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#81

Public Domain / Re: Free review copies of The ...

Last post by tomswift2002 - September 17, 2023, 12:04:17 PM

No, I'm not referring to the 60s versions. The originals I'm speaking of are the 1927 versions that entered the public domain this year. The named characters are the same, as are the setting. I've used those elements to build my story. You can get the 1927 texts for the first three books at Project Gutenberg. The details of the stories and some of the characterizations differ from the later, revised versions of the stories. There are also 25 chapters in each book instead of 20 - which gives a bit more room for character dialog and added plot elements.

I've read a few Nancy Drew's and enjoyed them. I should give Tom Swift a try!

An interesting thing with Tom Swift, the original adventure series from 1910-1941 has the first 30 books plus #39 in the US public domain.  (So that's 'Motorcycle' to 'Circling The Globe' which just entered the US Public domain this year. The copyright on 'Giant Telescope' was not renewed, so it fell into the US Public Domain back in 1968!). Also, from the 1954-1971 Jr Adventure series, books 17 & 18 are in the US public domain because of failure to renew their copyrights; the both entered the public domain around 1989 and up here in Canada, they are still under copyright, but S&S doesn't seem that interested in enforcing their copyright on them, unless you were going to use elements in another story or movie, etc.

However, here in Canada for the first Tom Swift series, books 1-35 (Motorcycle to Giant Magnet) are in the public domain.  Books 39 and 40 may also be public domain, since the little information there is on Thomas Mitchell, he may've died in the mid-60's, so it's possible that their copyright is expired (also, since from what I know Mitchell's name only came to light in the 90's, under Canada's Anonymous publishing clause of then-50 years, 'Giant Magnet' would've entered the Public Domain on January 1, 1990 and 'Magnetic Silencer' on January 1, 1992.  Books 36-38, which were written by Harriet Stratemeyer Adams will enter the Public Domain on January 1, 2053 (although in the US, they'll be public domain in the 2030's).

However, with Nancy Drew, it'll be an interesting mix between the US & Canada.  The first 3 1930 Nancy Drew's will enter the US Public Domain on January 1, 2026, and the 1959 rewrites of the first two on January 1, 2055.  However, here in Canada, the revised editions, written by Harriet Stratemeyer Adam's, will enter the Canadian Public Domain on January 1, 2053 (all her books, doesn't matter what year they were published, they'll all enter on January 1, 2053).  But, the original 1930's versions of the first three books (and all others by Mildred Wirt Benson) will still be under copyright until January 1, 2073.  Of course, the 3 books written by Walter Karig in the 1939's are in the Canadian Public Domain right now (Mysterious Letter to Larkspur Lane) since Karig died in 1956, so the entered the Canadian Public Domain on January 1, 2007.

#82

Public Domain / Re: Free review copies of The ...

Last post by Brentski - September 17, 2023, 01:21:47 AM

When you say original, do you mean the 1960 version of the books? Those are awesome. I'm also a fan of Nancy Drew, and Tom Swift.

No, I'm not referring to the 60s versions. The originals I'm speaking of are the 1927 versions that entered the public domain this year. The named characters are the same, as are the setting. I've used those elements to build my story. You can get the 1927 texts for the first three books at Project Gutenberg. The details of the stories and some of the characterizations differ from the later, revised versions of the stories. There are also 25 chapters in each book instead of 20 - which gives a bit more room for character dialog and added plot elements.

I've read a few Nancy Drew's and enjoyed them. I should give Tom Swift a try!

#83

General Hardy Boys Discussions / Re: The boys in pop culture

Last post by MacGyver - September 16, 2023, 08:39:54 PM

On the "Terminal Case" episode of Tucker's Witch, there is a mention of The Hardy Boys. Rick comments to Amanda about how being on a stake out at a high school makes him feel like one of The Hardy Boys. He then says that would make his wife Nancy Drew!
Great in-joke here! Tim Matheson plays the role of Rick Tucker on this show and of course he also played one of The Hardy Boys in the 1967 pilot The Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Chinese Junk, in which he portrayed Joe Hardy! :-)

#84

Public Domain / Re: Free review copies of The ...

