I actually had an argument with a popular fantasy author on that same subject, via email. It was never resolved; she believes that her hours of work crafting her story and characters gives her the ultimate right to say whether there is a right or wrong way to interpret them. In regards to fanfiction, copyright law is on her side. However, she also strongly believed that good writing guided the reader to the correct interpretation and no other. Which I don't think is strictly true, since everyone brings their entire life's experience to the table when reading a book.
Imagination can't be, or shouldn't be, reined back. An author can pronounce from on high whatever the hell they want and people might listen, as Stephanie Meyer and Anne Rice have proved countless times. But they can't get inside the reader's head and force them to see the story exactly the way they want them to.
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Date: 2008-12-27 10:10 am (UTC)Imagination can't be, or shouldn't be, reined back. An author can pronounce from on high whatever the hell they want and people might listen, as Stephanie Meyer and Anne Rice have proved countless times. But they can't get inside the reader's head and force them to see the story exactly the way they want them to.
But possibly you are just contrary. ;)