162 replies to this topic

[The Shark]

Far as I read nobody here suggested Duns was the 'hero' of this most unpleasant affair.

Well, he appears to be now playing that role. According to this article, Duns was "the first to alert publisher Little, Brown to similarities between Rowan’s Assassin of Secrets and published works by Charles McCarry, Raymond Benson, and Robert Ludlum."

It's all too easy to slander someone who can't defend themselves on Cb.n.

[zencat]

Well, there's a lot of sleaziness related to this story and apparently some agendas around here. I'll step out of it and let you guys have at.

[DamnCoffee]

The last thing this thread needs is a Jeremy Dunn's discussion. Honestly, stay on topic or this thread will be locked. Because it's going to end up turning into a bloodbath.

[David Schofield]

The last thing this thread needs is a Jeremy Dunn's discussion. Honestly, stay on topic or this thread will be locked. Because it's going to end up turning into a bloodbath.

You're not suggesting CBN might resort to a bit of good ole censorship are you, young Matthew?????

[The Shark]

Well, there's a lot of sleaziness related to this story and apparently some agendas around here. I'll step out of it and let you guys have at.

Don't get my wrong; I'm not trying to have a go at anybody here. Not you, nor Mr. Blofeld. I don't know about anyone else, but the only "sleazy" element I detect here is QR Markham's bizarre prank on publishers, colleagues and readers. From everything I've read on Jeremy Duns's blog and Bond and Beyond, I simply see a man defending himself, his profession and the spy genre itself. No hidden agendas.

[zencat]

Well, there's a lot of sleaziness related to this story and apparently some agendas around here. I'll step out of it and let you guys have at.

Don't get my wrong; I'm not trying to have a go at anybody here. Not you, nor Mr. Blofeld. I don't know about anyone else, but the only "sleazy" element I detect here is QR Markham's bizarre prank on publishers, colleagues and readers. From everything I've read on Jeremy Duns's blog and Bond and Beyond, I simply see a man defending himself, his profession and the spy genre itself. No hidden agendas.

I agree, Shark. The sleezbag here is Rowan, and while I haven't read his blog, I'm glad Jeremy is defending himself and nailing this scumbag.

I was just a little miffed that he was getting the credit for outing Rowan, when I thought it was AMC Hornet and Simon who did that here. But that could have just been an error in the reporting. I'm sorry if I implied that Jeremy put himself forward as the "hero." No "slander" intended.

But this is a hot potato and I really haven't been following all the twists and turns, so I think it's best that I clam up. I'm all for letting this story die along with Rowan's career.

[Simg]

Okay people just want to say a couple of things. Jeremy got an apology from QR, Raymond got an apology, I got an apology, all Gods Children have got apologies, sincere or otherwise, depends on what you believe. Mr Blofeld please stop talking c**p. Mr Duns has been a total professional in this matter, I should know as I have been closer to all of this than anyone posting on here, end of story.

Just to state for the record, I was contacted by a CBn member (you all know who) I contacted both the John Gardner Literary Estate Executor and IFP. Jeremy had seen the early posts on here and as he had had contact with QR started his own investigation. Most of you should know this if you have been paying attention.
QR has obviously got serious issues and more will no doubt emerge. So let us all stop talking about credit and who deserves accolades, it does not matter. What matters as I have stated before is that CBn helped spark the investigation and stopped QR from earning money from publishers and the general public with a book that was not all that it seemed. Come on guys he has had more than his 15 minutes of fame, please do not give him anymore.

Thank You

Simon R J Gardner

[Chief of SIS]

Okay people just want to say a couple of things. Jeremy got an apology from QR, Raymond got an apology, I got an apology, all Gods Children have got apologies, sincere or otherwise, depends on what you believe. Mr Blofeld please stop talking c**p. Mr Duns has been a total professional in this matter, I should know as I have been closer to all of this than anyone posting on here, end of story.

Just to state for the record, I was contacted by a CBn member (you all know who) I contacted both the John Gardner Literary Estate Executor and IFP. Jeremy had seen the early posts on here and as he had had contact with QR started his own investigation. Most of you should know this if you have been paying attention.
QR has obviously got serious issues and more will no doubt emerge. So let us all stop talking about credit and who deserves accolades, it does not matter. What matters as I have stated before is that CBn helped spark the investigation and stopped QR from earning money from publishers and the general public with a book that was not all that it seemed. Come on guys he has had more than his 15 minutes of fame, please do not give him anymore.

