Chapter 56: Fanfiction Versus Original Works

Seeing the fervent anticipation for "Detective Sherlock" among readers online, Nanhai Publishing and Time Mystery Magazine stoked the flames further, driving the hype to new heights.

"Zhang Chu's work 'Detective Sherlock'—Chapter Two: The Blind Banker—will soon debut in the August issue of Time Mystery. Stay tuned!"

"Extra, extra! Sherlock fans, take note! The standalone edition of 'Detective Sherlock' is expected to be released at the end of July, including Chapter One: The Study in Pink, Chapter Two: The Blind Banker, and Chapter Three: Deadly Game."

"Detective Sherlock" is commonly abbreviated as "Shenxia." With the legions of eager readers clamoring for updates, the response was overwhelming, and the titles of upcoming chapters promised even greater excitement.

Unfortunately, it was only early July—neither the standalone edition nor the magazine could yet be purchased.

"So Zhang Chu really wrote it? I thought he hadn’t. If he serialized it online, at least we wouldn’t have to wait in agony."

"This is just a money-making scheme—how do three stories combined make a standalone edition?"

"What are The Blind Banker and Deadly Game about? Are they adapted from the original novels too?"

"Calling all experts—does anyone know where the last two chapters fit in the original?"

"Money-grabbing Zhang is officially online! Still, I’ll buy it, no matter what."

"The best Holmes fan fiction I’ve ever read—I’ll definitely buy it to collect when it’s published."

Readers did not object to Zhang Chu publishing "Detective Sherlock." What truly captured their interest were the stories themselves.

Yet a different group focused on whether the novel infringed on copyright. Most fan fiction writers are cautious, never daring to pursue commercial publication.

But Zhang Chu’s work not only serialized in magazines—it was headed straight for publication. This infuriated many self-proclaimed original authors.

...

"Fan fiction can be published these days? Is it because Conan Doyle has been dead so long, or is it just that since it’s a foreign work, they don’t fear anyone coming after them?"

Qin Mu, brimming with indignation, spoke to his friend Xu Hao. Though his name might not be widely known outside, it carried significant weight in the domestic mystery fiction circle.

Qin Mu had previously written "Don’t Speak to Her," "Death Judgment," and the "Ace Detective Luo Yi Series," all of which enjoyed solid sales and reviews. His latest, "Murder Law," published in March, had already sold over 150,000 copies—making him a heavyweight in the suspense and mystery genre.

Xu Hao was also a suspense novelist, his achievements not far behind. Their writing styles diverged, however; Xu Hao leaned toward screen adaptations and also worked as a scriptwriter.

"If the publishing house dares to publish it, they must have reached an agreement. They wouldn't risk it—everyone’s watching," Xu Hao said.

Qin Mu shook his head, "Domestic mystery fiction is already weak, and now they’re pushing fan fiction. Isn’t that murdering originality? Xu, this can’t go on."

But Xu Hao disagreed, countering, "Though 'Detective Sherlock' is fan fiction, it doesn’t detract from its brilliance. Only the first chapter has been released, but I think the creativity is excellent—the plot and deduction are well done. Unless something unexpected happens, Zhang Chu should be a rising star in our industry."

"Fan fiction is just picking up scraps—bright in youth, dull in maturity. Top scorers in the college entrance exam turn out no different than ordinary students once they get to campus. This trend is dangerous—it needs to be stopped!"

Qin Mu harbored a deep aversion to fan works, rooted in an episode where someone wrote "Sacred Judgment," a fan story based on "Death Judgment." "Sacred Judgment" became even more popular, causing many to mistake the fan work for the original and label the true original as mere imitation.

Xu Hao knew it was hopeless to persuade Qin Mu; once stubborn, he could not be budged for anything.

...

Early the next morning, the renowned Southern Metropolis Daily published an editorial by Qin Mu himself: "Fan Fiction Strangles Originality—Detective Sherlock Is No Savior!"

"In recent years, mystery novels have thrived in the book market, with a flood of translated titles from overseas. In stark contrast, original domestic mystery writers are few and far between. The internet is awash with fan fiction, like the hugely popular 'Detective Sherlock.' These kindergarten-level works severely hinder the development of domestic mystery fiction. I urge everyone to respect the originals and value originality!

Most local mysteries are mere imitations of foreign classics. Zhang Chu is leveraging Holmes’s fame, but his novel is riddled with flaws. The first chapter of 'Detective Sherlock' sets up a big trap, but the resolution is overly simplistic, disappointing readers who crave intellectual challenges.

Writing mystery fiction is exceptionally difficult—it requires a vast reservoir of knowledge. Zhang Chu is praised for his status as a top scorer, but his work has glaring weaknesses. He needs more seasoning.

Fan fiction is draining the lifeblood of original works. I call on readers, netizens, and the publishing industry to support domestic original mysteries and foster a healthy environment!"

In this critique, Qin Mu positioned himself as a concerned pioneer for the mystery genre, directly criticizing "Detective Sherlock," which had become the hottest fan fiction of late.

...

Not only that, he all but dismissed Zhang Chu’s work, finding no redeeming qualities within.

As a luminary in the mystery field, Qin Mu’s advocacy for the industry naturally attracted widespread attention. Numerous mystery writers stood up in support.

"Support for Master Qin! Fan fiction aims for profit—this is contempt for originality."

"Support original works! Mystery is hard enough to write—trying to profit without effort is outrageous!"

"Fan fiction on the internet is already annoying, and now it’s being published? Some authority should intervene!"

"Honestly, I don’t understand why 'Detective Sherlock' is popular—is it because the author was a top scorer?"

"Zhang Chu’s reputation as a top student seems overrated. 'Detective Sherlock' is almost entirely copied from Holmes. No one truly knows his real abilities."

"'The Death of Red Hare' is impressive, but mainly because it’s an uncommon genre. Zhang Chu’s unconventional style grabbed attention, but writing fiction demands steady progress, not just quirkiness."

"Calling Zhang Chu the hope of Chinese mystery fiction is absurd—he’s ignoring the real young writers. He still needs to prove himself."

Fan fiction means using characters, plots, or settings from existing comics, animation, novels, or films to create new stories.

For example, "Journey to the West" and "Investiture of the Gods" are original works, but later scripts like "The Return of the Monkey King" or "Journey to the West: Demon Conqueror," based on "Journey to the West," are fan fiction.

With the rise of the internet, fan works have flourished—not just in novels, but also in videos, audio, and songs. The conflict between fan works and original copyrights has been ongoing for years.

Now, Qin Mu had placed Zhang Chu and "Detective Sherlock" directly on the grill!