The great tie-in fiction debate

[Farseer]

These beings enjoy reading the books based on the computer game series "starcraft", "warcraft" & "diablo". They presume such books fit the category of "tie-in". They would also recommend those books. All of them.

Yes, I think I'd actually really enjoy these types of books as the World of Warcraft storyline interests me a LOT (have mentioned that elsewhere), even though I don't play the game (no time and a serious lack of gaming capability are my excuses!!). I often have long chats with my boys about what they're up to on WOW (actually just had a big discussion with them on the upgrades/changes recently undertaken leading to the next big expansion ), and my reading of the books would enhance my understanding as well as add to my ability to discuss things without having to actually play. I have looked for a number of WOW-based books so will have to soon take the next step and BUY them!

As I have long been a huge Star Wars fan, we own every Star Wars-related novel I've ever been able to purchase and I've enjoyed them all. I agree with your comment AR Because the books come with a built-in fanbase, they will sell anyway and have approached reading these SW tie-ins coming more from a subject-related interest rather than a literary viewpoint, despite being someone who judges books mostly on their literary value and 'correctness'!

Tie-ins make for FANTASTIC transitionary reading tools for non-readers or those who don't have a great interest in reading and, for that reason especially, I think they have huge value in the world of literature.

I also agree with your comment 'thul One advantage if one of the fellows behind a game is behind the book in some way, is that it is likely to be "canon" towards the game storyline... and would much rather read a tie-in book written or overseen by the original inventor of the plot and characters, than read a tie-in authored by someone who doesn't have an emotional connection. In the case of World of Warcraft, for an example, I think the Blizzard creators are amazing story-tellers (not to mention obviously talented business people for having marketed and sold their creation on such a huge scale!) and it is this story-telling ability that would draw me to the WOW-related works, rather than their writing ability.

I also agree with you, Nuytsia (I'm doing lots of agreeing today !) - re So I could kind of understand why some authors might do SOME writing that might not take too much of their time (?) if it pays well enough, as an income supplement. I guess it's that or waitressing .... or something!. We can't all be professional or elite in our field and someone has to do the dirty tie-in work.