Thank You

Simon R J Gardner

I've been following this story since its birth and have chosen to remain incredibly hush-hush on it. It's just my style on this kind of subject usually. I feel voicing my comments on highly-sensitive topics where I play little to no role, such as this one, is like throwing a pebble into a ravine; it just kind of lands without anyone noticing. That being said, t wouldn't be to bad to heed to Mr. Gardner's words. CBn did something really cool and defended a property that we love. While discussion can be fruitful, in the way we are going about we're spoiling the well.

[glidrose]

Far as I read nobody here suggested Duns was the 'hero' of this most unpleasant affair.

Well, he appears to be now playing that role. According to this article, Duns was "the first to alert publisher Little, Brown to similarities between Rowan’s Assassin of Secrets and published works by Charles McCarry, Raymond Benson, and Robert Ludlum."

Really?

Seems like this will be news those who participated early in this thread, to the blog Reluctant Habits, and Simon Gardner who, it's my understand, first contacted the publisher because of what he read here.

I was just a little miffed that he was getting the credit for outing Rowan, when I thought it was AMC Hornet and Simon who did that here. But that could have just been an error in the reporting. I'm sorry if I implied that Jeremy put himself forward as the "hero." No "slander" intended.

But this is a hot potato and I really haven't been following all the twists and turns, so I think it's best that I clam up. I'm all for letting this story die along with Rowan's career.

I love this thread. Compensates for all those boring Skyfall threads. As for Duns, he may have been the first person to contact the publisher. His initial blog post links to AMC's expose post even if Duns didn't directly identify CBn by name. He read AMC's post, verified himself that the book was plagiarized, then contacted the publisher. The publisher removed the Q&A session from their website at Duns' request.

Let's show our gratitude to AMC Hornet. If anybody hasn't already given him a plus reputation point do so now. Click on this link and hit the plus sign. It's that simple. No excuse not to.

[AMC Hornet]

Wow.

I never paid any attention to reputation points until last week (when I was at about 56). Now that figure, like Sir Donald's accepted percentage of diamond smuggling, "has gone up alarmingly."

I feel like Sally Field at the Oscars, but I'll try not to let this go to my head. I'll be back correcting other posters' erroneous details in no time.

Thanks for the kudos, guys. I'm sure that, if it hadn't been me first, it would have been one of you.

[x007AceOfSpades]

I've never read any of the Fleming or Gardner novels. I have Devil May Care (Which I've yet to actually read), but of what most of you gents are saying, It's pretty low to stoop down and plagiarize other material like Fleming's classic series or even Ludlums Bourne series, if this guy even went to the extreme to get some from Bourne. I guess when it comes down to making an old fashioned Spy/Espionage novel thriller, people just can't seem to be completely original. Maybe some of you will agree with me, or not. Maybe I went a tad too far ha ha.

[Simg]

One more time for the record and please take note of this people:

I did not contact any publisher apart from alerting IFP, see previous posted comment below

"I was contacted by a CBn member (you all know who) I contacted both the John Gardner Literary Estate Executor and IFP."

SRJG

[glidrose]

Wow.

I never paid any attention to reputation points until last week (when I was at about 56). Now that figure, like Sir Donald's accepted percentage of diamond smuggling, "has gone up alarmingly."

I feel like Sally Field at the Oscars, but I'll try not to let this go to my head. I'll be back correcting other posters' erroneous details in no time.

Thanks for the kudos, guys. I'm sure that, if it hadn't been me first, it would have been one of you.

Mostly glad the reputation system is kaput. Too bad we can't watch your expose post reputation points soar. Last I saw you were at +10.

You're right it would have been one of us if not you. I saw right away the "Tabitha's big bearded bastard" quote on the publisher's website. Popped out at me. Remember only too well cringing at that passage back in '86. Fleming would never have written that and so it stuck in my craw.

[AMC Hornet]

Oh well, be they rep. points or rupees,

"Easy come, easy go!"

[marktmurphy]

Did anyone post a link to this article where Rowan speaks out about what was going through his head? Apologies if they had: I can't see it linked to; it's an interesting read:

http://www.guardian....m?newsfeed=true

"There was a need to conceal my own voice with the armour of someone else's words."

