Oh, I don't doubt that. But I am reminded of the Heinlein bit about (paraphrased because I don't remember the exact wording) 'writers taking an old car, cleaning it up, giving it a new paint job and taking it across state lines for resale'. And it sounds like Allen did a tangential riff off the book, which is basically inbounds.
For comparison, there is outright rank plagiarism of various Hollywood studios. Tim Powers had a book called 'On Stranger Tides' which I read when it came out in '87. I went with my ex to the premier of 'Pirates of the Caribbean' and what do you know, they stole the book outright. Couldn't believe my eyes. She hadn't read it so I gave it to her to read and she came back like, 'WOW! They totally stole it!' They gave Powers no credit and no money whatsoever - which is astounding when you think about it. They could've dropped 100-500k on the book rights, thrown in a screen credit and they would've been free and clear. But no.
"Woody Allen stole the title for a movie."
Titles can't be copyrighted. (How could they?) But yeah, it seems obvious coming across this book inspired the movie.
Is it worth reading?
elm
the 50's and 60's were really the golden age of paperbacks, maybe print in general
You are right about the copyright...but WA surely made the connection. It was a good book and connected well to the forerunners.
Oh, I don't doubt that. But I am reminded of the Heinlein bit about (paraphrased because I don't remember the exact wording) 'writers taking an old car, cleaning it up, giving it a new paint job and taking it across state lines for resale'. And it sounds like Allen did a tangential riff off the book, which is basically inbounds.
For comparison, there is outright rank plagiarism of various Hollywood studios. Tim Powers had a book called 'On Stranger Tides' which I read when it came out in '87. I went with my ex to the premier of 'Pirates of the Caribbean' and what do you know, they stole the book outright. Couldn't believe my eyes. She hadn't read it so I gave it to her to read and she came back like, 'WOW! They totally stole it!' They gave Powers no credit and no money whatsoever - which is astounding when you think about it. They could've dropped 100-500k on the book rights, thrown in a screen credit and they would've been free and clear. But no.
elm
hell of a world
Haha, I have that edition in PB -- in a box somewhere, probably in storage. (Book hoarder? Me?)
prescient in that the prices paid at auction recently for that sculpture and others like it seem incredibly irrational!
I own this book! Though I've never read it. My interest in existentialism seemed to have faded by the time I bought it.