Several weeks back allegations flew across the web that Stephenie Meyer, author of the world-wide book and movie phenomenon, “Twilight,” had plagiarized parts of the fourth book in the series, “Breaking Dawn.” The accusation came from little known author Jordan Scott, author of “The Nocturne” (also a vampire novel).
The allegations have turned into a full blown lawsuit, filed last week, and reports of the suit have cropped up everywhere, including an announcement in the New York Times this weekend:
“Earlier this month, a lawyer for Jordan Scott, the author of the 2006 vampire novel “The Nocturne,” sent a cease-and-desist letter to Ms. Meyer’s publisher, Hachette Book Group, that said her work contains many situations that are similar to those in Ms. Meyer’s 2008 book “Breaking Dawn,” the fourth entry in her series about a romance between a mortal woman and an undead vampire. A lawsuit filed Wednesday in federal court in California reiterated those similarities, noting, for example, that both books contained passages about a wedding and an after-wedding sex scene on a beach.”
“Breaking Dawn” is Meyer’s most controversial book in the series, but until now for reasons that have nothing at all to do with possible plagiarism–fans were passionately divided over whether or not they liked a few controversial twists (that I will not spoil here) essential to the plot in “Breaking Dawn.” I have not read “The Nocturne” nor do I plan to pick apart the two texts next to each other. But I that anyone who knows a thing or two about Mormonism would have a hard time imagining that “Breaking Dawn” was plagiarized, given the way that the book’s plot plays straight into Mormon ideas about the eternal family–through Bella and Edward’s marriage, subsequent child, and the immortality given to all three via becoming/being vampires. I’m surprised this argument–one that seems basic and obvious to me–hasn’t come up in discussions about the allegations.
What do you think? Do you trust Stephenie? And if your curious, check out my Idol Chatter post, “Am I the Only Person Who Liked ‘Breaking Dawn’?” from last August.
posted August 26, 2009 at 4:53 pm
PULEEEZE! She did NOT plagiarize…She can’t help it that her book took off and did better than Scotts book did…sounds like sour grapes to me! I guess Alexander Graham Bell plagiarized the telephone…give me a break!!!!
And YES! I loved Breaking Dawn… I wish THAT book had a sequel!
posted August 26, 2009 at 11:33 pm
NO…I do not believe that Meyers is guilty of plagiarism! Scott is just trying to ride on the coattail of Meyers success.
I loved all four of Meyer’s books Eclipse and Breaking Down being my favorites…what can I say I am a romantic!
I would love to see Meyers expand this series, whether it focuses on Jacob and Renesmee, the Voltir, or anyone of the many vampires in the books. I enjoy her writing style and her ability to bring the books to life.
posted August 27, 2009 at 9:46 am
NO WAY,
Stephanie sooo did not plagerize, the dude who wrote nocturne just wants attention or money. I love Twilight series and I wish it didn’t end.
posted August 27, 2009 at 11:24 am
I don’t have an opinion about the plagiarism accusation, though I think it is probably not true. I wasn’t crazy about “Breaking Dawn” myself. Without spoiling anything, I thought Meyer set up an interesting dilemma for Bella in the previous books, and I don’t agree with the choices she made in the 4th book.
posted August 27, 2009 at 1:36 pm
As much as millions of people don’t want to believe it, or would be crushed if it turns out to be true, taking a side by side accounting in the lawsuit makes it a bit more difficult to say that she didn’t grab more than a few ideas from the other book.
And if she did, then were the other books plagerized as well? This is going to be so crushing, I hope that she didn’t do this.
Would she have to return the monies from the series, or Breaking Dawn if it turns out to be true? Who knows.
The Best to all involved.
posted July 12, 2010 at 2:43 pm
Online plagiarism checker – http://plagiarisma.net