[Pussfeller]

I saw that article at the Guardian website, and I refuse to read it on principle.

I assume that he goes on at length about the invisible hegemonic riptide that drew him irresistibly, a latter-day Zelig, into a maelstrom of destructive self-alienation and other-directedness whose only real victim was himself. Oh, the lost innocence. Oh, the squandered promise.

People don't become plagiarists because they're complex and interesting. They do it because they're boring and have nothing to say. There's no mysterious psychodrama here. There's only an inept fraudster who (thanks to enablers like Alison Flood) continues to divert attention from worthier talents. It's a bad sign that he hasn't simply slithered away. All celebrity is marketable, and this poseur could easily parlay his disgrace into a pathetic second career as a motivational speaker or gonzo poet or whatever.

[Simg]

@Pussfeller don't insult 'Gonzo Poets' :-)

@Marktmurphy nhere is the link to the conversation that the guardian drew on. It is in the comments section:

http://tinyurl.com/8x245mn

SRJG

[marktmurphy]

Thank you Simon; very kind.

I saw that article at the Guardian website, and I refuse to read it on principle.

I don't think there's much point in having an argument with what you imagine someone to have said, is there? I don't know what the rest of your post is like, I didn't bother to read it. Apologies if you were joking and revealed it later.

[glidrose]

Rowan pilfers passages from Adam Hall's The Peking Target.

Edited by glidrose, 25 November 2011 - 01:48 AM.

[Captain Tightpants]

Is that a tongue twister?

[glidrose]

Rowan explains why. Blames it on alcohol addiction. Says this cost him his job and his girlfriend.

He does us the courtesy of linking to this thread. Mighty fine of him. He also quotes Bryce's tactless comments.

[Single-O-Seven]

Interesting essay. He has certainly read this forum topic through and through.

[Jim]

Rowan explains why. Blames it on alcohol addiction. Says this cost him his job and his girlfriend.

He does us the courtesy of linking to this thread. Mighty fine of him. He also quotes Bryce's tactless comments.

Fascinating piece.

Wonder where he copied it from.

[David Schofield]

Rowan explains why. Blames it on alcohol addiction. Says this cost him his job and his girlfriend.

He does us the courtesy of linking to this thread. Mighty fine of him. He also quotes Bryce's tactless comments.

He's a totally delusional fantasist, genuinely in need of help.

And Rowan's no different.

[Single-O-Seven]

Rowan explains why. Blames it on alcohol addiction. Says this cost him his job and his girlfriend.

He does us the courtesy of linking to this thread. Mighty fine of him. He also quotes Bryce's tactless comments.

He's a totally delusional fantasist, genuinely in need of help.

And Rowan's no different.

Many of the comments on the page make a good point: nowhere does he seem to apologise to those whom he cheated; instead, he makes up excuses as to why life sucks (now more than ever) and why we should feel bad for that.

[Dustin]

I think this longer piece nonetheless addresses one point that was previously not admitted by Rowan. As far as I have read about the case, and learned from the later exchange on Duns's blog, Rowan's line of defence seems to have been that he only really got into the c&p-groove once he had to do major rewrites within a deadline and resorted to large-scale theft out of desperation. This latest confession looks as if Rowan dropped that version in exchange for a longer and more versed history of plagiarism. To me this sounds more realistic overall.

[Captain Tightpants]

Says this cost him his job and his girlfriend.

Girlfriend?



Yeah, right.

[Jim]

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I'm sure I've read that somewhere before

[glidrose]

THE ART OF FIELDING by Chad Harbach and ASSASSIN OF SECRETS by Q.R. Markham have both been nominated for the Book-of-the-Month Club’s First Fiction Award.

This is an annual award given out to the best debut novel of the year. Last year’s winner was picked up by Publisher’s Weekly, The Huffington Post, Reuters, Shelf Awareness and others. Nominees receive special placement in the book club catalogs and online and the winner of the award is given a cash prize.

This year’s nominees are:
The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach
Assassin of Secrets by Q.R. Markham
Bent Road by Lori Roy
Vaclav & Lena by Haley Tanner
Miss Timmins’ School for Girls by Nayana Currimbhoy
Bed by David Whitehouse

[Mr. Blofeld]

ASSASSIN OF SECRETS by Q.R. Markham have both been nominated for the Book-of-the-Month Club’s First Fiction Award.

Are they insane?