Comments on: Some thoughts about fictionalizing real-life public figures http://www.garyspeer.com/some-thoughts-about-fictionalizing-real-life-public-figures/ Tips for writers and musing about writing and life in general Wed, 30 Nov 2011 03:43:31 +0000 hourly 1 By: Audiefan http://www.garyspeer.com/some-thoughts-about-fictionalizing-real-life-public-figures/comment-page-1/#comment-1201 Audiefan Thu, 21 Oct 2010 18:57:15 +0000 http://www.garyspeer.com/?p=472#comment-1201 Wish Mr Hunter if he was going to use Audie Murphy as a basis for a thinly disguised character would have a least go the facts about him correct. Audie never drank except for an occasional wine with dinner. Hopefully people reading his book will bother to check the real facts on Audie's life. He was and still is a true hero to many people,especially his web site www.audiemurphy.com. Please check it out and see the truth about him. I am a lifelong fan of Audie Murphy and you will find many other passionate fans there as well from all over the world. He was truly America's greatest WW11 soldier and one hell of a real American hero. Wish Mr Hunter if he was going to use Audie Murphy as a basis for a thinly disguised character would have a least go the facts about him correct. Audie never drank except for an occasional wine with dinner. Hopefully people reading his book will bother to check the real facts on Audie’s life. He was and still is a true hero to many people,especially his web site http://www.audiemurphy.com. Please check it out and see the truth about him. I am a lifelong fan of Audie Murphy and you will find many other passionate fans there as well from all over the world. He was truly America’s greatest WW11 soldier and one hell of a real American hero.

]]> By: Gary http://www.garyspeer.com/some-thoughts-about-fictionalizing-real-life-public-figures/comment-page-1/#comment-575 Gary Sun, 15 Mar 2009 21:26:25 +0000 http://www.garyspeer.com/?p=472#comment-575 Thanks for your comment, Webmaster. You'll note that Stephen Hunter himself came along and made some comments about the book and the issue of fictionalizing real-life characters. I loved hearing that he got email from readers accusing him of getting the name wrong on Audie Ryan. Great to know people are paying attention. Thanks for stopping by and leaving your comment. I'm going to spend time on your website, I'm sure. (Did you note my post later yesterday about Audie Murphy? I was not aware of that Audie Murphy website. It's got lots of great stuff.) Thanks for your comment, Webmaster. You’ll note that Stephen Hunter himself came along and made some comments about the book and the issue of fictionalizing real-life characters. I loved hearing that he got email from readers accusing him of getting the name wrong on Audie Ryan.

Great to know people are paying attention.

Thanks for stopping by and leaving your comment. I’m going to spend time on your website, I’m sure. (Did you note my post later yesterday about Audie Murphy? I was not aware of that Audie Murphy website. It’s got lots of great stuff.)

]]> By: Gary http://www.garyspeer.com/some-thoughts-about-fictionalizing-real-life-public-figures/comment-page-1/#comment-573 Gary Sun, 15 Mar 2009 21:18:27 +0000 http://www.garyspeer.com/?p=472#comment-573 Thank you, Mr. Hunter, for your comments and explanation. Your policy about using real people as basis for your characters certainly sounds good to me. I find it hilarious that you got that feedback about misnaming Audie Murphy. Looking back at my post, I think I was being much too subjective about it and it hit me wrong in the reading because of the "heroic" status Audie Murphy has always held for me -- hence, though I knew you had good reason for "Audie Ryan" instead of "Audie Murphy," it was just a bit jarring to read. I suspected the other characters in "Pale Horse" were done in similar fashion. I'm just not knowledgeable enough about the gun world to have picked up on them. I'm looking forward to reading "I, Sniper" to see what your latest goodies are for us fans. I hope you realize I'm becoming a big fan of your books. (Even recommended a couple of them to my son-in-law.) I applaud your work, and I thank you for stopping by the blog. Thank you, Mr. Hunter, for your comments and explanation. Your policy about using real people as basis for your characters certainly sounds good to me. I find it hilarious that you got that feedback about misnaming Audie Murphy.

Looking back at my post, I think I was being much too subjective about it and it hit me wrong in the reading because of the “heroic” status Audie Murphy has always held for me — hence, though I knew you had good reason for “Audie Ryan” instead of “Audie Murphy,” it was just a bit jarring to read.

I suspected the other characters in “Pale Horse” were done in similar fashion. I’m just not knowledgeable enough about the gun world to have picked up on them.

I’m looking forward to reading “I, Sniper” to see what your latest goodies are for us fans.

I hope you realize I’m becoming a big fan of your books. (Even recommended a couple of them to my son-in-law.) I applaud your work, and I thank you for stopping by the blog.

]]> By: Stephen Hunter http://www.garyspeer.com/some-thoughts-about-fictionalizing-real-life-public-figures/comment-page-1/#comment-572 Stephen Hunter Sun, 15 Mar 2009 15:40:55 +0000 http://www.garyspeer.com/?p=472#comment-572 Interesting post. In fact not just "Audie Ryan" but ALL of the characters in PHC are based on true life figures. It's a device I use commonly. My rules: if you adhere to factual truth about someone than you can use his name. If you deviate you must "disguise" name so as not to ascribe your behavior to him. That seems etthical to me. I got countless emails telling me I had "misnamed" Audie Ryan, it should be "Murpy." Wait till you see new book "I, Sniper": lots of almost named variants on certain folks. Thanks, best, SH Interesting post. In fact not just “Audie Ryan” but ALL of the characters in PHC are based on true life figures. It’s a device I use commonly. My rules: if you adhere to factual truth about someone than you can use his name. If you deviate you must “disguise” name so as not to ascribe your behavior to him. That seems etthical to me. I got countless emails telling me I had “misnamed” Audie Ryan, it should be “Murpy.” Wait till you see new book “I, Sniper”: lots of almost named variants on certain folks. Thanks, best, SH

]]> By: Webmaster http://www.garyspeer.com/some-thoughts-about-fictionalizing-real-life-public-figures/comment-page-1/#comment-570 Webmaster Sun, 15 Mar 2009 05:42:19 +0000 http://www.garyspeer.com/?p=472#comment-570 Actually, Hunter thinly fictionalized six different famous American gun heroes in Pale Horse Coming. Like Audie Ryan, all six have had their names changed - though none as obviously as Audie Ryan. I think he laid the Audie Ryan trap to intellectually goad readers into wondering if Ryan was not alone, and from there to realize, indeed, he is not. Excellent blog, by the way. I'm going to write one someday. Actually, Hunter thinly fictionalized six different famous American gun heroes in Pale Horse Coming. Like Audie Ryan, all six have had their names changed – though none as obviously as Audie Ryan.

I think he laid the Audie Ryan trap to intellectually goad readers into wondering if Ryan was not alone, and from there to realize, indeed, he is not.

Excellent blog, by the way. I’m going to write one someday.

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