Last post by MysteryFan89 - September 16, 2023, 04:27:26 PM

Thanks a bunch for the sub! The book is wholesome, but I did add a kiss or two between Frank & Callie in one chapter. That's as far as I ever plan to go in that direction. There is no cursing, and no violence that wasn't in the originals.

Is this fanfiction? I'm going to say 'no'. The Hardy books (first three of the original text) are in the public domain and available for legal use in new stories. These stories can be copyrighted, and I've applied for the copyright on my book. The copyright excluded the PD elements of the old characters and setting, but my story and any new characters are under copyright. Anyway, my main point is that being able to take out a copyright is, to me, the line the divides fan fiction from uh, not fan fiction.

I've written my fair share of fan-fic, and some of it was pretty okay (to pat myself on the back), but I can't legally publish it or claim copyright. This book is different.

When you say original, do you mean the 1960 version of the books? Those are awesome. I'm also a fan of Nancy Drew, and Tom Swift. 

#85

Public Domain / Re: Free review copies of The ...

Last post by Brentski - September 16, 2023, 03:35:12 PM

I've subscribed to you. Can't wait to read it, I love wholesome take on on my favourite book series. Would this be considered fanfiction?

Thanks a bunch for the sub! The book is wholesome, but I did add a kiss or two between Frank & Callie in one chapter. That's as far as I ever plan to go in that direction. There is no cursing, and no violence that wasn't in the originals.

Is this fanfiction? I'm going to say 'no'. The Hardy books (first three of the original text) are in the public domain and available for legal use in new stories. These stories can be copyrighted, and I've applied for the copyright on my book. The copyright excluded the PD elements of the old characters and setting, but my story and any new characters are under copyright. Anyway, my main point is that being able to take out a copyright is, to me, the line the divides fan fiction from uh, not fan fiction.

I've written my fair share of fan-fic, and some of it was pretty okay (to pat myself on the back), but I can't legally publish it or claim copyright. This book is different.

#86

Public Domain / Re: Free review copies of The ...

Last post by MysteryFan89 - September 16, 2023, 12:33:02 PM

Thanks! I've been worried how people would react to that change.
That's part of the topic for next weeks article on my Substack. (https://bayportmysteries.substack.com/ shameless plug)

The real truth is that the idea grabbed me by the throat and wouldn't let go. I thought up other good reasons - such as differentiating Frank & Joe a bit more, and better reflecting boys and girls roles in modern society. But those came after the inspiration made up my mind.

I've subscribed to you. Can't wait to read it, I love wholesome take on on my favourite book series. Would this be considered fanfiction?

#87

Public Domain / Re: Free review copies of The ...

Last post by Brentski - September 16, 2023, 10:26:00 AM

Love your change for Joe. What made you change the character?

Thanks! I've been worried how people would react to that change.
That's part of the topic for next weeks article on my Substack. (https://bayportmysteries.substack.com/ shameless plug)

The real truth is that the idea grabbed me by the throat and wouldn't let go. I thought up other good reasons - such as differentiating Frank & Joe a bit more, and better reflecting boys and girls roles in modern society. But those came after the inspiration made up my mind.

#88

Public Domain / Re: Free review copies of The ...

Last post by MysteryFan89 - September 16, 2023, 09:26:21 AM

Thanks for the interest in the book, MysteryFan89! I do hope you enjoy it.

SkyWarp - it's interesting to hear some of these details from actual production copies. So far, all I have is proofs. I think author copies are lower priority than customer copies (as they should be). I ordered mine as soon as they were published, and they have yet to ship!

Love your change for Joe. What made you change the character?

#89

Public Domain / Re: Free review copies of The ...

Last post by Brentski - September 15, 2023, 10:54:57 PM

Thanks for the interest in the book, MysteryFan89! I do hope you enjoy it.

SkyWarp - it's interesting to hear some of these details from actual production copies. So far, all I have is proofs. I think author copies are lower priority than customer copies (as they should be). I ordered mine as soon as they were published, and they have yet to ship!

#90

Public Domain / Re: Free review copies of The ...

Last post by MysteryFan89 - September 15, 2023, 08:17:11 PM

Just got the ebook. Can't wait to read it,