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Here's the thing: In a very real way, Disney owes the long-term viability of #StarWars as a commercial enterprise to authors like Alan Dean Foster.
It's hard to imagine now, but after Return of the Jedi, the franchise went through some rocky years.
1/ https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/nov/19/sstar-wars-author-disney-royalties-alan-dean-foster
It's hard to imagine now, but after Return of the Jedi, the franchise went through some rocky years.
1/ https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/nov/19/sstar-wars-author-disney-royalties-alan-dean-foster
Kenner stopped making Star Wars toys in 1986.
The licences lapsed for the comic books in 1987.
Fandom had love for the movies, but the franchise was quickly fading out of the broader public consciousness.
2/
https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-in-the-uk-the-dark-times-1987-1991
The licences lapsed for the comic books in 1987.
Fandom had love for the movies, but the franchise was quickly fading out of the broader public consciousness.
2/
https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-in-the-uk-the-dark-times-1987-1991
So why did Star Wars turn the corner? Novels. The "Expanded Universe."
On paper, #DisneyMustPay royalties to Alan Dean Foster, and all the other authors who wrote books that they're still printing copies of.
3/
https://www.retrojunk.com/article/show/3160/star-wars-in-the-90s
On paper, #DisneyMustPay royalties to Alan Dean Foster, and all the other authors who wrote books that they're still printing copies of.
3/
https://www.retrojunk.com/article/show/3160/star-wars-in-the-90s
Morally, @Disney owes a large part of the cultural footprint of #StarWars to the work of Timothy Zahn, Alan Dean Foster, Kevin J. Anderson, Michael A. Stackpole, and other novelists.
Splinter In The Mind's Eye paved the way for #Mandalorian
, the Star Wars experience, etc.
4/
Splinter In The Mind's Eye paved the way for #Mandalorian
, the Star Wars experience, etc.4/
So, yeah @SFWA and @MaryRobinette are entirely right that #DisneyMustPay.
But that's just the tip of the iceberg. @Disney should be grateful for the work of the authors who kept the franchise from falling into obscurity in the late '80s and early '90s
5/ https://www.sfwa.org/2020/11/18/disney-must-pay/
But that's just the tip of the iceberg. @Disney should be grateful for the work of the authors who kept the franchise from falling into obscurity in the late '80s and early '90s
5/ https://www.sfwa.org/2020/11/18/disney-must-pay/
Wow that went semi-viral.
It's unlikely that a hashtag that trends for one or two days will force Disney to change course.
If you genuinely care about #StarWars, and about the writers, you gotta:
1) Keep up the noise
2) Start petitions, sign petitions
3) Boycott
6/
It's unlikely that a hashtag that trends for one or two days will force Disney to change course.
If you genuinely care about #StarWars, and about the writers, you gotta:
1) Keep up the noise
2) Start petitions, sign petitions
3) Boycott
6/
Boycotting ain't going to be easy. They'll lure you in with games and TV shows that seem unmissable.
But wait. Wait until they pay. You can consume the media later with some moral satisfaction.
Imagine how much better #Mandalorian will be if you wait until it's ethical.
7/
But wait. Wait until they pay. You can consume the media later with some moral satisfaction.
Imagine how much better #Mandalorian
will be if you wait until it's ethical.7/
