in my coffeeless state, I miss read that as "I'm not sure that works..."
There is a tradition of author's children continuing their work: See also Frank Herbert, Anne McCaffrey, L. Frank Baum, etc. Not sure that really applies to STAR TREK novels, though, since it's not as though Ann Crispin (or any of us) invented the STAR TREK characters or universe . . . .
I thought Dayton Ward doesn't show up anymore? And I think you mean Andy Mangels, who used to be active; I don't recall seeing Michael A. Martin on this board.
But I have also seen William Leisner, Una McCormack, MichaelS, DaveGalanter, and Scott Pearson pop in from time to time.
And then David R. George III well....he used to show up.
Last edited:
OK, fair enough, I guess it does happen from time to time. But I don't think it's fair to expect it to be a given. One can't just expect a child to follow in their parent's footsteps. And my understanding is that because of the way the Star Trek ownership works, S&S could get any author to continue A.C. Crispin's storylines, if they wanted to; it wouldn't necessarily need to be one of her children.
Steve Mollmann is also a regular poster here. And I just noticed that Jeffrey Lang posted in the Force and Motion review thread, so I guess he drops in from time to time too!
Exactly. I can see where five billion is coming from, but you're right; it doesn't really apply to STAR TREK novels.
And, yes, it's like any family business. It's not too surprising that the children of writers sometimes follow in their footsteps, as in other professions. And sometimes if there's a lucrative franchise involved, there's certainly incentive to keep the family business going, but that fact that I had to go back decades to find four or five examples says something too.
More often, I suspect, you have cases like Joe Hill (Stephen King's son) or Christopher Rice (son of Anne) or even Joss Whedon (third-generation Hollywood screenwriter, I believe), who end up following in their parents' footsteps, but who don't necessarily end up writing sequels to their parents' works. They become writers, but prefer to do their own thing.
There was an odd case a few year back where a new vampire novel was hyped as the "official" sequel to "Dracula" on the grounds that it was written by Bram Stoker's great-grandnephew, which baffled me a bit. It wasn't a bad Dracula novel, but I'm not sure it was all that more authentic for having been written by a distant relative of Stoker, a couple generations removed!
I think it's admirable how Joe Hill doesn't use his family name with his writing. The King name would probably sell more books, but by using another name, his success or acclaim can be properly attributed to his own unique voice and talent, instead of his father's reputation.
Also, he's one helluva great writer -- both in prose and comic book scripting.
Also, he's one helluva great writer -- both in prose and comic book scripting.
Shameless plug: There's a cool collaboration between King and Hill (father and son) in a Richard Matheson tribute anthology I reprinted a few years ago: HE IS LEGEND, edited by Christopher Conlon.
It's a really good story, about a motorcycle gang versus a homicidal trucker.
(Inspired by Matheson's "Duel," of course.)
It's a really good story, about a motorcycle gang versus a homicidal trucker.
(Inspired by Matheson's "Duel," of course.)
Ooh... too bad there was already a father-son(-ish) sitcom called King of the Hill, because that would be perfect....
And, of course, Richard Matheson's son writes horror and screenplays under the name "Richard Christian Matheson." Matheson was not, however, related to the late Melissa Mathison, although that was a fairly common misconception. (Back when Mathison was married to Harrison Ford, people would periodically ask me to work my Matheson connection to get something to Ford. I had to explain, more than once, that that Mathison was not related to Matheson.)
Meanwhile, several years back, it was a struggle to convince Amazon that Richard Matheson and Richard Christian Matheson were not the same author, but we got it straightened out eventually.
All of which kinda brings us back OT, since the senior Matheson wrote for TOS.
Meanwhile, several years back, it was a struggle to convince Amazon that Richard Matheson and Richard Christian Matheson were not the same author, but we got it straightened out eventually.
All of which kinda brings us back OT, since the senior Matheson wrote for TOS.
Last edited:
This is why spelling matters.
Although I assume Richard Matheson was not related to Tim Matheson (aka Jed Bartlet's vice president and the original voice of Jonny Quest).
I've known for a long time that they were father and son, but I only recently figured out that Richard Christian Matheson was not the same person as Bill and Ted co-creator Chris Matheson (they're actually brothers). Lot of creativity in that family, except where first names are concerned...
I've known for a long time that they were father and son, but I only recently figured out that Richard Christian Matheson was not the same person as Bill and Ted co-creator Chris Matheson (they're actually brothers). Lot of creativity in that family, except where first names are concerned...
Right. I was aware that Matheson's other son was also a writer, but couldn't immediately recall the details.
Again, the tendency to go into the same line of work as your parents is not confined to writers. I know a family that has spawned four generations of fire-fighters. My grandfather was a high school principal; my dad was public school teacher, and so was my aunt. A friend of mine joined the Army straight after college because it was a longstanding tradition in her family. Etc.
You grow up around certain trades, you pick stuff up.
The nice thing about you is that you're the one who makes the most responses to me. Of all the Star Trek books Vonda wrote, I like The Entropy Effect the best.
We are the Borg. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile.
God bless, Jason Irelan
Another thing to remember is that Christopher Tolkien and Brian Herbert were working specifically from material left by their fathers, so they were basically just finishing things that had already been started.
I think Brian Herbert has possibly done some none Dune stuff, but I'm not sure about Christopher Tolkien.
I understand that Crispin did start some work on her Zar followup trilogy, but that would all belong to CBS, so unless they were in a sharing mood, I doubt her son would have access to them.
I think Brian Herbert has possibly done some none Dune stuff, but I'm not sure about Christopher Tolkien.
I understand that Crispin did start some work on her Zar followup trilogy, but that would all belong to CBS, so unless they were in a sharing mood, I doubt her son would have access to them.
Strange but true: Vonda was actually one of my original writing teachers, along with Norman Spinrad (who wrote "The Doomsday Machine" for TOS) and David Hartwell, who launched Pocket Book's line of STAR TREK novels back in the day. So I like to joke that I'm a second-generation Trek writer.
It's a small world sometimes.
Last edited:
From M.R. James
http://www.thin-ghost.org/items/show/150
OH, WHISTLE, AND I'LL COME TO YOU, MY LAD'
Not a trek story--but I'll think you will like it.
The 1904 illustration by James McBryde is the epitome of the phantom in popular culture.
http://www.thin-ghost.org/items/show/150
OH, WHISTLE, AND I'LL COME TO YOU, MY LAD'
Not a trek story--but I'll think you will like it.
The 1904 illustration by James McBryde is the epitome of the phantom in popular culture.
