So there's a plagiarist afoot who calls himself Richard Ridyard. It seems Tricky Dick tried to pull the proverbial wool over some eyes at Shock Totem by subbing a little changed version of Stephen King's "The Boogeyman".
Um, Dick? Here's a clue: the editors at a pro-paying horror mag have probably read everything by Mr. King.
Stoooopid.
But wait...there's more: Check out Angel Zapata's blog for all the gory details. It seems Tricky Dick Ridyard has been up to a lot of "tricks". And guess what?
Tricky Dick took my work, too. I guess "Communion" from Flashes in the Dark was too tasty a morsel. Check out Dick's take from this month's Infinite Windows: "Satanic Mantra". (I know, WTF?)
My initial response...hidden cameras, right? Then I sort of went "Incredible Hulk" (geeky horror writer/teacher style). I didn't make a dime on "Communion". I basically gave it away with one little bit of payment: (it's called a "byline") I WROTE THE EFFING THING, ALRIGHT?
Sorry. Hulk mad.
See Dick Plagiarize. Bad Dick, bad.
Richard Ridyard, whatever your "real" name is, get a life, okay?
I'm gearing up for year two over at Fifty-Two Stitches. (We just received our shiny new ISSN, too) I'll be on the watch for dirty tricks and the Richard Ridyards of the world. Too bad I can't just spend my energy on the 'zine without worrying about dishonest charlatans.
Sheesh.
28 comments:
Damn, Aaron...I actually couldn't find any threads leading back to Satanic Mantra. Sorry it had to be your story "Communion." In fact, I'm sorry it had to be any writer's story.
Nuts, isn't it? Thanks for all the hard work over at your blog.
What an ass : P
What a loser.
But at least he has good taste, stealing from the best!
Still, an epic FAIL!
He'll have to face the wrath of an incensed Net!
I'm so sorry, Aaron. What an absolute creep.
-Mercedes
I'm thinking a fiery auto crash for Dick.
I so hope he didn't make any money from peddling other people's work. What a ****?
I think that it's great, though, that this on-line community is able to 'circle the wagons' and spread the word about this fraud. I wouldn't want to mess with this 'geeky hulk'...
What a sneaky coward. Plagiarize this *flips him the bird*.
Natalie - always eloquent!
Jameson - The epicist.
Mercedes - Good lesson in the power of the internet. ;)
Danielle - I'll bring the marshmallows.
Cate - That's the weird thing...most of the stolen stories were published at FTL sites. What did he have to gain?
Alan - You sir, are absolutely right.
Becca - Sneaky and just plain dumb.
This Ridyard chap’s a law student too… law! Obviously not completed his copyright module.
Geez. Seems like simply writing something original would be easier than a line-by-line rewrite of someone else's work. Something pathological at work here.
I've got a good baseball bat and a stiff piece of iron. Let's say we find this Dick and go violate him.
Grah, that's really hitting close to home! I hadn't realized he'd plagiarized someone I know and whose works I respect. I loathed the guy already; now I, um, triple loathe him. His fires are catching up to him. I hope he burns.
L.R. - we have all sorts of dirty fellows in law school in the U.S. (Google: Tucker Max)
Brendan - I'm with you. Taking an idea isn't that surprising...taking someone else's treatment of that idea is sick.
Jamie - remind me never to cross you...yikes.
K.C. - Thanks for your support. Respect is a two way street, and you have plenty of mine.
Jeez, this is one of those things I thought was possible but in all likelihood never happened. I mean, what's the point?
Michael - "what's the point?" - exactly. It's not as though a bunch of FTL credits for flash fiction is going to further his writing career. Now, the Richard Ridyard name is tainted, anyway. I'll he's achieved is a big, steaming pile of negative blog-press.
Drat. My plans to re-write the Twilight series under the name I.B. Shinypants SURELY won't work NOW!
Doesn't this guy know not to piss off the horror crowd?
*resolves to put a Richard Ridyard in a story and sic the zombies on him*
I'm amazed that the day after we reject this guy and e-mail King (or his assistant, rather), Angel's blog is posted. It's like Ridyard piled too much shit on top of his weak foundation and it just collapsed. And a-diggin' people went.
And now this is everywhere. Not sure if this fool can be traced, but I do have an address.
Barry - I had dreams of a teen-warlock named Parvey Hopper.
Carrie - At least now I know the names for my next fifteen victims.
Ken - you might be able to auction that addy on ebay. Not sure that's ethical...but you could donate the $ to charity.
What a dumbass! Why not work hard and write his own stuff? Hi Aaron. I'm new here. Heard about this on Robert Swartwood's blog, and heard about your brilliant writing on Cate Gardner's blog. :-D
~Tyhitia
Tyhitia - friends are always welcome. Dumbasses...not so much. Feel free to drop in any time.
That little F**k!
i hate people like that. creep.
*goes off to mutter to herself
I'm so sorry to hear he had stolen from you also. You've nicknamed him well and I think his career is buried about six feet under. Hopefully he doesn't come back as zombie. Kudos for you standing with Angel and the others and speaking out against this guy.
Aaron, I just noticed this myself, going through Richard Ridyard's works and I came here to see if you were aware of the theft. I remembered "Communion" from its appearance at Flashes and thought it was a brilliant piece - apparently so did Ridyard. I'm glad you found out about it, but sorry that it happened to you.
What they said-- at least he has good taste.
No seriously. What a dick. As in cock.
Then I sort of went "Incredible Hulk" (geeky horror writer/teacher style).
That is the most weirdly adorable description of a temper tantrum ever, somehow. And you deserve it, dammit.
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